Talking Brains
Talking Brains
Understanding how we understand each other
My research aims to model and understand how social life develops in individuals and over generations. This project is enabled by the NWO Research Talent Grant of the Dutch government (NWO).
About my research
PhD Socio-emotional Neuroscience
I am fascinated by dynamic systems and self-organisation in space and over time. It surrounds us literally always, whether you look at the clouds above or the root systems of trees below. Whether you look at the structure of the brain or that of entire societies. I study how social animals manage to organise themselves in groups. How they track each other's feelings and infer what to do. Learn more about my work by looking around on this website.
I act therefore I am
Feeling your way forward in an uncertain world
Swimming against the stream
So long as we can draw a line between something and the rest of the world, we can talk of a 'thing' that exists. Think of the surface of a rock, the borders of a country, the walls of a building, or the skin of a person. Every one of these lines gets blurred by the wear and tear of nature – everything crumbles over time.
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The unique thing about life is that it protects its own boundaries and keeps redrawing them. We avoid harm to our skins and heal ourselves when we're wounded. We swim against the stream of decay by gathering energy to heal and prevent harm. Quite literally, we feel our way forward using the very boundaries that define our existence. Through our senses we feel what's out there, and through our actions we (try to) bend it to our benefit...
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Action and perception form a circle
Through our senses we feel what's out there, and through our actions we (try to) bend it to our benefit.
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Imagine you pass by an apple tree. The sun light reflected by an apple enters your eyes, impinging on your retina. Recognising a source of nutrition, you draw near – scanning for convenient ways to reach it. When you stretch out to pick it with your hand, the sensation of its surface on your skin confirms your success. As your teeth break that surface, your taste buds reward you. The calorie-rich contents of the apple enter your body, providing it with sustenance for future endeavours. This example alone involves four loops of action and perception – count for yourself.
Inner world
Connecting to others
Selected publications
On social and emotional life
2021
Casper Hesp, Lars Sandved-Smith, Jérémie Mattout, Karl Friston, Antoine Lutz, Maxwell JD Ramstead
2021
Casper Hesp, Alexander Tschantz, Beren Millidge, Maxwell Ramstead, Karl Friston, Ryan Smith
2021
Casper Hesp, Bram T Heerebout, R Hans Phaf
2021
Casper Hesp, Ryan Smith, Thomas Parr, Micah Allen, Karl Friston, Maxwell Ramstead
2021
Axel Constant, Casper Hesp, Christopher G Davey, Karl J Friston, Paul B Badcock
2021
Natalie Kastel, Casper Hesp
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