Computational Modeling of Cognition–Emotion Interactions: Theoretical and Practical Relevance for Behavioral Healthcare

Recent years have witnessed an increasing interest in developing computational models of emotion and emotion–cognition interaction, within the emerging area of computational affective science. At the same time, emotion theorists and clinical psychologists have begun to recognize the importance of moving beyond descriptive characterizations of psychopathology, and identifying the underlying mechanisms that mediate both the etiology of affective disorders, and their treatment: the transdiagnostic approach to psychopathology. Computational models of cognition–emotion interactions have the potential to facilitate more accurate assessment and diagnosis of affective disorders, and to provide a basis for more efficient and targeted approaches to their treatment, through an improved understanding of the underlying mechanisms. This chapter discusses the state-of-the-art in modeling emotion–cognition interaction and the relevance of these models for understanding the mechanisms mediating psychopathology and therapeutic action. The discussion is limited to symbolic models and theories defined at the psychological, versus neural, level. The chapter also outlines how these models can support the development of serious therapeutic games, to enhance assessment and treatment methods in behavioral healthcare.