These brain regions in the cortex that carry out more advanced functions appear to represent much more complex states, allowing someone to truly feel a mixed emotion. Brain regions such as the anterior cingulate and ventromedial prefrontal cortex integrate many sources of information – essential for being able to form a mixed emotion.

New research reveals that mixed emotions, like feeling both happy and sad, are processed in distinct areas of the brain.

Mainstream methods for measuring feelings treat positive and negative as opposite sides of a spectrum. But study participants often report mixed emotions.