You have 3 brains. This is how to use them | Robert Sapolsky
You’ve heard about your ‘lizard brain’. But what about the other two?
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What's the best way to think about the brain? While most of us think of it as a dense gray matter that’s separate from the physical body, that actually couldn’t be further from the truth. Our brain is actually made up of 3 layers, and each layer not only directly impacts the other, but has control over the physical body and how you feel. Neurologist Robert Sapolsky explores these separate brain systems as individual characters, all with different goals and motives.
The brain comes in 3 functional layers: the reptilian brain, the limbic system, and the cerebral cortex. The reptilian brain controls the regulatory systems in your body like hormones, body temperature, blood pressure, and even hunger. The limbic system is the emotional function of your brain, making you feel fear, anger, joy, or gratitude. Finally, the cerebral cortex is the most evolved part of the brain that oversees impulse control, decision making, and long-term planning.
With a better understanding of how each part of the brain functions, we can have more mindful thoughts that will influence more favorable decision-making and outcomes in life. For example, when you think of your favorite memory or something that makes you happy, your reptilian brain will quickly cool down your body and even lower your blood pressure. This can then lead to feeling less stressed, and finding more joy throughout the day.
Read the full video transcript: bigthink.com/the-well/3-layer...
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Bro said all that in a single sentence 😂 I absolutely love this man, his Stanford lectures are phenomenal 🙏
Agreed 😊
Watch his lecture on religion.
Bro has four brains.
this guy is my favourite kind of celebrity cos of his great ability to communicate complicated + relevant info in interesting and accessible ways, absolute legend
This guy is definitively my favourite neurobiologist! His work is a real treasure trove for my work as a self-employed neuropsychological clinician!
My jaw dropped when I clicked on the video and saw the name of the speaker. It's so amazing to see and hear him after so many years of seeing and hearing him in my mind as I read his books
Same. I bought Behave and in 2021 I spent a month attempting to literally memorize word for word the Appendix 1: Neuroscience 101 so that I could learn the basics of Neuroscience to eventually apply the lessons from Neuroscience it to Artificial Intelligence. Quite early on, while reading this Appendix about Neuroscience, I realized that something that Robert had written was not correct: that there are roughly ten glial cells for every neuron in the brain. It turns out the ratio is more like 2:1 or 1:1... not 10:1.... this kind of made me think, "well geez, if Robert was wrong about something so potentially important so early on, what else will get wrong in this appendix and in the rest of this book?" It made me want to put down the book right away. But I stuck through it with the assumption that most things that Sapolsky would write in that appendix are correct to the best of Neuroscientists' knowledge for the time the book was published... An assumption that may not be true... Uh....
@@JohnSmith-cg3cv since has to be wrong, virtually all science will be wrong to some extent that's the nature of science, accepting we don't know and trying to find out what limited parts we can
Always a pleasure as well as an education to hear the eminent Robert Sapolsky.
I admire this man so much. I have heard many people speak. Most of the intellectual ones I've heard, I did so on the internet. But this man manages to stand out. Among the great ones, this man is truly an exception.
Explanations without solutions
a meso potamian fossil going extinct
@@TNT-km2eg Solution TLDW: When SHTF, go to your happy place.
Thank you for not cluttering this video with a cut rate Philip Glass-like soundtrack and corny stock footage as in some of the other entries in this series.
“The subconscious mind is ruled by suggestion, it accepts all suggestions - it does not argue with you - it fulfils your wishes.” “Your subconscious mind does not argue with you. It accepts what your conscious mind decrees. If you say, 'I can't afford it,' your subconscious mind works to make it true.
thank you for this justin 🙏🏽🖤
what is this from?
@@user-kj2gf1cn1pSounds like Napoleon Hill or even Robert Anton Wilson to me
No, often the subconscious mind sends signals to the conscious mind.
