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How The Brain Works: A Constructionist Approach to Mind-Brain Correspondence (Part 1)

article how the brain works

  October 17, 2024

The brain is an incredibly complex organ, capable of generating a wide range of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. One of the approaches that helps us understand this complexity is psychological construction. Psychological construction is a framework positing that mental states, including emotions, thoughts, and perceptions, are not innate, biologically fixed entities. Instead, they are constructed by the brain through the integration of multiple basic psychological processes, such as sensory perception, interoception, memory, and attention.

According to psychological construction, the brain is not hardwired to produce specific emotions or mental states in response to particular stimuli. Instead, it draws from its internal resources—including bodily sensations, past experiences, and contextual information—to create a mental state that best fits the current situation. This means that our experiences are fundamentally shaped by the brain's ability to dynamically combine and interpret various forms of information.

Basic Psychological Processes

The construction of mental states relies on a combination of basic psychological processes. These include:

  • Interoception: The process of perceiving internal bodily signals, such as heart rate, breathing, and temperature. Interoception provides crucial information about the body's current state, which serves as a foundation for constructing emotions and other mental experiences.
  • Attention: Attention allows the brain to selectively focus on specific aspects of the internal or external environment. This process helps determine which information is most relevant for constructing a mental state.
  • Memory and Learning: Past experiences serve as a reference point for interpreting current events. When constructing emotions or other mental states, the brain draws upon memories to make sense of bodily sensations and environmental cues.
  • Contextual Information: The brain uses context to help interpret bodily sensations and make predictions about what is happening. This includes information about the immediate environment, social setting, and personal goals.

The Role of Intrinsic Brain Networks

The brain is organized into multiple intrinsic networks, each responsible for supporting different aspects of cognition, perception, and emotion. These networks include the default mode network, ventral attention network, frontoparietal control network, and others. Psychological construction builds on this understanding by proposing that these networks do not work in isolation. Instead, they interact dynamically to create mental states that are appropriate for the given context.

The ventral attention network is involved in detecting unexpected, salient stimuli and directing attention to them, while the default mode network helps to integrate past experiences and self-referential information. The frontoparietal control network is involved in regulating thoughts and emotions, ensuring that our responses are contextually appropriate. Together, these networks collaborate to support the construction of complex mental experiences.

Psychological Construction in Everyday Life

Consider how you might experience a racing heart in different situations. If you are about to give a presentation, you might interpret this sensation as nervousness or anxiety. If you are on a rollercoaster, the same racing heart might be interpreted as excitement. The context in which the sensation occurs, combined with past experiences and cultural understanding of emotions, guides the brain in constructing an appropriate mental state. This process is dynamic and flexible, allowing us to adapt to the wide range of situations we encounter in daily life.

In the following articles, we will explore how specific mental states are constructed by the brain. In Part 2 and Part 3 we examine the seven intrinsic brain networks and their roles in supporting cognition, perception, and emotion. Part 4 focuses on the interoceptive network and its role in processing bodily signals and constructing emotional experiences. Finally, Part 5 explores the constructionist view of emotions, explaining how emotions are actively constructed by the brain through predictive coding, context, and conceptualization. By understanding the integration of interoception, prediction, and context, we can better appreciate the complexity and individuality of how our brain constructs our mental life.

- Ramon D.
Founder, BrainFrst Inc.