Lisa Feldman Barrett: Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain
Lisa Feldman Barrett is among the top one percent most cited scientists in the world for her revolutionary research in psychology and neuroscience. She is a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University, with appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. She is also Chief Science Officer for the Center for Law, Brain & Behavior at Harvard University.
In addition to her bestselling book How Emotions Are Made*, she has published over 240 peer-reviewed, scientific papers appearing in Science, Nature Neuroscience, and other top journals in psychology and cognitive neuroscience. She has also given a popular TED talk with nearly 6 million views and received a Guggenheim Fellowship in neuroscience and an NIH Director's Pioneer Award.
In this conversation, Lisa and I discuss the lessons from her newest book, Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain*. We explore some of the common misperceptions about brain biology and examine how much energy use and conservation affects us. Then, we uncover how we can help ourselves — and others — learn better.
Key Points
- The primary purpose of your brain is to keep you alive. As a result, your brain predicts almost everything you do.
- Unlike how we perceive, sensing actually comes second for the brain. It’s wired to prepare for action first.
- Learning is an expensive use of energy. Leaders can cultivate environments for learning by providing stable environments that don’t burn unnecessary energy.
- Changing behavior in the heat of the moment isn’t likely, but we can change how our brain will predict outside of the moment.
- You are always cultivating your past, since today’s present becomes the past. That’s how you change the way your brain predicts in the future.
Resources Mentioned
- Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain* by Lisa Feldman Barrett
- Lisa Feldman Barrret’s website
Interview Notes
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