title: Informational need of emotional stress.
abstract: According to the informational theory of emotions, emotions in humans depend on the power of some need (motivation) and the estimation by the subject of the probability (possibility) of the need satisfaction (the goal achievement). Low probability of need satisfaction leads to negative emotions, actively minimized by the subject. Increased probability of satisfaction, as compared to earlier forecast, generates positive emotions, which the subject tries to maximize, i.e. to enhance, to prolong, to repeat. The informational theory of emotions encompasses their reflective function, the laws of their appearance, the regulatory significance of emotions, and their role in organization of behavior. The level of emotional stress influences the operator's performance. A decrease in the emotional tonus leads to drowsiness, lack of vigilance, missing of significant signals and to slower reactions. An extremely high stress level disorganizes the activity, complicates it with a trend toward incorrect actions and reactions to insignificant signals (false alarms). The neurophysiological mechanisms of the influence of emotions on perceptual activity and operator performance as well as the significance of individuality are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Simonov
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Frolov
mesh_terms: D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology; D007257:Information Theory; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D019579:Neocortex / Q000502:physiology; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010551:Personality; D013026:Space Flight; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis