This episode explores the science of emotions, focusing on their development from infancy through puberty and adulthood. Against the backdrop of individual differences in emotional perception, the podcast introduces the concept of interoception (internal awareness) and exteroception (external awareness) as fundamental components of emotional experience. More significantly, the episode delves into attachment styles in infancy (secure, avoidant, ambivalent, disorganized), highlighting their lasting impact on emotional regulation. The discussion then pivots to puberty, explaining the hormonal and neurological changes that drive adolescent emotional exploration and the increased connectivity between brain regions involved in emotion, reward, and decision-making. For instance, the roles of kispeptin, GNRH, LH, estrogen, and testosterone in puberty are detailed. Finally, the podcast examines the roles of oxytocin and vasopressin in social bonding and the importance of the vagus nerve in regulating emotional states, concluding with a framework for understanding emotions as a dynamic interplay of alertness, valence, and interoceptive/exteroceptive biases.
