Neural Correlates of Happiness

The Neural Correlates of Happiness

Hedonia (Pleasure) + Eudaimonia (Meaning) = Happiness

– Aristotle

What is happiness? Some equate the notion with love and interpersonal harmony. Others try to study it scientifically. Although indispensable to establish corresponding neural correlates, scientific inquiry is complicated by the state’s subjectivity (Kringelbach and Berridge, 2010).

Brunori (2003) brings up an interesting point, mainly that relational goods can, by definition, only be enjoyed in the context of relationships with others. Illustrations include social approval and recognition, sense of belonging, friendship, companionship and other concepts requiring reciprocity. Positional goods act as their counterparts, implying a zero sum game.

Baguette magique. A comic book style pretty girl sheds some light on happiness. Image: Copyright © Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

More neuroscientifically, Khalfa et al. (2005) address the question from a distinct point of view, centering on brain regions involved in the recognition of sad and happy melodies. The authors assert that both neocortical and subcortical structures are recruited. Also, in the experiment, unhappy tunes elicited activity in the left orbito- and mid-dorsolateral frontal cortex, contrary to the valence lateralization model. In line with the theory, the left frontal cortex is the one usually associated with happiness, while negatively valenced stimuli rely to a greater extent on the right hemisphere.

Further, previous work (Blood et al., 1999) has stated that cerebral regions linked to musical pleasantness [consonance vs. dissonance] were: the right para-hippocampic gyrus, subcallosum cingulate, orbitofrontal cortex and frontal pole regions. Differences of stimuli and subjectivity add to the complexity of such studies.

References:

• Blood, A., Zatorre, R., Bermudez, P. and Evans, A. (1999). Emotional responses to pleasant and unpleasant music correlate with activity in paralimbic regions. Nature Neuroscience, 2: 382-7.
• Brunori, L. (2003). Relational goods in society, mind and brain: Between neurons and happiness. Group Analysis, 36: 515-25.
• Khalfa, S., Schon, D., Anton, J. L. and Liegeois-Chauvel, C. (2005). Brain regions involved in the recognition of happiness and sadness in music. Brain Imaging: NeuroReport, 16 (18): 1981-4.
• Kringelbach, M. L. and Berridge, K. C. (2010). The neuroscience of happiness and pleasure. Social Research, 77 (2): 659-78.

Copyright © 2011 Megan Jorgensen (Elena). All Rights Reserved.