Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett is a top expert in emotional studies, with a laboratory that uses approaches from both psychology and neuroscience to study emotions. In the Huberman Lab Podcast, Dr. Barrett discusses the complexity and variability of emotion, the problem with the definition of emotion, and the limitations of language in understanding emotions. She argues that the brain is constantly guessing at what the causes of sensory signals are in order to stay alive and create categories of possible futures, outcomes, and motor plans. Dr. Barrett's work is informative and practical, and she is good at teaching complex scientific concepts in clear and actionable terms.

00:00:00 - The Challenge of Defining Emotions

00:17:57 - The Variability of Facial Expressions and Emotional States

00:36:04 - The Importance of People Who Keep You Comfortable

00:53:35 - The Brain as a Signal Processor

01:10:43 - The Complexity of the Nervous System

01:28:42 - The Connection Between Movement and Emotions

01:46:41 - The Dimensionality of Emotions and Affect

02:04:38 - Oliver Sacks and Animal Sensory Experience

02:22:28 - The Importance of Kindness and Social Connection

02:38:54 - Thank you for your Interest in Science

Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett explains that the primary function of the brain is to reduce uncertainty, a process that involves constantly receiving and categorizing signals to make decisions. She likens this categorization and decision-making process to the compression of information, similar to how an MP3 file compresses audio data. This analogy illustrates how the brain simplifies complex information to function efficiently. Barrett also discusses the dynamic nature of this process, which evolves over time and is crucial for understanding threats and maintaining stability in various situations, including extreme ones like combat scenarios.

Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett's critique of the universal facial expressions theory represents a significant paradigm shift in the understanding of emotions and their expressions. This theory, long supported by the work of psychologists like Paul Ekman, posited that certain facial expressions are universally recognized indicators of specific emotions, such as happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, and disgust. However, Barrett's extensive research challenges this notion, suggesting that emotional expressions and their interpretations are not universal but are deeply influenced by cultural, social, and individual factors.

Barrett argues that emotions are constructed by the brain in response to a complex interplay of sensory inputs, past experiences, and contextual cues. This constructionist view posits that what we perceive as emotional expressions are not direct readouts of internal emotional states but are interpretations made by the brain based on its predictions and the available contextual information. Therefore, the same facial movement can be interpreted differently depending on the observer's cultural background, the situation in which the expression is observed, and the observer's relationship to the person expressing the emotion

Discussing the representation of emotions in the nervous system, Barrett highlights that emotions are abstract concepts rather than distinct physiological states. She explains that as sensory information travels towards the brain's midline, it becomes more abstract, allowing for a diverse range of patterns to be associated with a single emotion, like anger. This variability is further influenced by developmental and cultural experiences, underlining the complexity of accurately studying and understanding emotions. Barrett's perspective suggests that emotions are not innate but are constructed by the brain, drawing on past experiences, cultural background, and language.

She contests the traditional view that our capacities to recognize and convey emotions are primarily determined by genetics, emphasizing instead the pivotal role of culture, early learning experiences, and social practices in shaping emotional competence.

Barrett's argument is grounded in the concept of emotional constructionism, which posits that emotions are not universal, biologically pre-determined states that we all experience in the same way. Rather, emotions are constructed by our brains, influenced significantly by the cultural contexts in which we grow up and live. This perspective suggests that the ways in which we experience and express emotions—what emotions we recognize, how we label them, and how we display them—are learned rather than innate.

Barrett's critique of the reliance on language to define and understand emotions delves into the nuanced territory of emotional nuance and complexity. She posits that the lexicon available to us often falls short of encapsulating the full depth and breadth of our emotional states. This linguistic shortfall suggests that emotions, with their intricate blend of physiological, cognitive, and cultural components, cannot be fully understood through words alone. Barrett encourages a broader, more integrated approach to emotional comprehension that transcends verbal descriptions, incorporating non-verbal communication such as body language, facial expressions, and even the less tangible aspects of emotional experience, like the atmosphere of a situation or the felt sense of an emotion. This holistic perspective acknowledges the multifaceted nature of emotions and the limitations of relying solely on language for their expression and interpretation.

Addressing the interconnectedness of movement, emotions, and brain-body systems, Barrett clarifies that movement is integral to how emotions are experienced and expressed. The brain uses past experiences to make predictions about potential actions, suggesting that our emotional experiences are deeply tied to the brain's motor plans and actions. This perspective challenges the notion that movement and emotional experiences are separate, highlighting the complexity of the brain's predictive mechanisms in shaping our emotional and physical responses to the world.