Exploring Emotion: An Essay on the Neurology of Emotion and the Theory of Karma

In this essay, there is a summary and integration of the various aspects of emotion from a neurological point of view. Advances in imaging technology have given us access to the intricate functioning of the nervous system at the molecular level and beyond. We are crossing new frontiers in mind-brain connections. Yet much remains unknown. Starting with case examples, this essay explores the structures and mechanisms underlying human emotion through pathology, psychology, and physiology. Facts are integrated from neuroscience and the social and cognitive sciences. Taking a holistic view of health, they are integrated with a particular aspect of Eastern philosophical and spiritual thought called Karma. Hopefully, this essay will stimulate a novel way of looking at feelings and improve the understanding of emotional responses.