Autonomic Nervous System Activity During Positive Emotions: A Meta-Analytic Review

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity is a fundamental component of emotional responding. It is not clear, however, whether positive emotional states are associated with differential ANS reactivity. To address this issue, we conducted a meta-analytic review of 120 articles (686 effect sizes, total N = 6,546), measuring ANS activity during 11 elicited positive emotions, namely amusement, attachment love, awe, contentment, craving, excitement, gratitude, joy, nurturant love, pride, and sexual desire. We identified a widely dispersed collection of studies. Univariate results indicated that positive emotions produce no or weak and highly variable increases in ANS reactivity. However, the limitations of work to date - which we discuss - mean that our conclusions should be treated as empirically grounded hypotheses that future research should validate.

Automated summary

This meta-analytic review examines the association between positive emotional states and autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity. The results suggest that positive emotions have minimal and highly variable effects on ANS activity. However, the limitations of the existing research indicate a need for further investigation.