# Emotions Are Proactive as Well as Reactive by Brian Knutson > “Emerging physiological, behavioral, and neuroimaging evidence suggests that emotions are proactive as well as reactive. Emotional signals from the brain now yield predictions about choice and mental health symptoms, and may soon guide scientists to specific circuits that confer more precise control over thought and behavior.” > **— Brian Knutson**, *2014 Edge Annual Question, response passage* ## Sources and Context - **Direct publication and locator:** [Emotion is Peripheral — Brian Knutson](https://www.edge.org/response-detail/25466) — 2014 Annual Question response, contiguous sentence(s) within the representative extract. - **Exact original excerpt:** “Emerging physiological, behavioral, and neuroimaging evidence suggests that emotions are proactive as well as reactive. Emotional signals from the brain now yield predictions about choice and mental health symptoms, and may soon guide scientists to specific circuits that confer more precise control over thought and behavior. Thus, the price of continuing to ignore emotion's centrality to mental function could be substantial. By assuming the mind is like a bundle of reflexes, a computer program, or even a self-interested rational actor, we may miss out on significant opportunities to predict and control behavior—both in individuals and groups.” - **Context and editing:** Knutson opens with emerging evidence that suggests a proactive role and says signals may soon guide circuit work. Both uncertainty markers remain in the poster. No editorial words were inserted. - **Local Edge archive:** [[research/Edge 2014 Full Quotation Curation|Edge 2014 Full Quotation Curation]], response EDGE2014-067. ## Related Articles and Collections - **Collection:** [[collections/Edge|Edge]] - **Collection:** [[collections/Consciousness Continuity|Consciousness Continuity]] - **Article:** [[articles/The Greatest Transformation in Human History|The Greatest Transformation in Human History]] - **Article:** [[articles/Information Persistence in Complex Systems|Information Persistence in Complex Systems]] - **Wiki map:** [[wiki/Neuroscience|Neuroscience]] ## Related Topics - [[wiki/Neuroscience|Neuroscience]] ## Share on Social Media ``` “Emerging physiological, behavioral, and neuroimaging evidence suggests that emotions are proactive as well as reactive. Emotional signals from the brain now yield predictions about choice and mental health symptoms, and may soon guide scientists to specific circuits that confer more precise control over thought and behavior.” — Brian Knutson, 2014 Edge Annual Question, response passage https://bryantmcgill.com/simple-reminders-brian-knutson-emotions-proactive-as-well-as-reactive ```