What the thinker thinks the prover proves
Nowhere is this more strikingly obvious than in people with mental illnesses, and I think those of us with anxiety have an intrinsic awareness of how our mental and emotional state affects our bodies, because damn if I'm not sitting here in a buttload of pain that I learned to tune out when I was a teenager because my cortisol flooded brain makes the muscles in my body tense 24/7, and I don't remember the last time I didn't have a headache! I can't get rid of the anxiety completely, so I can't get rid of the pain completely either, and the pain often makes my emotional state worse, que the vicious circle 🤷♀️
I understand, as someone that also suffers a lot of daily anxiety (1 of my symptoms of my autism), I strongly recommend trying out cbd, thc and even tripping, because it helped and helps me a lot.
Used to have a lot of anxiety and panic attacks, but fixed them for good with breathe work. It's kinda almost stupid and tragic how much pain and loss I could've prevented just by breathing in spesific ways for like 10-15 minutes a day.
Read Psychocybernetics. You'll understand.
I highly recommend you check out Dr. Russell Kennedy's work, and his approach to healing anxiety
I’ll jump on the advice wagon and say if you haven’t already done so look into how nutrition can help you. The food we eat has a lot of impact on our brain and and rest of our body. I’m glad you learned to control your state of mind and I hope you’re able to conquer this challenge entirely 🙏🏼
He is ICONIC, and the way he explains things 🙌🏼 thank you sir
Explaining so much in such a short period of time is an incredible expression of human altruism or love! Wow!
Much as I love Robert Sapolsky's work in general, "The triune brain idea is one of the most successful and widespread errors in all of science” (Lisa Feldman Barrett 2020 - references below). When it was first described by Paul MacLean, as Robert says, in "The Triune Brain in Evolution. Role in Paleocerebral Functions" (1990) it was immediately and robustly critiqued (Reiner 1990). The "neo-cortex" is not new, is not unique to modern humans and does not "regulate" the mythic "emotional brain". Evolutionary neurobiology showed, as long ago as the early 1970s, that human brain development is simply a scaled-up version of all mammalian brain development and that all vertebrates possess the same basic brain regions (Cesario et al 2020). Including reptiles. Despite being ubiquitous, continued use of the triune brain fallacy is not supported by the data - and has important implications for how emotions and agency are conceptualised. For example, the idea that rationality = thinking = the absence of emotion when, in practice, thinking can be profoundly irrational and emotion profoundly rational. Law, economics and much of daily discourse assumes there is a sharp distinction between the rational and the emotional, but this is a story, without foundation in how the brain actually evolved, works and is structured. For those still teaching or otherwise engaging with the triune brain fallacy, I urge you to explore more current neuroscience by research scientists rather than commentators (this is NOT a pop at Robert Sapolsky. It's just that many, maybe most proponeents of the triune brain fallacy are not involved with directly testing the hypothesis). The papers below (and especially Lisa Feldman Barrett's books and KZhead interviews) centre a whole-brain view of our construction of reality. And is supported by ample evidence, unlike the 90's neo-Platonic theory. • Your Brain's Most Important Functions - Dan Pink in Conversation with Lisa Feldman Barrett (2023) kzhead.info/sun/gcimYJqmkXyodXk/bejne.htmlsi=G7O2nLEnmJOV-aQB • Cesario J, Johnson DJ & Eisthen HL (2020) Your Brain Is Not an Onion With a Tiny Reptile Inside. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 29(3), 255-260. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0963721420917687#bibr34-0963721420917687 • Feldman Barrett, L (2018) How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain. Pan. lisafeldmanbarrett.com/books/how-emotions-are-made/ • Feldman Barrett, L (2020) Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain. Picador. lisafeldmanbarrett.com/books/seven-and-a-half-lessons-about-the-brain/ • Reiner A (1990) An explanation of behavior: Review of The Triune Brain in Evolution. Role in Paleocerebral Functions. Paul D. MacLean. Plenum, New York, 1990. Science, 250:4978, 303-305. DOI:10.1126/science.250.4978.303-b www.researchgate.net/publication/6043837_The_Triune_Brain_in_Evolution_Role_in_Paleocerebral_Functions_Paul_D_MacLean_Plenum_New_York_1990_xxiv_672_pp_illus_75 • Steffen PR, Hedges D and Matheson R (2022) The Brain Is Adaptive Not Triune: How the Brain Responds to Threat, Challenge, and Change. Frontiers in Psychiatry 13:802606. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.802606 www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.802606/full
Thank you both for the detailed comment and the additional sources of information to explore. Lots to chew on.
