The UnBroken Podcast is a call to action to create a different direction, dialogue, and narrative for your life. Dr Rachel Taylor explores the functions of the prefrontal cortex in this episode, sponsored by A Podcast Company.
The neocortex is the most recent addition to the human brain, being the last part of it to evolve. It is what differentiates us from other animals, and gives us the ability to use logic and not just react. Understanding the functions of the prefrontal cortex, which is a part of the neocortex, can help us unlearn conditioned emotional responses.
Emotional regulation is a necessary tool. We want to have enough intensity of emotions that life has meaning, but we shouldn’t have so much arousal that life becomes chaotic and overwhelming. On the other hand, having too little arousal leaves life very rigid, depleted, and uninteresting. It’s about striking the perfect balance that works for you.
The instantaneous responses of the limbic system are useful, but they are not very conducive to the growth, development, and expansion of humanity. We need to move away from being dependent on emotional reactions and start becoming unbroken.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding the functions of your prefrontal cortex may help you unlearn conditioned emotional responses.
- It’s important that you self-regulate your emotions with constant practice.
- While the limbic system is useful, we cannot rely on it primarily – we must strike a balance between it and the prefrontal cortex.
