Sublime

To help it to survive, the nervous system is partially ‘hard-wired’ at birth, with breathing and the heartbeat occurring automatically, but this is not enough to ensure survival. The baby also needs to eat, and so it arrives with a rooting instinct: an ability to nuzzle in search of the nipple and, once it finds it, to suck. In fact, the instinct t

You might have used amygdala-quieting techniques if you’ve ever cared for a human baby, a puppy, a kitten, or any other vulnerable being. You automatically knew that it would help to move gently, breathe deeply, make soft sounds, and avoid scaring the creature by attempting to totally immobilize and control it.

rooting—the way an infant sweeps his head back and forth in search of the nipple. It classically goes by the term “rooting reflex” and it

rooting—the way an infant sweeps his head back and forth in search of the nipple. It classically goes by the term “rooting reflex” and it

Neuroception suggests that the body can work below the level of awareness to give us information at an implicit level. Jamie has long told her clients, “Your body will alert you to what’s going on ten steps before you even realize that anything is the matter.” This teaching exemplifies neuroception. In keeping with the theme of this chapter, more t

Far from the confines of laboratories and hospitals, most mammals—including domesticated dogs and cats, wild lions and monkeys—eat their placentas immediately after giving birth. Even animals whose diet consists only of leaves and fruits engage in this practice, called placentophagy.