Neurocircuitry of Affective, Cognitive, and Regulatory Systems
This chapter provides a review and synthesis of the neurocircuitry involved in affect and cognition and their interactions as it relates to regulatory functions. Cognition and emotion are considered together taking a more integrated, functional perspective. The chapter first gives an overview regarding structure and function of key brain regions, that is, prefrontal and cingulate regions, insula, and subcortical regions, as well as other temporal-parietal-occipital regions. Following this overview, the chapter proceeds with summarizing key neuroscientific findings as organized by cognitive processes and their relevance for emotion. The choice of processes reflects the key stages involved in responding to a stimulus, from the time of sensory input to behavioral response/output, namely perception, learning and memory central executive functions, cognitive appraisal, and reappraisal. The overall aim of the chapter is to provide a better understanding of cognitive-emotional interactions at the neurocircuit level.