Neural correlates of emotion processing: from emotional to social brain

Abstract

Different models of emotion highlight the role of strategic brain regions in emotion identification, response and regulation. Cortical, subcortical and limbic structures constitute the emotional brain. In this short review, we focus on the function of the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex. Both regions have reciprocal connections and are densely connected with cortical and subcortical structures. Beyond its classical role in fear processing, the amygdala is considered as a region that detects salient and personally relevant stimuli in cooperation with ventral and dorsal medial prefrontal cortex. Amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex are also engaged in the processing of socially relevant stimuli. Our review emphasized the overlap between the emotional and the social brain. Adopting a socio-affective neuroscience perspective is a promising perspective to identify new pathophysiological pathways in the study of emotion and mental disorders, especially major depressive disorder.