<p>I remembered that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disgust#The_neural_basis_of_disgust" rel="nofollow">Disgust</a> is one of the 6 major emotions and there is quite a lot written about it:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The neural basis of disgust</p>
  
  <p>The scientific attempts to map specific emotions onto underlying
  neural substrates dates back to the first half of the 20th century.
  However, it was not until the mid-1990s when it was recognized that
  six basic emotions, including disgust, were each related to a specific
  neural structure and therefore considered to be a part of the clinical
  neurosciences.[23] Functional MRI experiments have revealed that the
  <strong>anterior insula in the brain</strong> is particularly active when experiencing
  disgust, when being exposed to offensive tastes, and when viewing
  facial expressions of disgust.[24] The research has supported that
  there are independent neural systems in the brain, each handling a
  specific basic emotion.[4] Specifically, f-MRI studies have provided
  evidence for the activation of the insula in disgust recognition, as
  well as visceral changes in disgust reactions such as the feeling of
  nausea.[4] The importance of disgust recognition and the visceral
  reaction of "feeling disgusted" is evident when considering the
  survival of organisms, and the evolutionary benefit of avoiding
  contamination.[4] [edit]</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-01-21T01:52:58.207Z
2013-01-21T01:52:58.207Z
Alex Stone
<p>If Dopamine and Dopamine D2 receptor is involved in craving, wanting and clinging towards something or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incentive_salience" rel="nofollow">incentive salience</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Dopamine is closely associated with reward-seeking behaviors, such as
  approach, consumption, and addiction.[38] Recent researches suggest
  that the firing of dopaminergic neurons is a motivational substance as
  a consequence of reward-anticipation. This hypothesis is based on the
  evidence that, when a reward is greater than expected, the firing of
  certain dopaminergic neurons increases, which consequently increases
  desire or motivation towards the reward (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine#Learning.2C_reinforcement.2C_and_reward-seeking_behavior" rel="nofollow">from dopamine on Wikipedia </a>)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>What is the opposite mechanism in humans - by which we are experiencing aversion from something?</p>

<p>For example, someone finds something rotten, stinky and covered in white fuzzy mold in a plastic bag. Eww! Gross! Get it away! don't touch it! Keep distance. <strong>What is neurologically responsible for the person's feeling of aversion towards an object like that?</strong></p>

<p>Are there different pathways to aversion?</p>

<p>For example, would seeing a person who looks like a witch from fairy tales (old, ugly, rotten teeth, lots of warts, body odor) cause the same aversion response as moldy food?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-01-16T00:10:19.113Z
Related but not a duplicate: http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/565/what-do-anatomical-substrates-of-conditioned-taste-aversion-tell-us-about-treat
Chuck Sherrington
<cognitive-psychology><neuroscience><behaviorism>
How can the aversion response be explained neurologically?
Alex Stone
# How can the aversion response be explained neurologically?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-01-15)

If Dopamine and Dopamine D2 receptor is involved in craving, wanting and clinging towards something or [incentive salience](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incentive_salience)

> Dopamine is closely associated with reward-seeking behaviors, such as
> approach, consumption, and addiction.[38] Recent researches suggest
> that the firing of dopaminergic neurons is a motivational substance as
> a consequence of reward-anticipation. This hypothesis is based on the
> evidence that, when a reward is greater than expected, the firing of
> certain dopaminergic neurons increases, which consequently increases
> desire or motivation towards the reward ([from dopamine on Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine#Learning.2C_reinforcement.2C_and_reward-seeking_behavior) )

What is the opposite mechanism in humans - by which we are experiencing aversion from something?

For example, someone finds something rotten, stinky and covered in white fuzzy mold in a plastic bag. Eww! Gross! Get it away! don't touch it! Keep distance. **What is neurologically responsible for the person's feeling of aversion towards an object like that?**

Are there different pathways to aversion?

For example, would seeing a person who looks like a witch from fairy tales (old, ugly, rotten teeth, lots of warts, body odor) cause the same aversion response as moldy food?

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, neuroscience, behaviorism

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Related but not a duplicate: http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/565/what-do-anatomical-substrates-of-conditioned-taste-aversion-tell-us-about-treat  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2013-01-21. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

I remembered that [Disgust](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disgust#The_neural_basis_of_disgust) is one of the 6 major emotions and there is quite a lot written about it:

> The neural basis of disgust
>
> The scientific attempts to map specific emotions onto underlying
> neural substrates dates back to the first half of the 20th century.
> However, it was not until the mid-1990s when it was recognized that
> six basic emotions, including disgust, were each related to a specific
> neural structure and therefore considered to be a part of the clinical
> neurosciences.[23] Functional MRI experiments have revealed that the
> **anterior insula in the brain** is particularly active when experiencing
> disgust, when being exposed to offensive tastes, and when viewing
> facial expressions of disgust.[24] The research has supported that
> there are independent neural systems in the brain, each handling a
> specific basic emotion.[4] Specifically, f-MRI studies have provided
> evidence for the activation of the insula in disgust recognition, as
> well as visceral changes in disgust reactions such as the feeling of
> nausea.[4] The importance of disgust recognition and the visceral
> reaction of "feeling disgusted" is evident when considering the
> survival of organisms, and the evolutionary benefit of avoiding
> contamination.[4] [edit]


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