"Gut feelings" etc.

For reasons we needn't go into here, I found myself musing lately on why we perceive emotional reactions physically when we know it's all happening in our heads. Some, like fear, are pretty obvious (fight or flight--blood starts moving etc.) but some are more subtle--the proverbial sinking feeling in the guts, skin crawling, stage fright, and even the good ones like love, gratitude, giving do seem to emanate from the heart. Any ideas?
--Alan Q

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Actually, I think most emotions do cause physical sensations. I don't have my psych textbook anymore, but this was definitely discussed there. Emotional responses include the release of different chemicals that affect the body, such as adrenaline. I understand that one reason for the popularity of chocolate is that it contains chemicals that are identical to those produced in the body when someone is 'in love'. Anyone with a psych textbook can probably give a bunch of examples of the chemical relationship to emotions.


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sosumi

Hypothesis: Physical sensations are an essential part of any emotions. Without a physical sensation, you would not be having an emotion, but just some neutral thought.

Any emotions on that? Have you ever experienced an emotion that left you cold physically?