The criticism is simply based on (sometimes quite dishonest) misinterpretation of MacLean's ideas. For instance, the very idea that thought is not independent for emotion was actually the origin of his theory. It's called the triune brain, not the tripartite brain. He never said these "parts" were independent, or that they were successively added to one another during evolution without prior basis or that the "reptilian brain" in mammals was the same as in reptiles.
Thanks for spending the time to create and share this content awareness/perspective
I read Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers around 20 years ago and I've been a huge fan ever since. Loved this video.
Genius. How I love these series. The science of thinking. Thank you for sharing your decades of knowledge. Powerful.
I mastered this in mid 80s And you can as well. Well not really most people are too far gone. They are easily identified and avoided. Everything flows from your mental health, nurture and protect it as though your life depended on it cuz it sure as hell does!
So nice! Seems to explain how practicing gratitude for the good things in your day or your life are good for your well being 😊
I love it even more, that this genius is so appreciated
Wonderful, thank you, Dr. Sapolsky
Fascinating! Very informative. I’ve known many of these concepts separately but Rob connects the dots for us, creating another wonderful Aha moment.
Cheers. I needed that: to think about listening to a schematic talk on thinking about what motivates me; Three talks to two who talks to one.
What a pleasure to stumble upon a video by this amazing mind.
I admire your creativity and the unique perspective you bring to your videos🌟🌟
Brilliant explanation!! 👏👏🤗🤗🙏🙏
Listening to Mr Saplsky talk lowers my blood pressure :)
Thank you again, Dr. Saplosky, you are a genius among many. 🙏❤️🌎🌿🕊🎵🎶🎵
Outstanding Lecture!
He's the beast in explaining and storytelling 🎉
It's like a calming rap. Gifted narrator.
Thank you!
I've been waiting for this kind of explanation of how the brain communicates my entire life! I wish our educational system would teach this as it's most basic level starting in elementary school. It makes sense why meditation works, and how athletes and soldiers overcome their physical and mental obstacles when they are deemed, 'in the zone', and how some people have survived seemingly insurmountable circumstances. I feel like I just had the entire history of humanity's behavior summed up in an a matter of minutes.
Fascinating! Thanks!
This made me anxious
In my darker moments I judge the world for ignorance, but essentially it is a form of guiding the mind away from certain problems in order to survive, that all of us engage in, sometimes without knowing it.
So insightful stuff, thanks
I don't know anything about my brain (aka me) but I know that this guy is the best speaker I have heard.
Thinking about something totally different from our present external situation isn't as easy as it is being said. But with practice it can be done. Practice to think. Take 30 mins of lone time and spend it to think, various scenarios, not fictitious, past, present and future, and when in stress, this will help you think better. Great video.
Thank you. I was looking for a TLDR. But why not fictitious? I've heard that large parts of the brain can't tell the diff.
So, when I didn't have the white noise on, my neighbor got angry because they don't like the sound of me in the kitchen. They would typically start yelling as soon as they heard me. Before it actually happened, I already pictured them shouting, and that made my heart beat faster. Surprisingly, I found that I was better at controlling my emotions when I anticipated it rather than when it caught me off guard. when I imagined my neighbor shouting, my limbic system was activated, and I felt my heart racing due to the anticipation of a potentially negative interaction. The neocortex is associated with conscious thought and decision-making, so it was responsible for my ability to imagine and prepare for the event. When I anticipated my neighbor's shouting, my reptilian brain might have triggered a heightened state of arousal, preparing me for a potential threat In this particular situation, despite feeling my heart racing, I discovered that by imagining and anticipating my neighbor's shouting in advance, I was actually better at regulating my emotions. This might be because my neocortex and limbic system were working together, allowing me to mentally prepare and respond in a more controlled manner.
damn, your neighbor must be a real monster for you to be this scared of him
Would love to hear his thoughts on using breath as a communication channel between layer 1 and 3. Conscious means to influence the reptile
Every time I listen to him my brain gets excited evidently I’ve been doing biofeedback for a couple decades now I just didn’t know that’s what it was called God bless everybody happy Fourth of July
Always interesting and informative. nurse 😇
Brilliant !
