Domain interplay in mice and men: New possibilities for the natural kinds theory of emotion

The recent challenge to the long-held assumption that emotions are natural kinds (i.e., discreet naturally-distinguishable phenomena) has raised the necessity for a closer look into the nature of affective research. If emotions are not natural kinds, there will be widespread consequences for the theoretical foundations of behavioral neuroscience and grave implications for the validity of animal models of emotion and affective disorders. This paper presents the evidence against the hypothesis of emotions as natural kinds, and offers the domain-interplay concept as a novel and effective experimental method for establishing the theoretical rationale of non-human animal research in the neurosciences. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.