Connections

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In this riveting exploration of the human mind, a renowned psychiatrist and neuroscientist delves into the origins of human emotion and what mental illnesses reveal about us. Mental illness, a significant source of human suffering, often remains shrouded in mystery. However, our understanding is evolving. The author intertwines compelling case studies from his experience as an emergency psychiatry physician with groundbreaking scientific advancements, including optogenetics, a technology he developed to manipulate specific brain cells with light. By connecting insights from this innovative technology to poignant patient stories and our shared evolutionary history, the author crafts a broader narrative about human emotion's origins. A young woman with an eating disorder illustrates the mind's rebellion against basic drives like hunger; an older man silenced by dementia highlights the evolution of joy and its absence; and a lonely Uyghur woman emphasizes the significance and challenges of deep social bonds. Addressing timeless questions about the human condition and shedding light on misunderstood disorders such as depression, psychosis, schizophrenia, and sociopathy, this work transforms our understanding of the brain and ourselves.