US News & World Report (12/31, Firth) reports that research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences suggests that “our bodily responses to specific emotions may…be distinct.”
The Los Angeles Times (12/31, Healy) “Science Now” blog reports that researchers found “that across five different experiments ranging in size from 32 to 305 subjects, participants linked seven different emotions with the same somato-sensory experiences with such consistency, it could not be a matter of chance.” The study indicated that “the pairings they made were consistent whether they were asked to react to emotionally suggestive words or to read short stories and view films that conjured strong emotional responses.”
National Public Radio (12/31, Doucleff) “Shots” blog wrote participants “reported that happiness and love sparked activity across nearly the entire body, while depression had the opposite effect: It dampened feelings in the arms, legs and head.” The study found that “danger and fear triggered strong sensations in the chest area, the volunteers said.” Meanwhile, “anger was one of the few emotions that activated the arms.”
Related Links:
— “Emotions move us in the same places, study says, “Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, December 30, 2013.