Renewing the feeling

One of Damasio's studies examines an investigation of the patterns of brain activity that occur in association with feeling certain emotions. The purpose of this case study was to find a way to trigger these emotions. He monitored the subjects' physiological responses continuously. He also noted the changes in skin conductance which preceded a signal that a feeling was being felt. The study does have an introspective component because feelings are more internal in a sense that the emotion has to be triggered in order to feel that emotion. The brain can simulate certain emotional body states internally; this causes the process of emotional empathy.