Brilliant 👏
If you like this, I urge you to seek out his classroom lectures here on yt -- great stuff!
Great man Great thoughts ❤
The great Robert Sapolsky!
Dr Robert, un humano excepcional en su campo, admirable
Very well explained. Thanks
Thanks for watching, we're glad you're here!
Bravo! 👏👏
I do this for chronic pain all the time!!
the man is ahead of his time. although old, his courses from Stanford and " the great courses" are life changing.
Each time I listen to him, my hope for humanity goes up ...! I'm more positive.
Ahead of his time? This model of the brain was obsolete years ago. He's far behind.
@@neildutoit5177 obviously you know nothing about him or read any of his books..take care.
Bro looks like a caveman and speaks like the smartest guy on earth.
Too much time with bonobos has altered his facial structure
@@YardsaleAbsurditybonobos??
Fascinating.
Thanks a lot
Wow thank you
Ooh, think nice thoughts! Never thought of that
Wow! Robert really did a great job on explaining the brain(s) and its dynamics.
Fantastic advice. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
That was soooo interesting!
This might be the best BRAIN video I've ever seen. Excellent!
Thanks for spending time with us!
Very informative and perspective shifting! As for the last part: he coul call it meditation. People call it praying, yoga or positive thinking as well.
So true!
Im just here for his hair routine. Those curls are moisturized and healthy ✌️✨
Robert ! Professor !! Nice . Great user manual for the / my brain(s) . I am really enjoying the increased awareness of and fascination with the stuff in my scull . Just one question please: ¿ what was your favorite Talmudic tractate when you were growing up , or now ? Just curious, plus I would love to learn / chavrusa with you holy dude ! Thanks
What about the contrast between the Default Mode Network and the Task Positige Network. They seem to be in Part 3 in the description given above. For most people the DMN is default mode (hence the name) of perception and response, while the mind shifts into the TPN unconsciously depending on the focus of attention and action. But training (meditation) can allow the person to select greater involvement of the TPN to guide attention and action.
"You don’t have an inner lizard or an emotional beast-brain. There is no such thing as a limbic system dedicated to emotions. And your misnamed neocortex is not a new part; many other vertebrates grow the same neurons that, in some animals, organize into a cerebral cortex if key stages run for long enough. Anything you read or hear that proclaims the human neocortex, cerebral cortex, or prefrontal cortex to be the root of rationality, or says that the frontal lobe regulates so-called emotional brain areas to keep irrational behavior in check, is simply outdated or woefully incomplete. The triune brain idea and its epic battle between emotion, instinct, and rationality is a modern myth." Excerpt From Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain Lisa Feldman Barrett
I'm surprised he doesn't mind referring to it as the Lizard Brain. I like to call it the Nematode Brain, since that's about the time we split off on the evolution arc, prior to the reptiles coming around. It just shows how confident he is with his knowledge, since he clearly sidesteps any of the issues of referring to it as literally a reptilian brain.
Explains the Snickers TV commercials. Explains method acting and sense memory.
Thanks
I would love to have a better understanding about this, included with the two brain half's and the systems 1 and 2 out of psychology :3 Guess I'm into training myself in that way for quite some time..
Good video
Best channel
He’s my favourite.
You have many areas in the brain with specialized functions. The three brain perspective is just one perspective, only a partial truth (since any object has many partial truths from different perspectives). The question is, how useful is your partial perspective, which depends on what you are doing.
