ABSTRACT
The study of emotions is expanding rapidly in the fields of psychology, the cognitive sciences, and cognitive neurosciences. This interest is amply justified by the theoretical and clinical consequences of this area of research. As a result, many authors have tried, and are still trying, to identify based on psychological and behavioral indicators the psychological mechanisms involved in emotion. At the same time, our knowledge of the neurobiological bases of emotional processes is continuing to grow. It seems that an approach to emotions from the perspective of functional neuroanatomy might help extend our understanding of these neurobiological factors and provide evidence that will either confirm or invalidate theories that are purely psychological in nature. Conversely, behavioral data taken from the psychological domain may make it possible to orient the hypotheses and help in the interpretation of the neurobiological results. It now seems essential to adopt a perspective that combines the psychological and neurobiological approaches if we are to attempt to resolve the many questions relating to the genesis, nature, role, and control of emotions.
