Neural bases of emotion regulation

From the neurobiological point of view, emotions can be defined as responses to personally relevant events, characterized by peculiar subjective feelings and complex biological modifications. Such responses are the results of the activation of an intricate neural network including cortical and subcortical brain structures, centred upon the limbic system. The discovery of mirror neurons further enriched our understanding of the neural bases of emotions. The ability to modulate one's own emotional responses is of paramount importance for adaptive behaviour and social relationships. Emotion regulation is based on functioning of cortical structures such as the insula and the anterior regions of the frontal lobes, that allow individuals to evaluate emotional states, to select adequate behavioural reactions, to deal with potential conflicts between internal and external states, and ultimately to accomplish cognitive elaboration of emotional feelings.