Abstract
Many approaches to the psyche, models of therapy, and neuroscience tend to view emotional and cognitive brain functions as separate entities. Such a focus on one of these two aspects of mental function, at times comes at the expense of ignoring the other. In this paper emotions and cognitions, along with perceptions and other elements of the internal and external contexts, are viewed as relevant vectors in a matrix of information. Through the processes of pattern completion and noise reduction, information in each of these vectors may evoke memories in the same or other vectors that are used in the formation of a subjective understanding of each experience. The important roles of the external (physical, temporal, relevant events, etc.) and internal (emotional, affective, hormonal, medications, etc.) contexts in the formation of such subjective experiences will be discussed. The use of this view in broader and more comprehensive psychotherapeutic approaches and combined pharmacological and psychological treatment is explored.
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1Arash Javanbakht, M.D. is a research track resident psychiatrist at the Department of Psychiatry at University of Michigan. One of his research focus areas is neurobiology of psychotherapy, and combined psychotherapeutic and pharmacotherapy methods informed by neuroscience research findings. He is also interested in the effects of personal meaning of events and trauma, as well as information, on emotional learning. He uses fMRI and electrophysiology methods for his research.
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Javanbakht, A. Emotions and Cognitions: A Critique of the Dichotomous View of Mental Function. Am J Psychoanal 74, 250–261 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1057/ajp.2014.12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/ajp.2014.12