Oliver Turnbull: Affective Consciousness | Ep. 3 | NPSA Dialogues

This episode features Oliver Turnbull, the Deputy Vice Chancellor and Professor of Neuropsychology at Bangor University and its North Wales Medical School, who explores the deep biological roots of emotion and its central role in mental life. He details a hierarchical view of the brain, describing emotions as a foundational, primary system that appears early in both throughout mammalian evolution and throughout one's lifespan development. He insightfully illustrates how more complex functions—such as emotional memory, regulation, and decision-making—are built upon more ancient emotional cores. The conversation also highlights Oliver's recent research into the 'inner world' and the significant role of the mouth in early development. He presents a neurobiological case for Freud's 'oral phase,' explaining how specific brain structures connect early feeding sensations to affectual feelings. Additionally, the interview bridges neuroscience with modern technology by comparing human 'honest lying,' or confabulation, with AI errors. Oliver explains how human errors may often be biased by underlying emotions, and how the term 'confabulation' is apt to describe errors made by artificial intelligence. --- Learn More & Contact Us: https://linktr.ee/npsadialogues Study at the North Wales Medical School: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/north-wales-... Register for the 25th Annual Congress of the International Neuropsychoanalysis Society: https://npsa-association.org/events/n... 00:00:00 - Highlight 00:00:48 - Introduction 00:01:58 - Discussion with Oliver Turnbull 01:12:15 - Post-Discussion Chat 01:32:57 - Outro 01:34:49 - Special Announcement: NPSA Congress 2026