Your nervous system has two kinds of memory, and only one of them responds to logic. In this episode, we explore explicit and implicit memory, why the body can feel stuck in the past even when the mind knows better, and how the vagus nerve connects it all. You'll come away with a clearer understanding of why stress responses aren't character flaws, and a simple body scan practice you can use anywhere.

Key concepts: Explicit memory (conscious, narrative recall) / Implicit memory (body-based, automatic responses) / The hippocampus and its vulnerability to chronic stress / The amygdala's role in emotional learning / The vagus nerve as a bottom-up reporting system / Interoception (the brain's awareness of internal body signals)

Research referenced in this episode:

• Squire, L.R. (2004). Memory systems of the brain. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
• LeDoux, J.E. (2000). Emotion circuits in the brain. Annual Review of Neuroscience
• Berthoud, H.R. & Neuhuber, W.L. (2000). Functional and chemical anatomy of the afferent vagal system. Autonomic Neuroscience
• Damasio, A.R. (1996). The somatic marker hypothesis. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
• Craig, A.D. (2009). How do you feel — now? The anterior insula and human awareness. Nature Reviews Neuroscience

Practice from this episode: Read the full transcript and research references on website

https://www.breatheandlead.com/blog

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Hosted by Lena Gwendolyn Hill

Produced by Near Mint Productions

Music by Patrick Simon Music