Can Your Brain Feel Anger Without Feedback from the Body?

In summary, Damasio argues that the feeling of anger requires bodily feedback in order to be felt. Without it, the brain can't feel raw anger.
  • #1
chirhone
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Can your brain feel emotion like anger without feedback from the body?

When you feel anger.. your stomach tighten and there is a lot of other body sensation.
 
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  • #2
chirhone said:
Can your brain feel emotion like anger without feedback from the body?
Yes.
chirhone said:
When you feel anger.. your stomach tighten and there is a lot of other body sensation.
These are responses your body makes as a result of being angry. You can sense them and they can reinforce your initial feeling of anger, but they are not necessary.

There are probably, people lacking some aspect of this kind of bodily self-awareness, for reasons medical, genetic, of by some accident.
I would bet they can still get angry. You might be able to google that up.
Or try, googling "people who can't feel anger" and see what they have in common.
 
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  • #3
BillTre said:
Yes.

These are responses your body makes as a result of being angry. You can sense them and they can reinforce your initial feeling of anger, but they are not necessary.

There are probably, people lacking some aspect of this kind of bodily self-awareness, for reasons medical, genetic, of by some accident.
I would bet they can still get angry. You might be able to google that up.
Or try, googling "people who can't feel anger" and see what they have in common.

According to neuroscientist Antonio Damasio in his book "The Feeling of What Happens", you need those body feedback to even feel anger. Without it, the brain can't feel raw anger. This is why those who are paralyzed like Christopher Reeves or those lock-in victims (where only the eye can move) don't feel much negative emotion becuase of lack of body feedback. This is how the lock-in victims don't get crazy over their conditions.

Since Damasio mentioned it. So it's all still controversial? Or no definite answer?
 
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  • #4
He knows more about it than me, for sure.
He is one of the better known higher brain function neural-psychological guys.
He's a medical doctor with patients, so he probably does have test cases like I described.
He writes books. You should read them.
I've only read some brain lateralization stuff he's written, long ago.
 
  • #5
There is the interesting effect of increased physiological arousal caused by drugs or certain environmental effects. If people experience physiological changes they associate with certain emotional states and are unaware of the actual causes they will complain of feeling anxious or angry etc. Its one of the explanations for increased anger in untypically hot weather, feeling hot and bothered, in fact many forms of discomfort can be both cause and effect.
Its often considered to be a bad idea to try and explain our experiences as brain centred, that's not how we work, what would our "brain" get angry about without input provided by the body and then even if it could, how would you know. Of course none of this means you would have to be consciously aware of the physiological changes, in fact we often are not but we are highly reactive, a simple machine that measures galvanic skin responses shows marked reactions to any emotionally charged word. These were sold as lie detector type toys and are quite good fun.
 
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1. Can the brain experience anger without any physical sensations in the body?

Yes, the brain is capable of experiencing anger without any feedback from the body. This is because anger is primarily an emotion that is processed and regulated by the brain.

2. How does the brain process and regulate anger?

The brain processes and regulates anger through a complex network of neural pathways and chemical messengers. The amygdala, which is part of the limbic system, is responsible for detecting and responding to potential threats, triggering the emotion of anger. The prefrontal cortex then helps to regulate and control this emotion.

3. Can a person feel anger without showing any physical signs?

Yes, it is possible for a person to feel anger without showing any physical signs. This can happen if the person has learned to suppress or control their outward expressions of anger. It can also occur in individuals with certain neurological or psychological conditions.

4. How does the brain distinguish between different emotions, such as anger and fear?

The brain distinguishes between different emotions through a combination of neural activity and past experiences. Each emotion has a unique pattern of neural activity in the brain, and the brain also relies on past experiences and memories to interpret and label these emotions.

5. Can the brain experience anger without any external triggers?

Yes, the brain can experience anger without any external triggers. This can occur if a person has a tendency towards anger or has unresolved emotions that can be triggered by internal thoughts or memories. In some cases, certain brain disorders or imbalances can also cause a person to experience anger without any external triggers.

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