Neurobiology of Emotion and Psychiatric Illnesses

Investigations on the neural basis of emotion and pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders synergistically inform each other, and in recent years have led to a leap in our understanding of emotion processing in normal and pathological conditions. In this course, a working definition of emotion from a biological point of view serves as background to explore brain circuits involved in aspects of emotional processing and their integration with decision making and goal-directed behavior. Neural networks linking the cingulate gyrus, insula, and ventromedial and orbitofrontal cortices, hippocampus and subcortical regions such as the amygdala, limbic thalamus, and ventral striatum are discussed in light of their relevance to emotion processing and psychiatric disorders. Emerging concepts include the key role of biological value in emotion processing and the relationship between emotion and memory. Within this context, we discuss current knowledge on the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, with particular emphasis on clinical domains such as anxiety, psychosis, depression, autism spectrum disorders, and antisocial personality disorder. Finally, current knowledge on the neurobiology of emotion and psychiatric disorders is placed in the context of social interactions, focusing in particular on the intersection between justice and psychiatry.