Those “many areas” are specific to certain functions, eyes, ears etc. Robert is talking of how our mental/ emotional/ autonomic systems and how they interrelated, and control your behaviour, dispute having the largest neocortex of species
I'm reminded of therapies, or potential ones, for folks with PTSD. How can we out-think the trauma we've through? How can we get our limbic systems past those ingrain associations? Please correct me if I'm not on the right track - Am also reminded of Bernie Siegel's work to help cancer patients heal - Seems he's been able to help people reach past the surface with regard to these systems. Thank you for sharing.
Yes. We can learn and practice self-regulation skills to improve health and happiness. No drugs or equipment necessary.
live in present with full awareness is a success
Wow I learned so much about myself in souch a small amount of time
Exactly 💯 correct
😍❤️ The most kind man to explain madly complected things so, that even such a 'paramecium' like me can understand something! /🙏🏻👍🏻❤✌🏻
smart kind man cleans out well lol. 🙌🏽❤
I love these videos.
Same!
Dear Robert, I have been following your lectures with pleasure for years and I find them very interesting, but I have a question. What is your diagnosis?
Such a legend, thank you.
Not just the beard but the knowledge.
It would have helped if the talk was not so "run-on" and had more distinct segments. Visuals that illustrate the concepts would have helped enormously. Some bulleted points would help to focus.
Thx Santa.
I find it fascinating that we just came out of a couple of strong dieting decades and a lot of us were raised by starving parents who were cruel
this guy is a certified genius .... recipient of the macarthur genius grant for his work on neuroscience
in its argumentation this feels very supportive of the Wim Hof method.
McClean was echoing 19th century neurologist John Hughlings Jackson's doctrine of levels.
I'm not sure I caught how I can choose to use them differently other than the bio-feedback part. I'm currently reading his book "Determined" and find his views parallel mine. The book is giving me more details to support what I think is true about free-will.
Good hair, good beard and good brain
Good comment! 😉
I’m jealous.😅
Thank you Dr. Sapolsky for this info. But what I would like to understand is whether or not our subconscious mind and its thought generation are totally controlled by the limbic area. For instance, when people attempt to meditate we observe "mind chatter". Unwanted thoughts that annoyingly get injected over and over again into our consciousness and temporarily interrupt our focus. Such thoughts seem to be emanating from our subconscious, but are they actually originating in our conscious mind? But the real bottom line question here is, "What is the most efficient method for stopping them?"
Can you talk about Biocybernaut? Thanks
We don’t use our brain; it uses us.
First there is a mountain then there is not, then there is
I am but a simple creature - Sabine synthesizes amazing videos and I phagocytose them. 17:40 - About this, a certain show I used to watch expressed it this way: maybe the universe _is_ teeming with life. But we won't find them anytime soon because Earth happens to be out in the space boonies!
Gurdjieff covered this idea back in 1900ish. Been a while since I read Ouspendsky’s “In Search” but I think he outlines it in that book. So the ancients knew about this far back in millennia. 🤷♀️🙏
Yes, as part of his theoretical 3 Brains Balanced Being thesis.
He missed a very important example of layer 3 regulating layer 1 DIRECTLY: breathing. You can control your breathing, which in turn controls heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygenation status by breathing deeply with more time spent on the exhale than on the inhale. Actually, the improved oxygenation not only benefits the brain profoundly but the whole body.
RS is a bonafide genius
"Oooh!" - Dr Sapolsky
thoughts interact with affect interact with behavior interact with motivational states, and not necessarily in that order
This deciding to think about certain memories, images to modify lesser level systems, I was wondering how to do this geninely and on time etc, if I am totally determined, without free will? Your power of explanation is excellent and very helpful. It is wonderful to see in an academic because sometimes it doen't always follow. Thank you very much. But I am not convinced of your interpretation about no free will at all. We make a decision about our experienced thoughts, the result of all this complexity at unseen layers. If a deeper "decision" is already indicated at neural level, is it not possible that it is the proposed projection for our consideration and conscious decsion? If we decide yes , it looks like the decision was made before, but do you have data that show NOT deciding "Yes" when the proposal is presented to our conscious free will decisions happen? I accept many things/influences are detrmined or not known by us conciously but I cannot see absolutley no power of decision at all. A real active effective decision is a point of free will. 🙏