Pathoscape is a two-dimensional affect space, i.e. it maps all possible feelings states onto a plane defined by 𝑥 and 𝑦 axes. States are represented as vectors from the origin projecting into the plane, wherein these states are differentiated by the vectors' directions and magnitudes. Any state 𝑧 can be specified by the angle (θ) and magnitude (∣𝑧∣) of the vector representing that state. The magnitude of a state represents both its intensity and what is called its valence. Valence is the degree to which a state feels pleasant (positive) or unpleasant (negative). The figure below shows vectors (𝑧₁, 𝑧₂, 𝑧₃, 𝑧₄) representing four feeling states. Both 𝑧₁ and 𝑧₂ have positive valence, but 𝑧₁ has a larger magnitude and is therefore more intensely pleasant. Likewise, both 𝑧₃ and 𝑧₄ have negative valence, but 𝑧₃ has a larger magnitude and is therefore more intensely unpleasant. In Pathoscape, valence can vary in all directions, and is not necessarily colinear with either axis, so valence is not a dimension of the affect space.

     The 𝑥-axis in Pathoscape measures impulse, a subjective drive to action. Being "amped up" and driven to react are feelings of impulse. Obviously, impulse requires a state of arousal, but this arousal has directional meaning. In the positive 𝑥 direction, impulses are extroverted, while in the negative 𝑥 direction, impulses are introverted (See top figure). Extroverted impulses are forward impulses when 𝑦 is positive (quadrant I) and outward impulses when 𝑦 is negative (quadrant IV). Introverted impulses are inward impulses when 𝑦 is positive (quadrant II) and backward impulses when 𝑦 is negative (quadrant III). Each directional impulse is associated with an action tendency that prompts the subject to interact in a certain way with the stimulus, as shown in the table below. Notice quadrants I & III are opposites and quadrants II & IV are opposites.

     The 𝑦-axis in Pathoscape is called protovalence. The positive direction of the protovalence axis represents joy, while the negative direction represents misery. Positively-valenced emotions have positive protovalence values, and therefore a joy component, while negatively-valenced emotions have negative protovalence values, and therefore a misery component. However, the 𝑦-axis is not a valence dimension, per se, but rather the direction of prototypical valence, i.e. a joy-misery axis. Protovalence is different from valence in that valence is just general pleasantness or unpleasantness, measured by the magnitude of a state's vector regardless of direction, while protovalence specifically measures the ranges of joy and misery and is only measured in the 𝑦 dimension. In this way, hedonic quality (valence) is not confined to one dimension ranging from joy to misery, but instead allows any positive state to be equally pleasant as any other, even if not equally joyous, and allows any negative state to be equally unpleasant as any other, even if not equally miserable. After all, under some circumstances, excitement or awe can feel as pleasant as joy, and terror or fury as unpleasant as misery. Since the vectors for these states other than joy and misery vary at different angles from the 𝑦-axis, valence cannot be a dimension of the affect space like protovalence can.

     These two dimensions are presumed to represent the activities of the same two neurophysiological systems (the mesolimbic and reticular systems) posited by Russell as used in the Circumplex Model. However, they are interpreted as protovalence instead of valence and impulse instead of arousal, giving the four quadrants of Pathoscape after cognitive interpretation of the activities of the two systems. Additionally, cognitive interpretation of the integrated activities of exogenous and endogenous attention possibly plays a role in differentiating affective states, as will be discussed shortly.