Measures the changes in electrical potentials of groups of neurons through an electrode headcap.

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Affective scientists often use the central nervous system to look at what brain systems are activated during emotional experiences. Two common methods used for this are: 
- Electroencephalography
- Neuroimaging 

Alma College

Discusses how emotions can be measured in experiments 
- Questionnaires
- Facial Expressions
- Central Nervous System
- Peripheral Nervous System

Measuring Emotions

The central nervous system consists mainly of the brain and spinal cord.  Messages are relayed between the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Central Nervous System

Niedenthal, P. M., & Ric, F. (2017). Psychology of Emotion (2nd ed.). Psychology Press.

Psychology of Emotion

Refers to various scales and self-report measures in which people indicate their emotions. 
- Verbal Measures
- Non-verbal formats

Questionnaires

Emotions can be measured through the movement of facial muscles and inferred through one's judgement of anothers expressions.

Facial Expression Measurements

Measuring Emotions Through the Central Nervous System

Affective scientists can measure the peripheral nervous system to make inferences about one's emotional state. For example, they can measure eye movements, blood pressure and volume, heart rate, and electrodermal activities to infer one' emotional states (e.g. fear, anxiety, anger, etc.)

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