How Emotion Influences Cognition

EMOTION vs. COGNITION: DIFFERENCES & INFLUENCES

Psychology

Emotion and cognition are integral aspects of the human condition. The average person, when asked, is quite likely to have a working definition and knowledge of emotions. Emotions are almost constant within human beings. Cognition may not be so easy to understand or be easy for define for the average person. Emotions can also be called feelings; there are affective aspects to emotions as well as biological, physical, and/or physiological aspects to emotion. Various feelings or emotions correspond to neurochemicals released in the brain due to particular stimuli. Such chemicals include dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenalin. Cognition refers strictly to mental processes that include different stages of attention, memory, problem solving, decision-making, computation, and language. Cognition and emotions can be conscious and unconscious. Certainly people use their cognitive skills in their waking lives, but psychological research shows that some of these functions are active during sleep. The pattern applies to emotions. People absolutely experience emotion during waking states, and sometimes emotions can be just as vivid or more vivid during sleep. Consider the feelings one has when awakening from a nightmare. Though asleep, such an experience often leaves people feeling afraid, anxious, or otherwise. The paper will discuss more of the differences between emotion and cognition while additionally acknowledging and demonstrating that the two influence each other.

Cognition, on its most basic level, is thinking. When people demonstrate thought, they demonstrate cognition, cognitive abilities, and cognitive activities. Cognition comes naturally, but requires development and nurturing. Cognition also takes the form of behaviors -- behaviors that use and strengthen cognition. Many of us participate in cognitive behaviors even if we are unaware they are referred to as such. Such activities include anything that requires a sequence or series of steps such as following a recipe. It mostly refers to thinking or processes that are involved when achieving a task. The influence of cognition upon emotion is unique to every individual, but what is universal is that there is an influence. Cognition can trigger emotions; students who have too much homework may feel exhausted or worried about finishing it all. Lack and/or abundance of cognition may induce emotional reactions as well, as with people with mental health disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. There are some autists who have such an abundance of cognition that it overwhelms them and upsets them. There are autists who have little cognitive abilities and the lack can frustrate or upset them when they cannot perform tasks or activities that they wish.

Emotions are typically a very sensitive area or issue for most people. There are a number of people who are out of touch with their emotions; they do not know how to identify them or their root causes. This may affect aspects of their cognition such as concentration and attention. The same can be said for pleasant emotions such as excitement or love. Often when people begin a new romance, they are distracted while performing other activities that demand cognition such as schoolwork or their careers. Both cognition and emotions require learning. With cognition, learning seems apparent. It is true that people must learn about their emotions as well. This includes self-identification of emotions as well as identification of emotions in others. It also includes control of emotions as well as the ability to communicate them effectively when necessary. Thus, emotional learning requires cognition. Furthermore, emotion has the capacity to enhance or sharpen cognition. Phelps explains:

As William James wrote in The Principles of Psychology, "An impression may be so exciting emotionally as almost to leave a scar upon the cerebral tissues" (James 1890, p. 670). This phrase highlights the commonly held belief that emotion enhances episodic memory. Research on the cognitive neuroscience of emotion and memory has specified a range of means by which emotion can change the formation and recollection of episodic memory. (Emotion and Cognition, 2006)