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Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions
Some investigators have argued that emotions, especially animal emotions, are illusory concepts outside the realm of scientific inquiry. However, with advances in neurobiology and neuroscience, researchers are demonstrating that this position is wrong as they move closer to a lasting understanding of the biology and psychology of emotion. In Affective Neuroscience, Jaak Panksepp provides the most up-to-date information about the brain-operating systems that organize the fundamental emotional tendencies of all mammals. Presenting complex material in a readable manner, the book offers a comprehensive summary of the fundamental neural sources of human and animal feelings, as well as a conceptual framework for studying emotional systems of the brain. Panksepp approaches emotions from the perspective of basic emotion theory but does not fail to address the complex issues raised by constructionist approaches. These issues include relations to human consciousness and the psychiatric implications of this knowledge. The book includes chapters on sleep and arousal, pleasure and fear systems, the sources of rage and anger, and the neural control of sexuality, as well as the more subtle emotions related to maternal care, social loss, and playfulness. Representing a synthetic integration of vast amounts of neurobehavioral knowledge, including relevant neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neurochemistry, this book will be one of the most important contributions to understanding the biology of emotions since Darwins The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals.
480 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 17, 2012
Incredibly dense with information. You will need a degree in neuroscience or at least something close (like cognitive science or psychology) to understand this book. It could easily be used as a textbook for a graduate-level course.
But if you can slog through the dense information, the complex jargon, the advanced scientific concepts, you will learn more about consciousness and emotion than you probably knew that our science understood. You will better understand why it is that we have emotions at all, and you will at least begin to grasp what it is that emotions are made of---though Panksepp admits that there are deep and fundamental unsolved problems here.
It's a brilliant book, and it will be remembered in the annals of science for a long time. But I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who doesn't already have a detailed understanding of the field; it will just be confusing and overwhelming to you.
But if you can slog through the dense information, the complex jargon, the advanced scientific concepts, you will learn more about consciousness and emotion than you probably knew that our science understood. You will better understand why it is that we have emotions at all, and you will at least begin to grasp what it is that emotions are made of---though Panksepp admits that there are deep and fundamental unsolved problems here.
It's a brilliant book, and it will be remembered in the annals of science for a long time. But I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who doesn't already have a detailed understanding of the field; it will just be confusing and overwhelming to you.
September 24, 2011
As a non-neuroscientist lacking any formal academic background in chemistry or biology, this was a difficult book due to the technical depth involved. I borrowed it via the Link+ interlibrary loan system, which only allows one renewal per checkout so it took me three checkout/returns over the many months I spent slogging my way through it. I owe my persistence to the compelling nature of the subject matter and the warm, expert and comprehensive delivery of Dr Panksepp.
The book starts with the most thorough explanation of the history and development of neuroscience I've been exposed to. It covered issues of cellular biology, the anatomical layout of the brain (and it's evolutionary implications), and the intricacies of the electrical and chemical systems involved. The experimental techniques commonly used are also explained in enough detail to understand why their results are meaningful.
Panksepp then proceeds to cover the major emotional and motivational processes from a personal standpoint (Sleep/Arousal, Regulatory/Seeking, Anger, Fear/Anxiety) and a social one (Love/Lust. Love/Nurturing, Loneliness, Play). Each concept is covered in detail from anatomical considerations to chemical and neuronal circuit dynamics, including details on the history of scientific thought in each area and the experiments that have shed new light. This covers the final two thirds of the book. Along the way many fascinating insights and hypotheses are shared.
One notable part of the text is an early addressing of the role of animals in neuroscience experiments. Honestly I forget the details now, but it painted a picture of how we must balance the suffering induced in animals with the benefits gained both for human suffering and perhaps an eventual scientific acknowledgement of animal emotions. Some of the experiments described later in the text were pretty rough to imagine, such as rat trials in REM sleep experiments and others involving cats. It is clear from Panksepp's commentary in this introduction and throughout the text that he represents the compassionate scientist who foresees a time when our understanding of the true nature of emotions gives basis to improved treatment of other species.
Our knowledge of the mammalian/human brain and its emotional mechanisms has been greatly advanced in recent decades. Affective Neuroscience wraps a lot of that knowledge up into a fairly comprehensive overview with plenty of new hypotheses and pointers for future research.
