The place of inner language in feeling: A commentary on 'Revisiting the left convexity hypothesis: Changes in the mental apparatus after left dorso-medial prefrontal damage' by Salas & Yuen

This paper provides a commentary on Salas and Yuen (this issue) who propose a revision to the ‘left convexity hypothesis’ of Kaplan-Solms and Solms, that there is no evidence for involvement of left hemisphere regions in the mental apparatus. Salas and Yuen provide a theoretical review and detailed clinical description that forms the basis for their argument that left dorso-medial frontal regions may be involved in ego regulation of emotion. In this commentary, the theoretical basis for Salas and Yuen’s argument is considered in light of cognitive and affective neuroscience models of emotion regulation. Whilst this commentary is supportive of Salas’ and Yuen’s position, the models discussed distinguish different roles of inner language associated with labeling and reappraisal, or with distancing or shifting of inner perspective. However this clinical, theoretical and empirical extension of Salas and Yuen’s position raises further questions regarding the role and nature of inner language with regard to the experience and regulation of emotion.