The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is sometimes called the brain's "decision center." Although it's true that the PFC plays an important role in simulating, predicting, and planning, it is deeply linked with emotional processing. We'll unpack the notions of "decision-making" and "executive function" and learn about how emotional processes shape our choices and behaviors.

In week six, we wrap up the series with a discussion of neuroplasticity and the interconnectedness of brain functions—how perception, cognition, and emotion work together. Week six introduces predictive processing, a theory that reframes the need for control and routine. We explore how this shifts our focus from managing our children's reactions to understanding their perceptual experiences. We discuss Jo Bervoets’ “Autism and intolerance of uncertainty: an ill-fitting pair.” We reference Victoria Pitts-Taylor’s The Brain’s Body: Neuroscience and Corporeal Politics and Luiz’s Pessoa’s The Entangled Brain.