Emotions and Cognition

After reading both the article by Fischer on the developmental cycles of the brain, and the article by Immordino-Yang and Damasio on the role of emotion in education, I began to consider how the two might be inter-related. Fischer highlights time periods at which the brain is most suited to obtaining certain types of new knowledge, showing periods in which the ability to learn certain types of information increases. Does the development of emotions and social understanding correspond to these jumps in Fischer's data?

While I doubt any of us in this class are qualified to answer that question, it does pose an interesting question. How extensively is emotion intertwined with the ability to learn? Does the lack of an ability to attach emotional 'tags' to cognitive knowledge impair the ability to learn? Evidently, according to Immordino-Yang and Damasio. Conversely, does the ability to learn jump as social cognition becomes more refined?

Regardless of the answer, it is fascinating to read about how central emotions are to higher thought. The brain is incredibly cool.