{"id":1265,"date":"2023-02-18T21:45:34","date_gmt":"2023-02-19T01:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/what-part-of-the-brain-controls-emotions\/"},"modified":"2023-02-18T21:45:34","modified_gmt":"2023-02-19T01:45:34","slug":"what-part-of-the-brain-controls-emotions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/what-part-of-the-brain-controls-emotions\/","title":{"rendered":"What Part of the Brain Controls Emotions?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n                            <span>Summary: <\/span><\/p>\n<p>We experience many mental states on a daily basis, but do you know what part of the brain controls emotions? Discover the part responsible for all that we feel.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>We are emotional beings\u2014from happiness to sadness, fear, anger, love, and everything in between. But have you ever thought about what part of the brain controls emotions?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>These feelings seem to happen automatically and sometimes feel outside the realm of our control. But emotions are very much a mental process.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re curious to know how humans actually process emotions, here\u2019s a brief guide to get you started:<\/p>\n<p>Diving deeper into knowledge about how your brain is functioning may help you bring more awareness to your mind-body connection. Because as much as your emotions are felt through your senses, your brain is deeply connected to this process.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-part-of-the-brain-controls-emotions\">What Part of the Brain Controls Emotions?<\/h2>\n<p>The limbic system makes up the part of the brain that\u2019s responsible for our emotions. Within it, these are the areas that dictate them:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Hypothalamus<\/li>\n<li>Hippocampus<\/li>\n<li>Amygdala<\/li>\n<li>Limbic Cortex<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The last part contains two structures, the cingulate gyrus, and the parahippocampal gyrus, which have huge effects on your mood, motivation, and judgment.<\/p>\n<p>The hypothalamus regulates emotions by controlling the autonomic nervous system. It also controls the endocrine system, which is responsible for hormone production and release.<\/p>\n<p>The hypothalamus also controls our physical reactions to emotion. Ever had butterflies in your stomach after you see someone you like? Or tingling in your legs after you\u2019ve been scared? This is all the work of the hypothalamus.<\/p>\n<p>The three hormones responsible for many of your emotions are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Adrenaline (stress and anxiety)<\/li>\n<li>Oxytocin (love and affection)<\/li>\n<li>Dopamine (pleasure and reward) among several others<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So much as emotions have a psychological aspect to their structure, they also have a strong physiological foundation.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2019\/01\/49a40af8-what-part-of-the-brain-controls-emotions-pexels-ketut-subiyanto.jpg\" alt=\"Mother and her children being happy\" class=\"wp-image-66499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2019\/01\/49a40af8-what-part-of-the-brain-controls-emotions-pexels-ketut-subiyanto.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2019\/01\/49a40af8-what-part-of-the-brain-controls-emotions-pexels-ketut-subiyanto-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2019\/01\/49a40af8-what-part-of-the-brain-controls-emotions-pexels-ketut-subiyanto-736x491.jpg 736w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2019\/01\/49a40af8-what-part-of-the-brain-controls-emotions-pexels-ketut-subiyanto-442x295.jpg 442w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"h-how-does-the-limbic-system-control-emotions\">How Does the Limbic System Control Emotions?<\/h2>\n<p>The hypothalamus, amygdala, thalamus, and hippocampus are the four main components of the limbic system:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The hypothalamus<\/strong> controls the endocrine system. The effects on your body are a faster heartbeat, dilated pupils, and quicker breathing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The amygdala<\/strong> is related to feelings of fear, anxiety, and anger. In collaboration with the hypothalamus, the amygdala is responsible for the fight-or-flight response.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The thalamus<\/strong> is responsible for directing sense into the corresponding areas in the cortex. In the context of emotions, the senses influence them immensely. This is why certain nostalgic songs may trigger an emotional response.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The hippocampus processes<\/strong> sensory input and helps the limbic system produce an appropriate reaction. It converts short-term to long-term memory and ties emotions into memories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The brain is a complex piece of organic machinery. And even when it feels as if our emotions are out of control, there are actually many predictable, structured processes responsible for our emotional responses.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-part-of-the-brain-controls-mood-and-emotional-behavior\">What Part of the Brain Controls Mood and Emotional Behavior?