Computational Analysis of the Impacts of Emotion on Learning in a Social Context

This paper addresses how affective states and social interactions can strengthen learning processes. Using recent insights from Cognitive, Affective and Social Neuroscience it provides a computational model of learning processes, integrating mechanisms for the impact of a person's own emotions on these processes, as well as for the impact of emotions of others. By means of simulation experiments it is shown how these impacts strengthen the learning process. Based on these insights, and the presented computational model, support is provided for designing and testing (in silico) learning environments that enable and promote these impacts.