Thoughtforms Life Conversation 1 w/ Lisa Barrett, Ben Lyons, Eli Sennesh, Jordan Theriault-Brown, and Karen Quigley
9 snips
Jan 17, 2026 
In this lively discussion, psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett shares her insights on constructed emotions and allostasis. The conversation dives into the concept of bioelectricity as a conduit for collective intelligence in cells. They explore how cells solve problems collectively and the fascinating idea that anatomical changes can be guided by global electrical signals. Topics include how context affects development, the interplay between genetic specifications and environmental influences, and the potential of bioelectric patterns to dictate healing and growth.
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Cells As Collective Intelligence
- Groups of cells act as collective intelligences that pursue large-scale goals no single cell knows.
- Michael Levin argues genomes provide prompts and hardware, not detailed blueprints for anatomy.
Tail Graft Turns Into Limb
- Grafted tail tissue on salamanders can transform into a limb despite no local damage.
- Levin uses this 1950s experiment to show large-scale anatomical information overrides local signals.
Bioelectric Pattern Memory
- Large-scale anatomical outcomes can be stored as bioelectrical pattern memories that guide future regeneration.
- Levin showed altering voltage patterns in planaria creates stable two-headed morphologies across generations of cuts.
