The neuroscience of positive emotions and affect: Implications for cultivating happiness and wellbeing

Rebecca Alexander; Oriana R Aragón; Jamila Bookwala; Nicolas Cherbuin; Justine M Gatt; Ian J Kahrilas; Niklas Kästner; Alistair Lawrence; Leroy Lowe; Robert G Morrison; Sven C Mueller; Robin Nusslock; Christos Papadelis; Kelly L Polnaszek; S Helene Richter; Rebecca L Silton; Charis Styliadis

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.002

The neuroscience of positive emotions and affect: Implications for cultivating happiness and wellbeing

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Feb:121:220-249. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.002. Epub 2020 Dec 8.

Authors

Rebecca Alexander¹, Oriana R Aragón², Jamila Bookwala³, Nicolas Cherbuin⁴, Justine M Gatt⁵, Ian J Kahrilas⁶, Niklas Kästner⁷, Alistair Lawrence⁸, Leroy Lowe⁹, Robert G Morrison⁶, Sven C Mueller¹⁰, Robin Nusslock¹¹, Christos Papadelis¹², Kelly L Polnaszek⁶, S Helene Richter⁷, Rebecca L Silton¹³, Charis Styliadis¹⁴

Affiliations

¹ Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia; Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.
² Yale University, 2 Hillhouse Ave, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA; Clemson University, 252 Sirrine Hall, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA.
³ Department of Psychology and Program in Aging Studies, Lafayette College, 730 High Road, Easton, PA, USA.
⁴ Centre for Research on Ageing, Health, and Wellbeing, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.
⁵ Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia; School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia.
⁶ Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA.
⁷ Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestraße 13, 48149, Münster, Germany.
⁸ Scotland's Rural College, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, United Kingdom; The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom.
⁹ Neuroqualia (NGO), Truro, NS, B2N 1X5, Canada.
¹⁰ Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Personality, Psychological Assessment and Treatment, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain.
¹¹ Department of Psychology and Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, 2029 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
¹² Jane and John Justin Neurosciences Center, Cook Children's Health Care System, 1500 Cooper St, Fort Worth, TX, 76104, USA; Laboratory of Children's Brain Dynamics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
¹³ Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA; Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University, 633 N. Saint Clair, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. Electronic address: rsilton@luc.edu.
¹⁴ Neuroscience of Cognition and Affection group, Lab of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece.

PMID: 33307046
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.002

Abstract

This review paper provides an integrative account regarding neurophysiological correlates of positive emotions and affect that cumulatively contribute to the scaffolding for happiness and wellbeing in humans and other animals. This paper reviews the associations among neurotransmitters, hormones, brain networks, and cognitive functions in the context of positive emotions and affect. Consideration of lifespan developmental perspectives are incorporated, and we also examine the impact of healthy social relationships and environmental contexts on the modulation of positive emotions and affect. The neurophysiological processes that implement positive emotions are dynamic and modifiable, and meditative practices as well as flow states that change patterns of brain function and ultimately support wellbeing are also discussed. This review is part of "The Human Affectome Project" (http://neuroqualia.org/background.php), and in order to advance a primary aim of the Human Affectome Project, we also reviewed relevant linguistic dimensions and terminology that characterizes positive emotions and wellbeing. These linguistic dimensions are discussed within the context of the neuroscience literature with the overarching goal of generating novel recommendations for advancing neuroscience research on positive emotions and wellbeing.

Keywords: Linguistics; Neuroscience; Positive affect; Positive emotions; Wellbeing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Brain
Emotions
Happiness*
Humans
Linguistics
Neurosciences*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding