Are logic and emotion centers in different parts of the brain?

Question

Can they both be used at the same time, or do they conflict? What parts of the brain control logic and emotion? Any knowledge concerning this would be helpful. Source links are also greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

Yes and no.

Almost any activity you engage in involves numerous parts of your brain. Logic involves planning and reasoning, memory, association, and so on. Emotions can involve endocrine reactions, sensory information, memory, interpretation, and the like. Some parts will be more highly stimulated for some activites, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a lot of different areas involved nonetheless.

The area most frequently associated with emotional response in the brain is the most 'primitive' section deep in the middle (which is also often involved in a lot of instinctive responses). This makes sense since many animals seem capable of emotional response as well. In addition the frontal lobe spends time controlling and mediating some of the more primitive emotions and more abstract emotion may be in areas more involved in such association.

The frontal lobe is the primary part involved in planning, language, and judgement, and is also one of the newest regions of the brain. No animal has quite the frontal lobe that we do... but then no animal has quite the language and judgement that we do. If you were going to put logic anywhere, that would be the logical place (heh).

As to whether you can do both at once... well... that depends on a lot of things. You can see I mentioned the frontal lobe a couple times - it seems reasonable that a person who must work hard to controlling an emotional reponse might have more difficulty using his frontal lobe for other kinds of activities.

Ultimately, I think all the parts of your brain tend to all be working at what they do simultaneously, so pretty much everyone is always being emotional to a degree and reasonable to a degree, and remembering to a degree, and processing sensory information to a degree and so on and so on. Some people report having more difficulty filtering out one activity from many (which is why they need quiet when they read a book), but others do not. This suggests that whether or not logic and emotion are exclusive depends more on the individual than necessarily any innate quality of the brain itself.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Emotion Center Of The Brain

Answer 3

The brain as a whole determines logic and emotion. Emotion evokes logic, so yes they are used at the same time. Do they conflict? Sometimes. Is it logical to feel love for one who is hurtful and dangerous to our very being? No, but many tend to remain in that very situation because they declare "But, I love him/her". In that case love over rides logic. Is it logical put ourselves at risk of physical danger such as fighters do? No, but it is big business. The desire for success over rides logic here. Medically, there are several theories as to what part of the brain controls logic and emotion. Personally, I don't believe Science to be an "Exact Science". That's an area where logic over rides emotion! Do a search on The brain function and emotions. You'll find plenty to read.

Answer 4

There is a bias with the creativity on the right and the logic on the left. General areas of the brain can be identified by the sort of problems caused by damage to these areas. See the link for details.

Answer 5

Different parts of the brain certainly have different functions. They can be used at the same time, but situations can make some parts predominate.

Answer 6

yea they are in difrent parts of the brain