The book starts with the most thorough explanation of the history and development of neuroscience I've been exposed to. It covered issues of cellular biology, the anatomical layout of the brain (and it's evolutionary implications), and the intricacies of the electrical and chemical systems involved. The experimental techniques commonly used are also explained in enough detail to understand why their results are meaningful.
Panksepp then proceeds to cover the major emotional and motivational processes from a personal standpoint (Sleep/Arousal, Regulatory/Seeking, Anger, Fear/Anxiety) and a social one (Love/Lust. Love/Nurturing, Loneliness, Play). Each concept is covered in detail from anatomical considerations to chemical and neuronal circuit dynamics, including details on the history of scientific thought in each area and the experiments that have shed new light. This covers the final two thirds of the book. Along the way many fascinating insights and hypotheses are shared.
One notable part of the text is an early addressing of the role of animals in neuroscience experiments. Honestly I forget the details now, but it painted a picture of how we must balance the suffering induced in animals with the benefits gained both for human suffering and perhaps an eventual scientific acknowledgement of animal emotions. Some of the experiments described later in the text were pretty rough to imagine, such as rat trials in REM sleep experiments and others involving cats. It is clear from Panksepp's commentary in this introduction and throughout the text that he represents the compassionate scientist who foresees a time when our understanding of the true nature of emotions gives basis to improved treatment of other species.
Our knowledge of the mammalian/human brain and its emotional mechanisms has been greatly advanced in recent decades. Affective Neuroscience wraps a lot of that knowledge up into a fairly comprehensive overview with plenty of new hypotheses and pointers for future research.
June 26, 2019
My brain hurts from reading so much about the brain.
November 13, 2019
Probably one of my most insightful reads concerning evolutionary anthropology
July 8, 2018
The first third of the book should be primarily review for anyone familiar with the basics of neuroanatomy and neuroscience in general. The second and third sections are the interesting parts, particularly the last third of the book. To make a long story short Panksepp outlines the major emotional (affective) brain circuits that control our most rudimentary affective states, all of which are subcortical and hierarchical. His best analogy comes late in the book when he compares the subcortical/cortical relationship to a tree with numerous branches and canopies of leaves. The large, hanging branches may be the most obvious parts of the tree (the cortex) but without the trunk and roots (the subcortical affective circuits) the tree can't survive. Panksepp had a knack for using simplistic language to make complex concepts more clear. That's evident throughout this book. His theories about REM states and the origins of consciousness are really interesting as well. It took me forever to read this because I just started a new job right around the time I started reading it, which was annoying! It's worth your time.
June 25, 2020
Jaak Panksepp does an excellent job tieing in all three disciplines (which are too ignorant at the moment to learn from each other) of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviorism. Panksepp's clear cut language with virtually none unnecessary scientific verbiage makes this an exceptional read for novices interested in the field of affective neuroscience or if you're curious about where emotions are developed in mammals. This book is revolutionary as it finally allows the common man to learn highly intellectual concepts and idea with the sacrifice of scientific verbiage, of course.
Panksepp's is highly fascinating and worth reading this book alone for. Panksepp's discovery of the play circuit is Nobel prize winner worthy. How come nobody told me our brains had a specific circuit for rough-and-tumble play? Oh well...Regardless, Panksepp's discovery of this special circuit and how ADHD medication dampens children who are hyper-playful is enlightening. How children are treated in the lower grades is truly sickening, and Panksepp makes it clear that rough-and-tumble play should be prescribed to ADHD children rather than making them sit in a chair for six hours and drugging them out of youthful play.
This leads me to Panksepp's social implications. I appreciate how he makes it clear that "naturalistic fallacies" (how things "are" is how things "should be") occur all the time in biological fields. Panksepp uses his exceptional research to suggest modest reforms in children centres to make life more meaningful for them.
Going forward, I can say that Panksepp was the first to teach me neuroscience/psychology solidly, and I'm sure he'll be able to guide you too.
