Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett

And, you know, I have this video that I often show when I'm giving a talk to scientists or to civilians. I'm giving a talk and it creates a situation where they can predict something and they can feel that a prediction is not just this abstract kind of thought. It's your brain is... is literally changing the firing of its own sensory neurons to anticipate incoming sensations.

And, you know, I have this video that I often show when I'm giving a talk to scientists or to civilians. I'm giving a talk and it creates a situation where they can predict something and they can feel that a prediction is not just this abstract kind of thought. It's your brain is... is literally changing the firing of its own sensory neurons to anticipate incoming sensations.

So you start to feel these sensations before the signals actually arrive for you to perceive them. You start to have the experience before the world gives you those signals.

So you start to feel these sensations before the signals actually arrive for you to perceive them. You start to have the experience before the world gives you those signals.

Yes, so when you drink, so say you're super thirsty and you drink a big glass of water, when do you stop being thirsty? Almost immediately. But actually it takes 20 minutes for that water to be absorbed into your bloodstream and make its way to the brain to tell the brain that you are no longer in need of fluid.

Yes, so when you drink, so say you're super thirsty and you drink a big glass of water, when do you stop being thirsty? Almost immediately. But actually it takes 20 minutes for that water to be absorbed into your bloodstream and make its way to the brain to tell the brain that you are no longer in need of fluid.

Because across millions of opportunities, you have learned that certain movements now and certain sensory signals now will result in that mental state. Or here's another example. So right now, keep your eyes on me. You're looking right at me. And in your mind's eye, I want you to imagine a Macintosh apple, like not a computer, but like an actual piece of fruit. Okay. Can you do it?

Because across millions of opportunities, you have learned that certain movements now and certain sensory signals now will result in that mental state. Or here's another example. So right now, keep your eyes on me. You're looking right at me. And in your mind's eye, I want you to imagine a Macintosh apple, like not a computer, but like an actual piece of fruit. Okay. Can you do it?

Yeah. What color is it?

Yeah. What color is it?

Okay. Does it have any red?

Okay. Does it have any red?

Okay. So it's a Granny Smith apple.

Okay. So it's a Granny Smith apple.

Okay. What does it taste like? Like imagine grabbing it.

Okay. What does it taste like? Like imagine grabbing it.

biting into it, hearing the crunch of the apple. What does it taste like?

biting into it, hearing the crunch of the apple. What does it taste like?

It's like a little tart maybe?

It's like a little tart maybe?