Research Interest:
Thus far, my work has concentrated on delineating possible affective
circuits in both rat and human brains. While it is of scientific curiosity
to understand the neural underpinnings of our emotional selves, it is
also of benefit to the world of biopsychology to understand how emotions
influence basic processing of information. I
intend to progress towards a greater understanding of the latter. Currently,
I am working on projects to investigate how emotion colors perception
of ongoing internal processes as well as externally generated ones. For
example, we have been identifying brain substrates involved in processing
painful electrical stimulation under different emotional conditions. Since
pain has both sensory and affective components, differences between these
two conditions may illuminate the manner in which pain is experienced.
Specifically, brain areas involved in the emotional component of pain
may be more clearly defined and provide insight about emotional circuits
and their role in processing information.
Selected Publications
Gordon, N. (in prep). The
neural basis of joy and sadness: an fMRI study of the neuro-affective
effects of music, laughter and crying.
Panksepp, J., & Gordon, N. (2003). The
instinctual basis of human affect. Consciousness and Emotion, 4,
195-203.
Gordon, N. S., Burke, S., Akil, H., Watson,
S. J., & Panksepp, J. (2003). Socially induced
brain fertilization: effects of play on brain derived neurotrophic factor.
Neuroscience Letters, 341, 17-20.
Gordon, N. S., Kollack-Walker, S., Akil,
H., & Panksepp, J. (2002). Expression of c-fos
gene activation during rough and tumble play in juvenile rats.
Brain Research Bulletin, 57, 651-659.
Panksepp, J., Gordon, N. & Burgdorf,
J. (2002). Empathy may be linked to the action-perception
resonances of basic socio-emotional systems of the brain. Behavioral
Brain Sciences, 25, 43-44.
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Nakia Gordon