 A girl named Riley Andersen is born in Minnesota and within her mind , five personifications of her basic emotions — Joy , Sadness , Fear , Disgust , and Anger — gradually come to life and influence her actions via a console in her mind 's Headquarters . As she grows up , her experiences become memories , stored in colored orbs , which are sent into long @-@ term memory each night . Her five most important " core memories " ( all of which are happy ones ) are housed in a hub that powers " islands " , each reflecting an aspect of her personality . In Headquarters , Joy acts as a de facto leader to maintain Riley 's cheerful childhood , but since she and the other emotions do not understand Sadness ' purpose ( not even Sadness herself ) , she frequently tries to keep Sadness away from the console . 
