In some respects, the movie captures the science behind memory and emotion really well, such as how remembering past events can regulate emotion. The central location of the story is Headquarters, which corresponds to the current contents of Riley’s consciousness – what she is perceiving from the world around her and what the emotions and other “mind workers” choose to show her in the form of memories or ideas.

Riley’s mind is shown to be vast, comprising many individual units (Imagination Land and Abstract Thought, for instance). The action primarily takes place within Riley’s mind, with anthropomorphic emotions – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust – as the main characters. As a cognitive psychologist who studies memory, I was excited to see how the film showed the relationship between memory and emotion. The filmmakers consulted with neuroscientists and psychologists to help make sure they got the science right. The film is getting a lot of attention for its depiction of emotion and memory.

Disney/Pixar’s newest film, Inside Out, tells the story of 11-year-old Riley and her difficulty dealing with a family move to San Francisco.

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