Work

Bodily markers of basic emotions: a thermographic study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We studied whether basic emotions could be reflected in temperature changes at specific body surfaces. Healthy subjects viewed pictures inducing six basic emotions and neutral images with temperature at the shoulder, throat, chest, and temple being recorded. Chest temperature was higher than at other regions and increased in various emotions such as fear, surprise, and happiness. It correlated with heart rate. Temperature in different regions did not correlate, suggesting a specificity of thermal reactions.

Source: American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology

DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00018.2025

Authors: Danila Shelepenkov, Alfred Essel, Vladimir Kosonogov

Institution: National Research University Higher School of Economics

Language: English

Topic: Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control

Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: National Research University Higher School of Economics