The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
Top Neuroscientist: Anxiety Is A Predictive Error In The Brain! Heres The Proof Your Brain Is Faking Trauma! Your Whole Life Might Be A Prediction!
Apr 17, 2025
In a fascinating conversation, Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, a leading neuroscientist and author known for her groundbreaking research on emotions, unveils how anxiety can actually be a predictive error in our brains. She discusses the surprising nature of trauma, suggesting it may not always be real, and explores how social contagion can amplify mental health issues. The importance of reframing past events to reclaim personal agency is a key theme, along with insights on how our brain's predictions shape our experience of pain and perception.
02:06:45
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Quick takeaways
- Anxiety and trauma are constructed predictions made by the brain, highlighting the need for understanding emotional mechanisms for better control.
- Recognizing the role of social connections is vital for emotional well-being, as relationships significantly enhance resilience and stress management.
Deep dives
Understanding Emotions as Predictions
Emotions, including anxiety and trauma, are not simply reactions but are constructed predictions made by the brain based on past experiences. Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett's research reveals that while we are born with the capacity for emotional circuits, we are not inherently equipped to control them. Rather, the brain processes emotions quickly and automatically, linking them to previous memories, which creates a sense of involuntary behavior. By recognizing that the brain predicts rather than merely reacts, individuals can learn to exert more control over their emotional states.
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