<\/h2>\n<p>We know all about the brain centers that control <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/what-part-of-the-brain-controls-breathing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">breathing<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/what-part-of-the-brain-controls-balance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">balance<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/what-part-of-the-brain-controls-speech\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">speech<\/a>. But what are the less tangible aspects of our behavior? What about our emotions?<\/p>\n<p>Your emotional response and your general mood are generated in the amygdala. But it\u2019s the prefrontal cortex that\u2019s responsible for planning future action, a.k.a. the way you behave based on those emotions.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if you thought about robbing a bank, your prefrontal cortex would help you process the idea and connect it to an appropriate emotional response.<\/p>\n<p>If the amygdala is damaged, you lose control of base impulses. In fact, you may even begin to act in an inappropriate way. (Disinhibited behavior, hypersexuality, and risk-taking are behavioral consequences of a damaged amygdala.)<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-does-science-say\">What Does Science Say?<\/h2>\n<p>Here are some interesting scientific facts when it comes to the way your brain works and controls emotions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you\u2019re wondering what part of the brain controls anger, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3260787\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">studies<\/a> show that people with damage to their prefrontal cortex may have problems regulating their anger and frustration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S1053811905000406?via%3Dihub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Scholars<\/a> have found that happiness originates from the limbic cortex, but another part of the brain called the precuneus also plays a role. And according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/srep16891\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2015 study<\/a>, people with more gray matter in their right precuneus were shown to be overall happier.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>It might cut down on romanticism, but according to some <a href=\"http:\/\/www.helenfisher.com\/downloads\/articles\/13JourCompNeur.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">studies<\/a>, the excitement and nervousness of the falling-in-love state are actually stress responses triggered by your hypothalamus.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Sadness is experienced in the amygdala and left prefrontal cortex. But what\u2019s interesting to note is that the amygdala shows more inactivity in those suffering from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3619732\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">clinical depression<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The bottom line is that when you think of what part of the brain controls your emotions, the scientific response isn\u2019t a general one. Different emotions are correlated with distinct parts of the brain.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"920\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2019\/01\/25bb349e-pexels-maksim-goncharenok-5506098-1-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"guy smiling\" class=\"wp-image-66500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2019\/01\/25bb349e-pexels-maksim-goncharenok-5506098-1-1-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2019\/01\/25bb349e-pexels-maksim-goncharenok-5506098-1-1-1-768x589.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"h-unlock-your-brain-power\">Unlock Your Brain Power<\/h2>\n<p>Your brain is one of your most valuable assets. And learning more about its power and capability might inspire you to unlock your potential and discover its great abilities.<\/p>\n<p>You can learn to do so at Mindvalley. With transformational and packed full of wisdom Quests, such as <strong><em>Superbrain<\/em><\/strong><em> <\/em>guided by brain expert Jim Kwik, you can learn more about:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The physiological elements of memory including food, movement, and sleep,<\/li>\n<li>How to remove negative thinking from your mind,<\/li>\n<li>The surprising connection between sleep, stress, and memory,<\/li>\n<li>The best way to take care of your brain every day,<\/li>\n<li>And much more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mindvalley.com\/signup\/?utm_source=blog_inline_link&amp;utm_campaign=evergreen_freemium&amp;utm_medium=end_of_article&amp;otag=mv_blog_freemium\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>unlocking your free access<\/strong><\/a> today, you can sample classes from this program and many others. And when you get hungry for even more knowledge, the Mindvalley podcast library will provide the value and information you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n<p>Remember: your brain is a superbrain. So don\u2019t be afraid to discover your unlimited brain potential.<\/p>\n<p>Welcome in.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary: We experience many mental states on a daily basis, but do you know what part of the brain controls emotions? Discover the part responsible [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1266,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-happiness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1265\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}