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In this episode, Peter sits down with Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, a psychologist, neuroscientist, author, and distinguished professor at Northeastern University whose research challenges many of the conventional assumptions about emotions and how the brain works. Lisa is best known for her theory of constructed emotion, which challenges the idea that emotions such as fear, anger, and sadness are hardwired responses with universal biological signatures. She begins by explaining how unexpected findings early in her research led her to question traditional theories of emotion. She discusses why studying individual variation, rather than relying on averages, is essential to understanding the brain. Lisa then explores the idea that the brain is fundamentally a predictive system rather than a reactive one. She explains how past experiences and memories shape what we perceive, feel, and do. She also describes how the brain continuously anticipates and regulates metabolism through a process called allostasis. The conversation then turns to the effects of chronic stress, uncertainty, and childhood adversity on physical and emotional health. Lisa explains how our relationships help regulate our nervous systems and why the loss of a loved one can have such a profound physiological impact. She also discusses how deliberate practice and new experiences can reshape the brain's predictions, potentially changing how we think, feel, and respond to the world around us. Throughout the discussion, Peter and Lisa explore how this framework challenges traditional views of emotion and offers a greater sense of agency over our emotional lives.
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