Experiencing and detecting happiness in humans: the role of the supplementary motor area

Ann Neurol. 2006 Jan;59(1):196-9. doi: 10.1002/ana.20706.

Abstract

Understanding emotions in others may involve neural structures implicated in both perception and action.1 Laughter is a socially important behavior and its neural correlates are poorly understood. Depth electrode electrophysiological techniques offer a rare opportunity to both record and stimulate neural structures involved in emotion processing. (2,3) This kind of direct electrophysiological investigation in humans is particularly determinant because laughter processing cannot be studied in animals.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Cerebral Cortex* / anatomy & histology
  • Cerebral Cortex* / physiology
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Electroencephalography
  • Female
  • Happiness*
  • Humans
  • Laughter / physiology*
  • Male