For years, it's been thought that emotions are programmed within the limbic region of the brain. However, as we've learned things in the brain are not that straightforward. research published in February 2017 by Joseph ledoux, and Richard brown from New York University suggests that emotions are higher order states that momentarily pass through these limbic circuits. All conscious experiences arise from one system in the brain, the outer parts of the brain, the cortex. The circuits below the cortex in the limbic system provide unconscious input, which come together with other neural signals to create conscious emotional experiences. It's been found that the general networks of thinking and awareness process emotional experiences just as they do for any other conscious experience.

This suggests self centered high order states are essential for emotional experiences. This isn't saying that the defensive survival circuits of fear flight and fight pay no part in the conscious experience. The circuits of the limbic system are involved in modulating the experience, but they're not directly responsible for it. The new hypothesis tweaks a well known theory of consciousness called higher order theory. ladoo and brown conclude that emotions are higher order states embedded in cortical circuits can emotions ever be unconscious? The answers behind how this mechanism works will influence how we approach everything from decision making to mental health.

The implications of this are quite vast and quite profound, and it'll be interesting to see what further research shows