An fMRI study of happiness by inducing positive affect states

The present study examined neural activations during the positive affective state by Functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) as participants viewed pictures of “achievements” (positive arousal) and “connectedness” (positive valence). The theoretical model of affective structure is related to explain positive affective state. We hypothesized that positive affect on two different dimensions would engage participants in distinct happiness states. 22 undergrad/grad participants performed rating the subjective experience of happiness during positive affective state by the presented photos (i.e. connectedness, achievement and neutral). Across analyses, we found a set of neural regions that support an empathic state and positive affective state. A brain activity of cognitive-evaluative system is engaged when participants view “achievement” stimuli. In contrast, affective- perceptual form of empathy is engaged for “connectedness” stimuli. In addition, cognitive-evaluative neural activation was highly correlated with the strength of perceived happiness, whereas affective-perceptual related neural regions showed no correlation. Taken together, our results provide evidence to suggest that there are integrative neuro-cognitve networks supporting the processing of positive affect where activated in functionally and anatomically dissociable patterns.