Panksepp's is highly fascinating and worth reading this book alone for. Panksepp's discovery of the play circuit is Nobel prize winner worthy. How come nobody told me our brains had a specific circuit for rough-and-tumble play? Oh well...Regardless, Panksepp's discovery of this special circuit and how ADHD medication dampens children who are hyper-playful is enlightening. How children are treated in the lower grades is truly sickening, and Panksepp makes it clear that rough-and-tumble play should be prescribed to ADHD children rather than making them sit in a chair for six hours and drugging them out of youthful play.
This leads me to Panksepp's social implications. I appreciate how he makes it clear that "naturalistic fallacies" (how things "are" is how things "should be") occur all the time in biological fields. Panksepp uses his exceptional research to suggest modest reforms in children centres to make life more meaningful for them.
Going forward, I can say that Panksepp was the first to teach me neuroscience/psychology solidly, and I'm sure he'll be able to guide you too.
May 27, 2019
Fascinating, accessible, and detailed journey through the still-ongoing discoveries of the neurophysiological and neurobiological workings of mammalian emotional systems. Jaak Panksepp writes with great enthusiasm and not a little humour, and, as old as the book now is, it remains the important and original work it was when published. You don’t need a background in neuroscience; I would suggest just a genuine interest is enough in order to get the most from this work. Jaak doesn’t use any jargon he doesn’t first introduce, but there isn’t a glossary, so if you are new to neuroscience, you may wish to make notes as you go. I would say, also, this might not be recommended for animal rights activists!
February 28, 2020
This book contains the best description of emotion I've ever read. The author goes to great lengths to make conclusions in vivid, normal speech. Maybe I would have gotten more out of it with a stronger anatomical background, but I'm perfectly happy with being given a new way of conceiving of feelings in animals and people. Amazing, simply amazing.
June 20, 2024
Eye opening perspectives on the concept that the why and the how are equally important
June 26, 2022
Jun 25, 2020
Jaak Panksepp does an excellent job tieing in all three disciplines (which are too ignorant at the moment to learn from each other) of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviorism. Panksepp's clear cut language with virtually none unnecessary scientific verbiage makes this an exceptional read for novices interested in the field of affective neuroscience or if you're curious about where emotions are developed in mammals. This book is revolutionary as it finally allows the common man to learn highly intellectual concepts and idea with the sacrifice of scientific verbiage, of course.
Panksepp's is highly fascinating and worth reading this book alone for. Panksepp's discovery of the play circuit is Nobel prize winner worthy. How come nobody told me our brains had a specific circuit for rough-and-tumble play? Oh well...Regardless, Panksepp's discovery of this special circuit and how ADHD medication dampens children who are hyper-playful is enlightening. How children are treated in the lower grades is truly sickening, and Panksepp makes it clear that rough-and-tumble play should be prescribed to ADHD children rather than making them sit in a chair for six hours and drugging them out of youthful play.
This leads me to Panksepp's social implications. I appreciate how he makes it clear that "naturalistic fallacies" (how things "are" is how things "should be") occur all the time in biological fields. Panksepp uses his exceptional research to suggest modest reforms in children centres to make life more meaningful for them.
Going forward, I can say that Panksepp was the first to teach me neuroscience/psychology solidly, and I'm sure he'll be able to guide you too.
Jaak Panksepp does an excellent job tieing in all three disciplines (which are too ignorant at the moment to learn from each other) of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviorism. Panksepp's clear cut language with virtually none unnecessary scientific verbiage makes this an exceptional read for novices interested in the field of affective neuroscience or if you're curious about where emotions are developed in mammals. This book is revolutionary as it finally allows the common man to learn highly intellectual concepts and idea with the sacrifice of scientific verbiage, of course.
Panksepp's is highly fascinating and worth reading this book alone for. Panksepp's discovery of the play circuit is Nobel prize winner worthy. How come nobody told me our brains had a specific circuit for rough-and-tumble play? Oh well...Regardless, Panksepp's discovery of this special circuit and how ADHD medication dampens children who are hyper-playful is enlightening. How children are treated in the lower grades is truly sickening, and Panksepp makes it clear that rough-and-tumble play should be prescribed to ADHD children rather than making them sit in a chair for six hours and drugging them out of youthful play.
