June 2012 PMID 22617651

The brain basis of emotion: a meta-analytic review.

Kristen A Lindquist, Tor D Wager, Hedy Kober, Eliza Bliss-Moreau, Lisa Feldman Barrett

Download social card

Mentions

39
Peak: 5 in May 2023
across 6 sources since Feb 2017

Extended reach

202,518
potential audience

Total likes

1,190

Video views

29,994

Mentions per month

Feb 2017 – Dec 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter19 posts
  • Blogs8 articles
  • Facebook5 posts
  • YouTube3 videos
  • News3 articles
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect a strong interest through mentions of the meta-analysis and related critiques, as well as references to alternative theories, with a tone that combines curiosity and skepticism — exemplified by remarks on the amygdala not solely encoding emotion and claims of 'huge problems' with the analysis, indicating active engagement with the research's implications and limitations.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the study's findings that challenge traditional views of specific brain regions linked to emotions, showing moderate support for the article's conclusions.

InterestHigh interest

Participants display high curiosity and engagement with the topic, referencing additional sources and debates about the interpretation of the meta-analysis.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments demonstrate some depth, with individuals questioning methodology, referencing specific brain regions like the amygdala, and linking to external critiques or related theories.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions suggest the publication influences ongoing debates about emotional neuroscience, although their direct influence on wider scientific practice seems limited yet noteworthy.

Abstract in brief

  • The study compares two main ideas about how our brain creates emotions: one that suggests each specific emotion (like happiness or anger) is linked to a unique brain region, and another that proposes emotions are formed by more general brain networks that aren't tied to specific feelings.
  • The meta-analysis found little evidence supporting the idea that distinct emotions are always localized to specific brain areas; instead, emotions seem to involve broader, overlapping brain networks involved in various psychological processes.
  • Overall, the findings support the psychological constructionist approach, indicating that emotions are built from general brain functions rather than fixed, dedicated regions for each emotion category.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Lisa Feldman Barrett
@LFeldmanBarrett · X

@Mark_Solms First, some context. In the last seconds of our video chat (01:35:09) Mark remarked, "Huge problems with that meta-analysis, huge problems, but look, we're out of time." To justify his concern, he has linked to a blog post. Here's the meta-analysis: https://t.co/OsJYRRfGd4 1/19

May 4, 2023 · 33 likes · 4 shares · 44,391 followers View post →
Brian D. Earp, Ph.D.
@briandavidearp · X

The brain basis of emotion: A meta-analytic review https://t.co/mVs3YBU7Gz

Jun 1, 2021 · 8 likes · 2 shares · 26,108 followers View post →
Ekaeo
@Ekaeoq · X

Cleaned my desk after the capacitor accident yesterday. Finally, we do some math today. There's two papers I wanted to read as well: - The brain basis of emotion: A meta-analytic review - The theory of constructed emotion: an active inference account of interoception and https://t.co/33vaNxOqZv

Feb 23, 2025 · 5 likes · 4,875 followers View post →
Brian D. Earp, Ph.D.
@briandavidearp · X

The Brain Basis of Emotion: A Meta-Analytic Review https://t.co/XGM79vYt3S

Oct 21, 2019 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 26,108 followers View post →
Christine Parsons
@ce_parsons · X

Presenting the findings of a major analytical review. Conclusion is that the amygdala is not for emotion. it's signalling to other brain regions about salience, when there is uncertainty. https://t.co/iEK2Uc9rhn

May 23, 2024 · 3 likes · 1,419 followers View post →
diburina
@diburina · X

Hay más, p.ej. cuestionando el supuesto zona del cerebro = emoción (p.ej. amígdala = miedo). https://t.co/cIzkecLatC

Mar 28, 2022 · 1 like · 581 followers View post →

All mentions

Ekaeo
@Ekaeoq · X

Cleaned my desk after the capacitor accident yesterday. Finally, we do some math today. There's two papers I wanted to read as well: - The brain basis of emotion: A meta-analytic review - The theory of constructed emotion: an active inference account of interoception and https://t.co/33vaNxOqZv

Feb 23, 2025 · 5 likes · 4,875 followers View post →
Christine Parsons
@ce_parsons · X

Presenting the findings of a major analytical review. Conclusion is that the amygdala is not for emotion. it's signalling to other brain regions about salience, when there is uncertainty. https://t.co/iEK2Uc9rhn

May 23, 2024 · 3 likes · 1,419 followers View post →
Daryl Costello
@DarylC71 · X

