Our Brain is Not an Ivory Tower: How our Bodies Shape Categorization and Learning.

Keywords:

Memory, categorization, learning, depression, anxiety, psychotherapy

Source:

Barrett, L.F., Miller, E.K. Categorization is ‘baked’ into the brain. Nat. Rev. Neurosci.27, 435–456 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-026-01036-2

Why I chose this article

This article is a narrative review about a fundamental function in our mind: categorizing. In the context of this article, category construction was defined as: “The process of creating extemporaneous groupings of occurrences, such as patterns of prediction signals, based on perceived similarities or uses in a given context, ignoring differences that are irrelevant.” In other words, creating clusters of similar information in a specific context, and shape our relatedness accordingly.

This article reviews almost 300 scientific papers to make a controversial, intuitive and groundbreaking argument: We build categories not from our brain down (so our brain does not pick up characteristics and name them), rather, our brain processes our body’s inputs to create a “running document” of a specific category and uses the difference between lived experience and prior memories to learn what is meaningful about it. Importantly, in this way information is then put into context, to allow for action.

How does this affect treatment?

Meaningful psychiatric treatment involves categorizing, and more importantly, re-categorizing. We have, consciously or not, built categories about ourselves, our relationships, expectations, hopes, fears and everything in between, that keep us stuck. Think of whatever comes to your mind when you think “good”, in relation to the categories I just mentioned, and notice how that concept changes. If you feel a change in your body every time you read a word, it is because, according to this paper, our learning system uses information from our body to create separate categories. Our memories lie not just in a tiny part of the brain or a circuit involving a few brain areas. Categories are formed from the minute information enters our retina, the neurons that perceive movement, touch, pressure and temperature, and our emotional states.

This article uses tractography, advanced microscopy, evolutionary interpretations and molecular biology techniques to demonstrate that our brain is not an isolated control center that stores information and vomits it back, but rather is like an orchestra conductor. Categorization involves taking information continuously, understand the context where it happens, and a split-second (often unconscious) decision to do something about it, or not.

For example, the word orange can mean a different thing if you’re driving, grocery shopping, challenging Eminem, or making a corny joke. If our brains were an isolated conductor that told us what to do with the word “orange”, we’d have a hard time understanding the relationship between braking at the right time in front of a traffic light and yesterday’s breakfast. On the contrary, the complex model described by this paper suggests that our senses build a scaffold against which our brain later contrasts information, including taking out irrelevant fluff, and learning from what is missed from prior interactions. So, your brain knows (without knowing it!) that when the concept “orange” comes up when your foot is pressing the gas pedal, you don’t need to think of sporange, porridge or hinge so you can come up with the next top 40 hit on the radio.

Why is this in your blog?

When treatment starts, be it a specific medication, therapy, lifestyle adjustment, it is important to notice what is said (and what is not) about it, and to take into account the complexity of categories that exist within the context of words like “depression”, “prescription”. “anxiety”. “fear”. or “trust”. This paper shows how, when there is thought and intention behind treatment decisions (so things like physical activity, day-to-day routines, thinking how medications, supplements or psychedelics influence the brain’s ability to learn), we are at a better spot to build helpful categories and memories, which ultimately shape the way we think, feel, behave and relate to ourselves, our relationships, and what we ascribe to as meaningful.

Give me an example, or what are next steps for me if I want to put this to use?

I think this article explains why, for some people in some contexts, interventions like breathing techniques, mindfulness, physical activity, or feeling truly seen/heard/held in psychotherapy can be such powerful experiences to re-categorize old patterns. Next time you have a moderately strong emotion or physical reaction to something, one could try to take a step back and feel the experience - not in a “I’m going to interrogate the heck out of this feeling” way, but more as a “I’m going to write the story of what I am hearing, feeling, tasting, smelling, touching, as a journal entry tonight” way. There may be a lot of categorization to be learned from this.

If you have thoughts on this, email me using my contact page. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and edit or build this post with you.

The information in this article is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis, treatment, or the advice of a qualified healthcare provider, and reading it does not create a physician–patient relationship. Always consult your own physician or a qualified therapist or clinician about your specific situation. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.