This leads me to Panksepp's social implications. I appreciate how he makes it clear that "naturalistic fallacies" (how things "are" is how things "should be") occur all the time in biological fields. Panksepp uses his exceptional research to suggest modest reforms in children centres to make life more meaningful for them.
Going forward, I can say that Panksepp was the first to teach me neuroscience/psychology solidly, and I'm sure he'll be able to guide you too.
April 12, 2024
An extraordinary deep dive into the core of human emotion. From start to finish, Panksepp weaves together nearly every relevant piece of the story on the connection between the deep evolutionary roots of human affect all the way up to its consequences on social institutions.
It is an intense read, as other reviews have mentioned prior knowledge of Neuroanatomy is probably the biggest prerequisite to reading this book. Understanding the spatial relationship between neural structures and pathways would serve any reader. The neurophysiology and neurochemistries discussed in the book are far less dependent on knowledge of neural organization however, it wouldn’t hurt.
Overall this is an amazing “introduction” into the basis of human and animal emotion and even more so a broad overview of what motivates humans. Understanding our “animal” instincts is an important step in understanding the human condition and Panksepp relays the current state of this understanding brilliantly.
It is an intense read, as other reviews have mentioned prior knowledge of Neuroanatomy is probably the biggest prerequisite to reading this book. Understanding the spatial relationship between neural structures and pathways would serve any reader. The neurophysiology and neurochemistries discussed in the book are far less dependent on knowledge of neural organization however, it wouldn’t hurt.
Overall this is an amazing “introduction” into the basis of human and animal emotion and even more so a broad overview of what motivates humans. Understanding our “animal” instincts is an important step in understanding the human condition and Panksepp relays the current state of this understanding brilliantly.
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April 2, 2025This book earns the title for the longest time between starting to read it and finishing it. Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions is packed with information on a hugely important topic. Generally, since Rene Descartes, we’ve focused on the impact of reason, but evidence points to the idea that it isn’t reason that’s king – it’s emotions. (See Descartes’ Error and The Righteous Mind.) The critical and underappreciated importance of emotions meant better understanding them was essential, and the material was deep enough that I had to be in special places and times to give it the attention it deserved.
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August 2, 2021
Interesting read but here are my key takeaways:
1. The taxonomy used were Western-centric, patterned in Western understanding of emotions when in fact there are more types of them that can't be labeled in English alone. What if there are emotion concepts/labels not present in Western societies, how will neurobiological theorists put that in their hypotheses?
2. Academic-intensive, complicated to read if you have no background in the topic
3. I'm not sure if Jaak kinda used emotions and behaviors interchangeably
4. The comparison between human and animal emotions sort of assumed that affect and emotion are one and the same. They aren't.
That's it, I guess.
1. The taxonomy used were Western-centric, patterned in Western understanding of emotions when in fact there are more types of them that can't be labeled in English alone. What if there are emotion concepts/labels not present in Western societies, how will neurobiological theorists put that in their hypotheses?
2. Academic-intensive, complicated to read if you have no background in the topic
3. I'm not sure if Jaak kinda used emotions and behaviors interchangeably
4. The comparison between human and animal emotions sort of assumed that affect and emotion are one and the same. They aren't.
That's it, I guess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2020
Though it's a tough read, and has to be reread a couple of times to understand and get familiarised with the facts and terms, the information that is distilled out in this book gives a great understanding of how our emotions are generated, it's evolutionary necessities and to what lengths the scientists have gone to understand them.
Post this book , there will definitely be an added cognitive filter through which our animalistic behaviours will be modulated which would greatly uplift the mental and physical health.
Post this book , there will definitely be an added cognitive filter through which our animalistic behaviours will be modulated which would greatly uplift the mental and physical health.
August 17, 2021
It's a very important book which helps to understand the psychobiological foundations of humans and animals emotions (anger, aggressiveness, sexual thirsty, etc...) which got huge information about the topic.
As a non-psychologist and as a person who's so far from the neuroscience field I found this book difficult to read.
With full respect to Mr Panksepp's work, there must be a summary study about this topic to help people with little knowledge on neuroscientific field to understand this work.
As a non-psychologist and as a person who's so far from the neuroscience field I found this book difficult to read.
