The Human Mind
The Emotional Brain
Dr. Joseph LeDoux, a professor at the Center for Neural Science at New York University, discusses human emotions from a biological perspective. This topic is explored in his 1996 book, The Emotional Brain: The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life. LeDoux explains how human emotions, namely fear, are generated in our neural systems. He describes the neuroscientific techniques that were used to measure fear in rats in a lab setting, explaining how these studies help us to better understand the human brain. LeDoux highlights the similarities that exist in the brain functionalities of humans and animals experiencing fear, but points out that while these similarities exist, what causes that fear response in humans is very different than other animals. LeDoux also discusses basic evolutionary responses to danger and how our internal systems evolved to aid in our survival. The talk is followed with audience questions.
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