Episode
#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
2:21:04
Published: Fri Nov 20 2020
Description
Lisa Feldman Barrett is a neuroscientist, psychologist, and author. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil - Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/lex and use code LEX to get $200 off - MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/lex to get 15% off annual sub - BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off EPISODE LINKS: Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain (book): https://amzn.to/2Sp5ar9 How Emotions Are Made (book): https://amzn.to/2GwAFg6 Lisa's Twitter: https://twitter.com/LFeldmanBarrett Lisa's Website: https://lisafeldmanbarrett.com/ PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: - Check out the sponsors above, it's the best way to support this podcast - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LexFridmanPage - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) - Introduction (07:27) - Falling in love (25:10) - Love at first sight (39:49) - Romantic (43:48) - Writing process (54:32) - Evolution of the human brain (1:08:41) - Nature of evil (1:17:23) - Love is an evolutionary advantage (1:21:59) - Variation in species (1:27:41) - Does evolution have a direction? (1:45:19) - Love with an inanimate object (1:49:37) - Just be yourself is confusing advice (1:59:49) - Consciousness (2:06:26) - Book recommendations
Chapters
The podcast discusses a bed that can be cooled down to 55 degrees or heated to 110 degrees on each side separately.
00:00 - 06:33 (06:33)
Summary
The podcast discusses a bed that can be cooled down to 55 degrees or heated to 110 degrees on each side separately. They also touch on the importance of alternating between different kinds of discussions and perspectives, and end with an advertisement for free Omega-3 fish oil.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
A group decided to throw a sushi party in a coffee shop in the early 90s at a state college in Pennsylvania, where they would usually have a pizza shop, a sub shop, and a bagel shop.
06:33 - 12:04 (05:30)
Summary
A group decided to throw a sushi party in a coffee shop in the early 90s at a state college in Pennsylvania, where they would usually have a pizza shop, a sub shop, and a bagel shop. On top of this, the person telling the story was also feeling unhappy with their life, including the lack of sex they had for many months.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker recounts her experience with online dating, including some unique encounters such as corresponding with a couple in search of a third person and a man looking for a dominant woman.
12:07 - 20:01 (07:53)
Summary
The speaker recounts her experience with online dating, including some unique encounters such as corresponding with a couple in search of a third person and a man looking for a dominant woman.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
In this podcast, the speaker talks about how she fell in love with someone after only five dates, and how there was a level of authenticity and connection that she had never felt before.
20:01 - 28:13 (08:11)
Summary
In this podcast, the speaker talks about how she fell in love with someone after only five dates, and how there was a level of authenticity and connection that she had never felt before. However, the person she was seeing didn't want to rush into anything and took things slowly.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker discusses research on the "magic" of love at first sight and an optimal margin of illusion where one puts a positive spin on smaller things but doesn't ignore larger things, using the context of a scientist who studies the brain.
28:13 - 37:35 (09:21)
Summary
The speaker discusses research on the "magic" of love at first sight and an optimal margin of illusion where one puts a positive spin on smaller things but doesn't ignore larger things, using the context of a scientist who studies the brain.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker reminisces about romantic and thoughtful moments in her life, from her partner understanding who she was to moving into a new house with a smaller garage.
37:35 - 44:00 (06:25)
Summary
The speaker reminisces about romantic and thoughtful moments in her life, from her partner understanding who she was to moving into a new house with a smaller garage. She also reflects on the idea that adults were once babies.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
In this episode, Anne Fadiman shares insights on the challenges of writing essays and how to overcome them.
44:00 - 51:48 (07:48)
Summary
In this episode, Anne Fadiman shares insights on the challenges of writing essays and how to overcome them. She also discusses how she learned from her husband, Steven Pinker, about the science of language and writing.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The evolution of brains is not a simple upward trajectory from simple to complex, as the function of the brain is largely influenced by its environment and niche.
51:49 - 1:04:12 (12:23)
Summary
The evolution of brains is not a simple upward trajectory from simple to complex, as the function of the brain is largely influenced by its environment and niche. The niche is becoming more complex and shaped in weird ways.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The majority of people are capable of doing very bad things according to science, but it's not deterministic and it's a little more like nudging someone from one set of possibilities to another set of possibilities.
1:04:12 - 1:14:39 (10:26)
Summary
The majority of people are capable of doing very bad things according to science, but it's not deterministic and it's a little more like nudging someone from one set of possibilities to another set of possibilities. This is much more consistent with what we know about biology and how it works in the physical world.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Research suggests that people prioritize helping their family, then neighbors, then the average stranger, humans over animals, and those in their country over those outside.
