How our bodies shape our mind

Have we got depression wrong? Ask anyone what they know about depression and they will likely be able to tell you that it’s a mental health condition which involves low mood and motivation. In my talk, I’ll be sharing the cutting edge science which suggests that this is only part of the picture – depression is a physical illness, too, which involves changes in how we regulate our energy levels (metabolism).

My research investigates how signals from inside the body can interact with the brain to guide how we think and feel. In this talk, I present research highlights revealing how the sensing and interpretation of signals from inside the body shape emotions, with a particular focus on the heart and clinical emotional symptoms such as anxiety.