Where Do Emotions Come From?

Where Do Emotions Come From?

Emotions arise from complex interactions between brain structures, neurochemicals, and cognitive appraisals of our environment. They’re not just “feelings”—they are whole-body responses that integrate:

The Brain’s Role in Emotion

Limbic System – This is the brain’s emotional hub.

Amygdala: Crucial for fear, threat detection, and emotional memory.

Hippocampus: Connects emotions to memory and context.

Hypothalamus: Links the nervous system to the endocrine system (e.g. stress hormones).

Prefrontal Cortex – This part regulates and interprets emotions.

The left PFC is more linked with positive emotions.

The right PFC is more active during negative emotions.

It’s also involved in emotional regulation, decision-making, and social behaviours.

Insula – Responsible for interoception (our sense of the internal body), important in feelings like disgust or empathy.

Neurochemical Drivers

Several chemicals play a role in how emotions are generated and experienced:

Dopamine – Linked to pleasure, reward, motivation.

Serotonin – Associated with mood regulation and well-being.

Oxytocin – Bonding, trust, love.

Cortisol – Stress and alertness.

Adrenaline – Acute fear or excitement (“fight or flight”).

🧠 + 🧠 = 🤯

Cognitive Appraisal Theory

Emotions don’t just happen to us—they’re influenced by how we interpret what’s happening.

According to Lazarus’ Appraisal Theory, we experience emotion based on:

What we believe is happening (primary appraisal)

How we assess our ability to cope with it (secondary appraisal)

That’s why two people can have different emotional reactions to the same event.

How Much Control Do We Have Over Emotions?

We don’t always control which emotions arise—but we have significant influence over:

Our interpretation of events (which emotions are triggered)

How we regulate and respond to emotions (behaviour and experience)

Here’s what science supports:

✅ We can influence emotions indirectly through:

Reappraisal (changing how we think about a situation)

Breathing and body regulation (which affects the autonomic nervous system)

Sleep and nutrition (which impact neurotransmitter function)

✅ We can strengthen emotion regulation over time with:

Mindfulness and meditation

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Emotional intelligence training

🧠 The prefrontal cortex plays a key role in emotional regulation, and practices like mindfulness have been shown to increase activity and grey matter density in this region.

🧩 Summary

Aspect

Explanation

Source

Emotions arise from the limbic system, neurochemical activity, and cognitive interpretation

Brain Areas

Amygdala (reactivity), PFC (regulation), Insula (awareness), Hippocampus (context)

Chemical Basis

Dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, cortisol, adrenaline

Control

We influence emotions via awareness, interpretation, and regulation—but we don’t always choose which emotion is initially triggered

🧠✨ How Emotions Differ in Neurodivergent Brains

Neurodivergence is an umbrella term that includes ADHD, autism spectrum conditions, sensory processing differences, trauma-affected brains, and more. Emotional processing can look and feel very different in these brains due to unique wiring and regulation patterns.

1. Heightened Emotional Sensitivity

Many neurodivergent people experience intense emotional reactions to everyday stimuli.

This can be due to:

Overactivity in the amygdala (more intense threat detection)

Underdevelopment or delayed activation of the prefrontal cortex (reduced regulation)

Differences in interoception (how clearly one senses internal states, common in autism)

🧠 Example: A neurotypical person may feel mildly frustrated in a noisy environment. A neurodivergent person may experience full-blown sensory overload, triggering an emotional shutdown or meltdown.

2. Executive Dysfunction Affects Regulation

In ADHD, the prefrontal cortex struggles to “catch” the emotion before it escalates.

Emotions often arrive suddenly and intensely—a phenomenon sometimes referred to as emotional dysregulation or rejection-sensitive dysphoria (RSD).

Autistic individuals may also experience alexithymia (difficulty identifying and verbalising emotions).

3. Social and Emotional Misattunement

For those with autism, differences in social-emotional reciprocity may lead to:

Misunderstanding others’ emotions

Feeling misunderstood themselves

A delay in emotional response or different expressions of emotion

📚 Research shows that autistic individuals process facial expressions differently, often relying on logic over instinct to interpret others’ emotional states.

Can Emotional Responses Be Reframed or Rewired?

Yes—but the path may look different depending on the individual’s brain wiring.

🔄 Neuroplasticity: The Brain Can Change

The brain’s neuroplasticity means it can create new pathways for how we experience and respond to emotions, with practice.

Tools for Emotional Reframing and Rewiring

1. Cognitive Reappraisal

Practising new ways of thinking about a situation changes the emotional response.

Helps reduce emotional reactivity by shifting meaning.

Supported by therapies like CBT and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).

2. Mindfulness & Interoceptive Training

Builds awareness of emotions in the body before they escalate.

Mindfulness training increases prefrontal activity and decreases amygdala reactivity.

Interoception tools (like body scanning or emotion labelling) help those with alexithymia or sensory disconnects.

3. Somatic Practices

For neurodivergent individuals, bottom-up tools like breathwork, movement, tapping, and vagal toning can help regulate emotions before involving cognitive processing.

4. Pattern Recognition + Journaling

Tracking emotional triggers and responses over time builds self-understanding.

Over time, this helps re-pattern the nervous system’s response to familiar stimuli.

5. Environmental and Sensory Support

Tailoring your environment to suit sensory needs prevents dysregulation before it begins.

This could include sound dampening, lighting, textures, routine, or movement breaks.

🧠 Examples of Emotional Rewiring in Practice

Challenge

Rewiring Tool

Scientific Basis

Emotional outbursts (ADHD)

Mindful pause + CBT reframing

Increases PFC engagement, reduces impulsivity

Shutdowns (autism)

Pre-emptive sensory regulation + co-regulation support

Reduces nervous system overload

Overwhelm in stress

Vagal nerve exercises, breathwork

Activates parasympathetic (calm) response

Negative thought spirals

Cognitive restructuring via journaling

Creates new neural associations

🌱 Summary: We Can Influence Emotion, Even in Unique Brains

Neurodivergent people may experience deeper or more sudden emotional responses, and require tailored strategies for awareness and regulation.

Emotional mastery is not about suppressing feelings—it’s about learning to understand, support, and work with your emotional landscape.

With consistent practice, the brain can build new emotional pathways, no matter your neurotype.