With full respect to Mr Panksepp's work, there must be a summary study about this topic to help people with little knowledge on neuroscientific field to understand this work.
February 26, 2018
Dense for a lay reader but very rewarding. The implications of biological construction along with social and psychological construction is fascinating. Especially to consider emotions with nonlinguistic physiological causes, that we somehow 'share' because of bodily commonalities but different sets of the social environment and thinking that might trigger the expression of different -
or probably 'modulated' - behaviours and emotions.
or probably 'modulated' - behaviours and emotions.
Shelved as 'might-read'
March 4, 2022March 9, 2024
Pretty much of a rich book. Despite of having a background in neuroscience, it took me a long time to finish. Definitely suggest this book to those who are interested in neuroscience/behaviour. Top five star.
September 15, 2017
This is a hefty introduction to neuroscience, and I'm glad I was introduced to it.
January 4, 2018
interesting but difficult
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2018
Highly detailed, tough read, terminology wise is a struggle but worth it.
April 21, 2020
One of the most informative books I’ve ever read.
January 10, 2021
So, this is very very difficult. If you are in a graduate program in psychology, go for it. Otherwise, nope. 25 pages was all I could endure.
August 27, 2023
This is a must read. Emotions show that we are animals. So, studying animal emotions and then comparing them to our own is the best and most appropriate way to understand humans.
May 20, 2024
insightful interpretations of human behaviour regarding seeking, fear, rage, and play. however, this book is not for those without a background in neuroscience or psychology.
January 1, 2025
A deep genesis of affective consciousness.
December 2, 2020
A pioneering exposition of ascending emotional circuits in neuro-anatomical, chemical and electrical components, grouped into novel “folk psychology” correlates, which describes how these shared, definable and consistent systems drive conscious experiences in man and mammals.
August 5, 2024
Very tough to read all at once. Lots of good information, and surprisingly a good deal of it is understandable even without extensive foreknowledge of the subject. Lots of the key ideas (3 brains, 4 neurochemicals, 7 affective states) are accessible and easily understood. However (unsurprisingly) a lot of the information is absolutely incomprehensible on a first pass through the text. It's hard to remember where the periaqueductal gray (PAG) is if you have no understanding of what it does for context. But it's hard to grasp the extent of the function of the PAG without understanding it's relationship with other parts of the brain, which requires knowing where it is. As such it is the sort of text that would need to be read twice (at least) to gain a true understanding of it. The emphasis throughout the text of experiments and implications for autistic people was of great interest. Some political beliefs are interspersed, but not central to the text, and backed by a clear understanding of neuroscience, even if you disagree with the conclusions. The author does a remarkable job of laying out each topic at a high level, drilling down into preposterous detail down to the level of single neurons and their relationship with particular niche peptides, then bringing the conversation back up to discussion of the experiments which demonstrate the relevant biological, chemical, and psychological relationships, and finally concluding with an accessible afterthought in each chapter. The beginning and the end of each chapter is the part a beginner like me gets the most out of, but there is more detail than you could possibly want in between if you want to take it to the next level.
An edifying exploration into everything known about affect and its relationship with consciousness. Would recommend.
An edifying exploration into everything known about affect and its relationship with consciousness. Would recommend.
January 27, 2013
This book is foundational, but it is difficult neuroscience, so it is not for browsing. If you wish a higher level treatment, with all its generalities and opaqueness his recent The Archaeology of Mind is preferable. As it says in its subtitle: the foundations of human and animal emotions -- with the emphasis being that human complexity is a function of cortical complexity of structure and function that allows for social and individual identity and freedom from the behavioral state machine of simpler animals. The writing is very good for science, the illustrations are awful, but make the book much cheaper, and I find two column texts difficult to mark and wade through. His newer book has none of that. I haven't finished It but I find it a bit disappointing.
January 2, 2020
I finally finished this book after learning about it some years ago from Doug Watt and starting it officially last April. It was a treasure of information that I hope will find it’s way responsibly and correctly into my own work and my book. I especially appreciate this books acceptance of separation distress as a primary affect and its importance in our social lives. I also learned to deeply appreciate the importance of lower brain structures, especially the brain stem, in our emotional lives. Hail evolution and the whole brain.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews