Affective Neuroscience

Although some investigators have argued that emotions, especially animal emotions, are illusory concepts outside the realm of scientific inquiry, there is increasing evidence that the position is wrong. This argument has waned in recent years as advances in neurobiology and neuroscience have enabled scientists to demonstrate that there are indeed biological and psychological circuits which organize the universal tendencies of all mammals to feel specific emotions. In Affective Neuroscience (1998), Jaak Panksepp provides a comprehensive summary of the fundamental neural sources of human and animal feelings, as well as a conceptual framework for studying emotional systems of the brain. He approaches emotions from the perspective of basic emotion theory but does not fail to address the complex issues raised by constructionist approaches. Panksepp's book presents complex material in an easy-to-read manner, making it accessible for both laymen and professionals alike.