1:14:39 - 1:23:26 (08:47)
Summary
Research suggests that people prioritize helping their family, then neighbors, then the average stranger, humans over animals, and those in their country over those outside. However, understanding developmental trajectories and life histories can change how people prioritize their help.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Michelle Galphant's research examines the impact of strict rules in tight cultures versus personal freedoms in loose cultures, highlighting the difficulties COVID-19 brings to individualistic societies.
1:23:26 - 1:32:13 (08:46)
Summary
Michelle Galphant's research examines the impact of strict rules in tight cultures versus personal freedoms in loose cultures, highlighting the difficulties COVID-19 brings to individualistic societies.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The constraints of Earth and the evolution of different organisms' brains may not have a specific direction, but it seems to be running towards something, given the imperatives of the universe.
1:32:14 - 1:40:19 (08:04)
Summary
The constraints of Earth and the evolution of different organisms' brains may not have a specific direction, but it seems to be running towards something, given the imperatives of the universe.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Some scientists believe that the anatomy of a bird's brain controlling birdsong is structurally similar to the human system for language, particularly in terms of the brain regions important for processing language and controlling major organ systems.
1:40:19 - 1:46:47 (06:27)
Summary
Some scientists believe that the anatomy of a bird's brain controlling birdsong is structurally similar to the human system for language, particularly in terms of the brain regions important for processing language and controlling major organ systems. This offers a different way of looking at the remarkable characteristics of a human's brain and body.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker discusses the role of scarcity in forming deep, meaningful connections with both humans and inanimate objects, and the impact of the brain in managing bodily resources.
1:46:47 - 1:49:52 (03:05)
Summary
The speaker discusses the role of scarcity in forming deep, meaningful connections with both humans and inanimate objects, and the impact of the brain in managing bodily resources.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
You have multiple selves and can choose the situations you put yourself in, but you cannot be a self by yourself.
1:49:52 - 1:52:21 (02:29)
Summary
You have multiple selves and can choose the situations you put yourself in, but you cannot be a self by yourself. Spending time around people and choosing relationships that allow you to be your best self is important.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker reflects on the complicated nature of emotions and the challenge of approaching them honestly, while also discussing a more Buddhist perspective on emotions and how to understand and work with them.
1:52:21 - 1:56:59 (04:37)
Summary
The speaker reflects on the complicated nature of emotions and the challenge of approaching them honestly, while also discussing a more Buddhist perspective on emotions and how to understand and work with them.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Investing in making it easier for your brain to control your body is important.
1:56:59 - 2:00:07 (03:08)
Summary
Investing in making it easier for your brain to control your body is important. While not everyone has control over their environment, everyone can do something to make their body budgets a little more solvent.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
With a vast range of sense data being constantly received by the brain, it's intriguing how the brain still manages to interpret this information in very basic terms of moods and affect.
2:00:08 - 2:02:03 (01:55)
Summary
With a vast range of sense data being constantly received by the brain, it's intriguing how the brain still manages to interpret this information in very basic terms of moods and affect. This podcast highlights the complexity of the brain's interpretation of sensory input and how it's related to our emotions.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
In this episode, the host explores the question of understanding consciousness and whether science, with its current budget and incentive structure, can achieve this understanding.
2:02:04 - 2:06:22 (04:18)
Summary
In this episode, the host explores the question of understanding consciousness and whether science, with its current budget and incentive structure, can achieve this understanding. He discusses the mental features of consciousness and the challenges of studying it through the lens of science.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The host talks about the books he gives to his newly graduated PhD students and shares a moment of pondering on the purpose of feeling raindrops on our skin.
2:06:22 - 2:10:28 (04:06)
Summary
The host talks about the books he gives to his newly graduated PhD students and shares a moment of pondering on the purpose of feeling raindrops on our skin.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker read 50-60 popular science books to learn how to write one, and mentions creating beautiful and educational videos/lectures without dumbing material down.
2:10:28 - 2:18:56 (08:27)
Summary
The speaker read 50-60 popular science books to learn how to write one, and mentions creating beautiful and educational videos/lectures without dumbing material down. They also refer to a colleague who produced a cinematic lecture on emotions.
Episode#140 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Love, Evolution, and the Human Brain
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Lex and Lisa wrap up their interview with a call to action for viewers to support through subscribing, reviewing, following and buying Lisa's book.
2:18:56 - 2:20:44 (01:47)
Summary
Lex and Lisa wrap up their interview with a call to action for viewers to support through subscribing, reviewing, following and buying Lisa's book. They also recommend the Masterclass online courses and make mention of Lex's Twitter account.