A new science of emotion: implications for functional neurological disorder.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review and theoretical perspective paper with no original human empirical data.
PubMed 35653495 · doi:10.1093/brain/awac204
What was done
The authors presented a theoretical perspective applying the theory of constructed emotion and principles of predictive processing, allostasis, and interoception to the pathophysiology of functional neurological disorder (FND). They re-evaluated existing neurobiological and clinical concepts in FND—such as alexithymia, panic without panic, dissociation, and insecure attachment—through this constructivist lens and discussed potential therapeutic implications.
What was found
The abstract provides conceptual arguments rather than empirical or quantitative data. The authors propose that altered construction of emotion categories contributes to symptom generation and maintenance in FND, providing an integrated mechanistic framework that bridges neurology, psychiatry, psychology, and affective neuroscience.
Why it matters
Historically, the role of emotion in FND has been contentious and often based on classical views of emotion. Framing FND within constructed emotion theory offers a unified, neurobiologically grounded hypothesis for how brain-body regulation and predictive processing errors lead to functional neurological symptoms.
Limits
This is a conceptual perspective article reporting no new clinical trial, observational, or experimental data. The mechanistic links proposed between constructed emotion and FND remain theoretical hypotheses requiring empirical validation.
Cited by
- supports The Theory of Constructed Emotion posits that emotions are not automatic, hardwired reactions to stimuli, but are actively constructed by the brain based on past experience and internal context.