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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 "The finding that people who are more aware of their internal body states, and tend to experience more anxiety and negative emotions in daily life, have a larger size anterior insular cortex is a first," Bechara says.
"If this hyperawareness is within the normal range, then I would say that it is a good thing and it should not be controlled at all," Bechara adds. "In fact, I say that it is an advantage like having a very high IQ."
Many people are taught that emotions such as anxiety are bad because they can interfere with good judgment, Bechara says. But evidence from patients with certain types of brain damage in which emotions are wiped out proves the opposite, he says. Those with abnormally low levels of awareness, Bechara says, have diminished "emotional" and "social" intelligence.
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"I would say that it is not good at all to try to be less aware of one's own internal body states," Bechara adds.
However, if that awareness becomes extreme and anxiety and other negative emotions disrupt normal routines, the person should seek professional help, he says.
More information
For more information on emotions, visit the Science Museum (www.sciencemuseum.org.uk). Cornell University (trochim.human.cornell.edu) has more on "emotional intelligence." Page: << Prev | 1 | 2
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