How Powerful Emotions Affect Our Brain - 1411 Words

Bliss, anger, fear, sadness, these are all emotions that we could feel on a daily basis. In one quick flip of a switch one decision made by an emotion can send our world racing, whether it is good or bad, our lives can be changed forever. This is how powerful emotions can affect us; can you imagine how it can affect our learning abilities? The brain, although divided, works together connecting everything we take in and feel. Although our brain is divided into many different parts, each part plays an important role when it comes to our emotions and the way that we learn. The Cerebrum is known to be the largest part of the human brain. It functions our thoughts and actions and houses the parts of the brain that control and relate to†¦show more content†¦The hypothalamus links the brain to the hormonal system and plays a vital role in powerful basic drives for survival and the strong emotions such as rage or ecstatic joy. (Endocrine, 2012) The amygdala is our so called à ¢â‚¬Å"built in alarm system† that detects danger through stimuli. It is the integrative center for emotions, emotional behavior, and motivation. (Wright) It also aids in perception of emotions in others. The insula is yet another part of the brain that has a profound effect on emotion. They say it is the wellspring of social emotions, things like lust and disgust, pride and humiliation, guilt and atonement. It helps give rise to moral intuition, empathy and the capacity to respond emotionally to music. (Perry Bruce, 2000) After researching the parts of the brain that focus on emotions, we can see that they definitely influence learning. According to Priscilla Vail’s article â€Å"The Role of Emotions in Learning†, â€Å"Emotion is an on/off switch for learning†¦the emotional brain, the limbic system, has the power to open or close access to learning, memory, and the ability to make connections.† Emotions originate in the brain’s limbic sy stem which is located between the brain stem and the cortex. The brain stem then sends sensory messages through the limbic system to the cortex where much of the thinking and learning occurs. The entrance of this sensory information into the cortex is dependent on the limbic system’s interpretation of this