Brain story. Part 2, In the heat of the moment.

Professor Susan Greenfield (Univ. of Oxford) examines brain activity involved in emotions. Once considered as separate from thought, emotion and thought are now known to be integrated. In the case of fear and disgust, the relevant brain activity can be perceived through brainscans but for other emotions no brain map has yet emerged. The hormone oxytocin has a role in sensations of happiness and the influence of past experience on decision making in the present can be observed and measured, but these physiological reactions are only a fraction of what makes up an emotion. The full explanation remains to be discovered. Among those taking part in this programme are Prof. Paul Ekman (Univ. of California) who studies facial expressions worldwide.