Two Types of Emotion Origins
The foundation (genesis) of any emotion lies in a primary focus of excitation. The localization of this starting trigger determines the pathway the emotional reaction will take. The diversity of emotional manifestations can be divided into two broad categories: endogenous (internal) and exogenous (external). Despite differences in initial stages, both systems ultimately lead to the formation of a complex response that colors our behavior.
1. Endogenous Emotions: From Need to Feeling
This type of emotion is inextricably linked to our basic, internal biological needs. These include fundamental sensations such as hunger, thirst, fear, or sexual arousal.
The process of endogenous emotion formation is as follows:
- Start: Primary excitation arises deep within the brain — in the motivational centers of the hypothalamus. This is a reaction to changes in the internal environment of the organism.
- Transmission pathway: Excitation spreads in a generalized ascending direction. From the hypothalamus, the signal is transmitted to the structures of the limbic system and then ascends further to the cerebral cortex.
- Result: A specific subjective sensation of a particular need develops. When this emotional excitation secondarily reaches the cortical cells, it begins to exert a powerful influence on behavioral acts, compelling the subject to seek food, water, or avoid danger.
2. Exogenous Emotions: Reaction to the External World
Exogenous emotions are triggered by stimuli originating from the outside. In this case, the nervous system must first analyze the signal and only then produce an emotional response.
Stages of exogenous emotion development:
- Primary stage: An external factor acts upon receptors, the signal travels through specific sensory pathways, and reaches the cells of the projection areas of the cerebral cortex.
- Cortical processing: At the cortical level, vital mechanisms are activated: memory functions operate, and the external object is recognized. The brain analyzes what it has encountered.
- Secondary stage: Following analysis, excitation is directed in a descending direction. It descends from the cortex to emotiogenic subcortical centers (specifically, to the structures of the limbic system).
- Result: A specific emotional reaction is formed. Whether it is positive or negative depends entirely on the nature of the external stimulus and retained memory traces of similar situations.
Unified Neurophysiological Mechanism
Despite fundamental differences in the trigger—whether an internal metabolic need or an external factor filtered through memory—the ultimate implementation mechanism of any emotion is identical.
The essence of this unified mechanism lies in the powerful ascending activating influences that subcortical emotiogenic centers exert on the cerebral cortex.
From the perspective of normal physiology, any emotional state is always an organized, complex excitation complex of cortico-subcortical structures. This combined interaction between ancient subcortical centers and the evolutionarily young cortex provides the unique subjective coloring of all our behavioral acts.