Main description:

What produces emotions? Why do we have emotions? How do we have emotions? Why do
emotional states feel like something? What is the relation between emotion, and reward value, and subjective feelings of pleasure? How is the value of a good represented in the brain? Will neuroeconomics replace classical microeconomics? How does the brain implement decision-making? Are gene-defined rewards and emotions in the interests of the genes, and does rational multistep planning enable us to go beyond selfish genes to long-term plans and social contracts in the interests of the
individual? This book seeks explanations of emotion and decision-making by considering these questions. The topics covered include:

The nature of emotion, and a theory of emotion

The functions of emotion, including a Darwinian theory of the adaptive value of emotion, which helps to illuminate many aspects of brain design and behaviour

The brain mechanisms of emotion

Affective states and motivated behaviour: hunger and sexual behaviour

The pharmacology of emotion, and brain mechanisms for action

Neuroeconomics, and the foundation of economic value

Decision-making

Emotional feelings, and consciousness

Neural networks involved in emotion

The book will be valuable for those in the fields of neuroscience and neurology, psychology, psychiatry, and philosophy

Contents:

1. Introduction: The Issues ; 2. The Nature of Emotion ; 3. The Functions of Emotion: Reward, punishment, and emotion in brain design ; 4. The Brain Mechanisms Underlying Emotion ; 5. Food Reward Value, Pleasure, Hunger, and Appetite ; 6. Pharmacology of Emotion, Reward, and Addiction: The basal ganglia ; 7. Sexual Behaviour, Reward, and Brain Function: Sexual selection of behaviour ; 8. Decision-Making Mechanisms ; 9. Neuroeconomics and Decision-Making ; 10. Emotional Feelings and Consciousness: A theory of consciousness ; 11. Conclusions and Broader Issues ; A. Neural Networks and Emotion-Related Learning ; B. Decision-Making Models ; C. Glossary ; D. Colour Plates