The evolution seems to have assembled the brain mechanisms of emotion and feelings orders of magnitude. First is the mechanism to produce reactions to an object or an event, geared towards the object itself or the circumstances: The mechanism of emotion. Then comes the mechanism to produce a map of the brain and then a mental image - an idea - and the reactions of resulting state of the organism: the mechanism of emotion.
The first device, the emotion, allowed the agencies to respond effectively, though not creative, in many circumstances, as appropriate, could be favorable or threatening - conditions and positive and negative outcomes, respectively, for life. The second mechanism, that of feeling, he introduced a kind of mental alarm to detect good or bad circumstances, the impact of emotions and prolonged lasting effects on attention and memory. Eventually, in a fruitful combination with past memories, imagination and reasoning, feelings led to the emergence of the forecast and the ability to create new answers, not more stereotyped (p. 104).
[...] The emotional appeal of the signal performs important tasks. Implicitly or explicitly, it leads to focus on particular aspects of the problem and therefore improves the quality of reasoning. A clear signal will trigger automatic alerts in respect of options that probably would have negative results. A gut feeling may be advised not to take a step which in its time, has had negative consequences, and this even before our reasoning tells us: "Do not do it." But the emotional signal rather than activating the alarm, it can also push able to take a certain decision, because, in the history of the system, it has come to be associated with a positive outcome. In short, the signal in question make choices and outcomes and give them a positive or negative valence, which restricts the scope of the decision and the probability increases to bring the action this past action. Since, in one way or another, the signals about the body, I began to refer to these ideas as the somatic marker hypothesis.
signal emotional argument is not a substitute for real, but merely an auxiliary role, since it increases efficiency and speeds .. In some cases, can make almost superfluous, as happens, for example, when we reject an option that would lead immediately to a secure disaster or vice versa, seizing a good opportunity in terms of its high probability of success.
In some cases, the emotional signal can be very strong, and lead to partial reactivation of emotions like fear and happiness, followed by the appropriate feeling conscious of that particular emotion. This is the presumed mechanism of visceral perception, using what I called body circuit. On the other hand, the emotional signals can also operate in a more subtle way, and presumably, in most cases, that's how they carry out their function. First, it is possible to produce visceral perceptions without using the body really, but drawing from the circuit as himself. Secondly, then, is a most important fact, namely that the emotional signal can operate entirely sheltered from the radar of consciousness.
can produce alterations in working memory, attention and reasoning, so that decision-making is oriented towards the choice of action that, based on previous experience, are more likely to lead to the best possible outcome. The individual may have no knowledge of these transactions involved. Under these conditions, we intuit a decision and we in place, quickly and efficiently, without having any knowledge of the intermediate steps.
Our research group, among others, has accumulated substantial data to confirm these mechanisms. Their link with the body has been known for centuries to common sense. Often we refer to premonitions that guide our behavior in the right direction as to the viscera or heart. [...] The idea that emotions are inherently rational, although it has remained marginal, has a long history (p. 180-81).
From "Looking for Spinoza. Emotions, feelings and brain "(2003).
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