The brain basis of emotion: A meta-analytic review | Behavioral and Brain Sciences | Cambridge Core - https://t.co/pLpPwQKevK https://t.co/fyonjoZvs8

Aug 3, 2023 · 165 followers View post →
Henning M Reimann
@hlesaint · X

RT @LFeldmanBarrett: @Mark_Solms First, some context. In the last seconds of our video chat (01:35:09) Mark remarked, "Huge problems with t…

May 5, 2023 · 4 shares · 184 followers View post →
Laliza Espinosa
@LalizaEspinosa · X

RT @LFeldmanBarrett: @Mark_Solms First, some context. In the last seconds of our video chat (01:35:09) Mark remarked, "Huge problems with t…

May 5, 2023 · 4 shares · 119 followers View post →
Ryan Smith (@rssmith.bsky.social)
@RyanSmith_LIBR · X

RT @LFeldmanBarrett: @Mark_Solms First, some context. In the last seconds of our video chat (01:35:09) Mark remarked, "Huge problems with t…

May 4, 2023 · 4 shares · 1,811 followers View post →
Yudhistira Ghifari Adlani
@alephlove · X

RT @LFeldmanBarrett: @Mark_Solms First, some context. In the last seconds of our video chat (01:35:09) Mark remarked, "Huge problems with t…

May 4, 2023 · 4 shares · 500 followers View post →
Lisa Feldman Barrett
@LFeldmanBarrett · X

@Mark_Solms First, some context. In the last seconds of our video chat (01:35:09) Mark remarked, "Huge problems with that meta-analysis, huge problems, but look, we're out of time." To justify his concern, he has linked to a blog post. Here's the meta-analysis: https://t.co/OsJYRRfGd4 1/19

May 4, 2023 · 33 likes · 4 shares · 44,391 followers View post →
Peng
@PengRocMind · X

The brain basis of emotion: A meta-analytic review https://t.co/tm6KjiwZ3a

Apr 29, 2022 · 1 like · 209 followers View post →
diburina
@diburina · X

Hay más, p.ej. cuestionando el supuesto zona del cerebro = emoción (p.ej. amígdala = miedo). https://t.co/cIzkecLatC

Mar 28, 2022 · 1 like · 581 followers View post →
Anthony Ellis
@skydog811 · X

The brain basis of emotion: A meta-analytic review https://t.co/ihSaIDCHME

Jun 1, 2021 · 53,455 followers View post →
Dr. Christina Bergmann - Skies are blue...
@chbergma · X

RT @briandavidearp: The brain basis of emotion: A meta-analytic review https://t.co/mVs3YBU7Gz

Jun 1, 2021 · 2 shares · 4,692 followers View post →
John Peters
@johnthejack · X

RT @briandavidearp: The brain basis of emotion: A meta-analytic review https://t.co/mVs3YBU7Gz

Jun 1, 2021 · 2 shares · 4,907 followers View post →
Brian D. Earp, Ph.D.
@briandavidearp · X

The brain basis of emotion: A meta-analytic review https://t.co/mVs3YBU7Gz

Jun 1, 2021 · 8 likes · 2 shares · 26,108 followers View post →
Learner
@Leaner96395855 · X

https://t.co/zLRKVLozLl

Apr 30, 2021 · 1 like · 3 followers View post →
Politicals122
@Politicals122 · X

RT @briandavidearp: The Brain Basis of Emotion: A Meta-Analytic Review https://t.co/XGM79vYt3S

Oct 21, 2019 · 2 shares · 1,154 followers View post →
Sebastian Hendricks (he/him)
@Hearing4Kids · X

RT briandavidearp: The Brain Basis of Emotion: A Meta-Analytic Review https://t.co/W9Gtb0wmcx

Oct 21, 2019 · 656 followers View post →
Matina Liosi
@MatinaLiosi · X

RT @briandavidearp: The Brain Basis of Emotion: A Meta-Analytic Review https://t.co/XGM79vYt3S

Oct 21, 2019 · 2 shares · 1,124 followers View post →
Brian D. Earp, Ph.D.
@briandavidearp · X

The Brain Basis of Emotion: A Meta-Analytic Review https://t.co/XGM79vYt3S

Oct 21, 2019 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 26,108 followers View post →
David G Haskell
@dghaskell.bsky.social · Bluesky

A deliciously ironic title (for a fascinating study) "The brain basis of emotion: A meta-analytic review ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

Feb 22, 2017 View post →