The study by Pessoa et al. investigates whether the neural processing of emotional faces requires attention. Previous research suggested that emotional stimuli are processed automatically, independent of attention. However, this study challenges that view by demonstrating that brain regions, including the amygdala, respond to emotional faces only when sufficient attentional resources are available. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the researchers found that emotional faces elicited greater activation in the amygdala and other brain regions when attended compared to when unattended. This suggests that the processing of emotional facial expressions is under top-down control and requires attention. The study also examined the extent to which unattended objects are processed by the visual system. Psychophysical evidence indicates that processing outside the focus of attention is reduced or eliminated under certain conditions. However, the processing of emotional stimuli appears to be an exception, as these stimuli are reported to be processed automatically, without attention. Behavioral and imaging studies support this, showing that the amygdala is activated by fearful faces even when subjects are unaware of them. In this study, the researchers tested the alternative possibility that the processing of emotional stimuli requires attention, similar to other stimulus categories. They used an fMRI task where subjects were required to perform a demanding competing task, which would exhaust attentional resources. The results showed that emotional faces elicited greater activation in the amygdala and other brain regions only when attention was allocated to them. This indicates that the processing of emotional facial expressions is not automatic and requires attention. The study also found that the processing of emotional faces was modulated by attention and valence. The amygdala showed greater activation for fearful faces compared to neutral ones, and this effect was more pronounced when attention was allocated to the faces. Additionally, the fusiform gyrus and other brain regions showed increased activation for fearful faces when attended, suggesting that attention plays a role in the processing of emotional facial expressions. The findings of this study challenge the notion that emotional stimuli are processed automatically and suggest that attention is required for their processing. The results also highlight the role of the amygdala in the processing of emotional facial expressions and its interaction with other brain regions. The study provides evidence that the processing of emotional facial expressions is under top-down control and requires attention, which has implications for understanding the neural mechanisms underlying emotional processing.The study by Pessoa et al. investigates whether the neural processing of emotional faces requires attention. Previous research suggested that emotional stimuli are processed automatically, independent of attention. However, this study challenges that view by demonstrating that brain regions, including the amygdala, respond to emotional faces only when sufficient attentional resources are available. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the researchers found that emotional faces elicited greater activation in the amygdala and other brain regions when attended compared to when unattended. This suggests that the processing of emotional facial expressions is under top-down control and requires attention. The study also examined the extent to which unattended objects are processed by the visual system. Psychophysical evidence indicates that processing outside the focus of attention is reduced or eliminated under certain conditions. However, the processing of emotional stimuli appears to be an exception, as these stimuli are reported to be processed automatically, without attention. Behavioral and imaging studies support this, showing that the amygdala is activated by fearful faces even when subjects are unaware of them. In this study, the researchers tested the alternative possibility that the processing of emotional stimuli requires attention, similar to other stimulus categories. They used an fMRI task where subjects were required to perform a demanding competing task, which would exhaust attentional resources. The results showed that emotional faces elicited greater activation in the amygdala and other brain regions only when attention was allocated to them. This indicates that the processing of emotional facial expressions is not automatic and requires attention. The study also found that the processing of emotional faces was modulated by attention and valence. The amygdala showed greater activation for fearful faces compared to neutral ones, and this effect was more pronounced when attention was allocated to the faces. Additionally, the fusiform gyrus and other brain regions showed increased activation for fearful faces when attended, suggesting that attention plays a role in the processing of emotional facial expressions. The findings of this study challenge the notion that emotional stimuli are processed automatically and suggest that attention is required for their processing. The results also highlight the role of the amygdala in the processing of emotional facial expressions and its interaction with other brain regions. The study provides evidence that the processing of emotional facial expressions is under top-down control and requires attention, which has implications for understanding the neural mechanisms underlying emotional processing.