The role of hedonics in the Human Affectome

Abstract

Experiencing pleasure and displeasure is a fundamental part of life. Hedonics guide behavior, affect decision-making, induce learning, and much more. As the positive and negative valence of feelings, hedonics are core processes that accompany emotion, motivation, and bodily states. Here, the affective neuroscience of pleasure and displeasure that has largely focused on the investigation of reward and pain processing, is reviewed. We describe the neurobiological systems of hedonics and factors that modulate hedonic experiences (e.g., cognition, learning, sensory input). Further, we review maladaptive and adaptive pleasure and displeasure functions in mental disorders and well-being, as well as the experience of aesthetics. As a centerpiece of the Human Affectome Project, language used to express pleasure and displeasure was also analyzed, and showed that most of these analyzed words overlap with expressions of emotions, actions, and bodily states. Our review shows that hedonics are typically investigated as processes that accompany other functions, but the mechanisms of hedonics (as core processes) have not been fully elucidated.

A Farewell to Art: Aesthetics as a Topic in Psychology and Neuroscience

“…The second example, “The Role of Hedonics in the Human Affectome” (Becker et al, 2019), presented a view of aesthetic pleasure from the point of view of mainstream neuroscience. It is a comprehensive review of literature pertaining to “Hedonics,” the core experience of pleasure and displeasure (Becker et al, 2019).…”

Behavioral and Neurobiological Convergence of Odor, Mood and Emotion: A Review

“…Using these different approaches and definitions, several consistent emotion-related brain regions and neural networks [recently labeled the ''affectome'' (Becker et al, 2019)] have been identified. It must be emphasized at the outset, however, that even well-identified brain regions are generally very heterogeneous structures, in terms of both cell types and function.…”

“…This suggests that, while circuits may be similar, the efficacy of odors to modulate emotions and moods may differ. An odor that relieves a sad emotion following a favorite sports team's loss, may have much less impact on the major depressive FIGURE 2 | Schematic representation of the "affectome" (Becker et al, 2019), i.e., a network of mood/emotion-related brain regions. This schematic should be interpreted with the caveat that even well-identified, mood/emotion-related brain regions are generally very heterogeneous structures both structurally and functionally.…”

The Relation between Hedonic and Utilitarian Values on Satisfaction and Behavior Intention among Casual-Dining Restaurants Customers

“…Hedonic value relates to the information of enjoyment, satisfaction, and pleasure (Becker et al, 2019;Park & Nicolau, 2015;Yang et al, 2017). Perceived hedonic value of customers is more subjective than utilitarian and typically require entertainment, and playfulness also the entire experience of excitement, perceived freedom, acquired feelings such as social, cognitive, and emotional (Kazakevičiūtė & Banytė, 2013;Kim & Han, 2011).…”