The significance of P.V. Simonov’s “need-information theory of emotions” in the development of modern neurobiology of behavior

Abstract

The current paper shows the importance of the need-information theory of P.V. Simonov in the development of modern neurobiology of behavior. The essence of the theory and the underlying fundamental principles of the organization of behavior-environmental uncertainty, probabilistic predictions of reinforcement are briefly described. The first section reviews the current data on the important role of uncertain environments and probabilistic predictions in organization of behavior. Attention is drawn to the reinforcement prediction error and its significance in the organization of both social and individual behavior, as well as its role in the consolidation and reconsolidation of memory. The second section shows the influence of need-information theory on the development of the theoretical and experimental basis of individual differences, with a scheme presented for explaining such differences based on the fundamental principles of theory. The next section examines the role of need-information theory in understanding the mechanisms of decision-making under risk conditions, and the importance of the theory as a conceptual basis for the new developing field of science – neuroeconomics. And finally, the 4th section considers in detail the model of emotional resonance (contagion) proposed by P. Simonov, and modern views on social behavior, in general, and the altruistic and selfish behavior of rodents, in particular.