Somatic marker hypothesis

The somatic marker hypothesis, formulated by Antonio Damasio and associated researchers, proposes that emotional processes guide (or bias) behavior, particularly decision-making.^[1]^[2]

"Somatic markers" are feelings in the body that are associated with emotions, such as the association of rapid heartbeat with anxiety or of nausea with disgust. According to the hypothesis, somatic markers strongly influence subsequent decision-making. Within the brain, somatic markers are thought to be processed in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and the amygdala. The hypothesis has been tested in experiments using the Iowa gambling task.

^ Damasio, Antonio R. (2008) [1994]. Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason and the Human Brain. Random House. ISBN 978-1-4070-7206-7. Descartes' Error
^ Damasio, A.R.; Tranel, D.; Damasio, H.C. (1991). "Ch. 11: Somatic markers and the guidance of behaviour: theory and preliminary testing". In Levin, Harvey S.; Eisenberg, Howard M.; Benton, Arthur Lester (eds.). Frontal Lobe Function and Dysfunction. Oxford University Press. pp. 217–229. ISBN 978-0-19-506284-7.

[Damasio94-1] Damasio, Antonio R. (2008) [1994]. Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason and the Human Brain. Random House. ISBN 978-1-4070-7206-7. Descartes' Error

[DTD1991-2] Damasio, A.R.; Tranel, D.; Damasio, H.C. (1991). "Ch. 11: Somatic markers and the guidance of behaviour: theory and preliminary testing". In Levin, Harvey S.; Eisenberg, Howard M.; Benton, Arthur Lester (eds.). Frontal Lobe Function and Dysfunction. Oxford University Press. pp. 217–229. ISBN 978-0-19-506284-7.

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