What Role Do Emotions Play in How Our Brains Work?


Modern neuroscience and psychology, by contrast, teach that the ancient dichotomy between “cold” logic and “hot” passion is just as misleading as the idea of ​​gender difference. It’s clear that Dirac has never been devoid of emotion, and men are driven by emotions, just like women. Immaterial, emotionless minds are a product of the imagination. “No body, never mind,” wrote neuroscientist Antonio Damasio. Because mind, brain, and body are one, it is impossible to separate our boastful rationality from emotions.

It is interesting to see this argument developed by an author who started his career as a theoretical physicist. Mlodinow has written previous books about his late friend, Stephen Hawking, and others, describing how randomness permeates our lives. With “emotional” he immerses himself in an area that is clearly not his own. The result is a highly intellectualized version of emotions without all bodily manifestations and long evolutionary history. Charles Darwin is properly mentioned, but we don’t read about some big names like psychologist Paul Ekman or neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp who put facial expressions and emotional brain circuits in evolutionary context. This is not Mlodinow’s focus.

However, those interested in understanding how emotions unconsciously drive thought expect an encouraging read. Mlodinow cleverly tackles this topic with compelling examples and noting the latest research, which is quite remarkable. He writes in a lively, candid style that draws you in easily and makes you reflect on both the anecdotes told and the way you handle comparable situations. In this respect, I found it a plus for the author to come to this field from outside. He spends little time in the academic debates of the day as to whether emotions are culturally constructed and instead turns to fundamentals such as motivation, determination, and the misidentified concept of “emotional intelligence.”

Both parents II. Some examples of Mlodinow refer to this period of confusion and fear, as he survived German concentration camps during World War II. For example, he describes how his emaciated father was liberated in Buchenwald by the US Army in 1945. American soldiers generously distributed fresh water, cigarettes, chocolate and food to the starving prisoners. While his father’s friend Moshe couldn’t stop eating and consumed a whole piece of salami, Mlodinow’s father managed to control himself. Within hours, Moshe suffered from severe intestinal distress. He died the next day. The author’s father survived, thanks to his restraint.



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