Mapping Emotions in Ancient Neo-Assyrian Texts
Author Information
Author(s): Lahnakoski Juha M., Bennett Ellie, Nummenmaa Lauri, Steinert Ulrike, Sams Mikko, Svärd Saana
Primary Institution: Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
Hypothesis
How were emotions embodied in ancient Neo-Assyrian texts?
Conclusion
The study found consistent embodied patterns for 18 distinct emotions in ancient Neo-Assyrian texts.
Supporting Evidence
- The study utilized a corpus of 7,696 Neo-Assyrian texts.
- Statistical regularities were computed between emotion terms and body part references.
- Four main clusters of emotions were identified based on bodily representations.
- The findings align with modern neuroscientific research on emotions.
- Embodied emotions were mapped onto a body template to visualize sensations.
- The methodology allows for future comparisons across different cultures and time periods.
- Consistent patterns of emotional embodiment were found across the analyzed texts.
- The study enhances understanding of historical emotional expressions.
Takeaway
This study shows how people in ancient Mesopotamia felt emotions in their bodies, just like we do today.
Methodology
The study analyzed Neo-Assyrian texts using computational linguistic methods to map emotions to bodily sensations.
Potential Biases
The mapping may not accurately reflect the context of emotions due to the limitations of the available anatomical models.
Limitations
The study's corpus size is relatively small for modern standards, and it lacks female anatomical models.
Participant Demographics
The study focuses on texts from the Neo-Assyrian period (934–612 BCE) and does not involve modern participants.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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