Ep.273 'Understanding Pain in 2026 - Pt2/4 - Predictive Processing & Active Inference'

In Part 2 of our focus this month on ‘Understanding Pain in 2026’, we take a look at Predictive Processing (the brain guessing what is happening and outputting pain when it predicts danger) and Active Inference (the brain acting to confirm or update these guesses, shaping how you move, feel, and interpret sensations).  Joining host Matt Phillips are special guests Professor Dave Newell, Head of The Centre for Pain & Active Inference Research at Health Sciences University, and Anna Maria Mazzieri, a PhD student at Health Sciences University, and Director of The ST School.   The episode discusses how the brain builds models, predicts sensory input, and acts to minimize prediction error -  shaping movement, sensation and chronic pain. The conversation covers embodiment, precision, therapeutic alliance, and practical implications for clinicians, including sense-making, creating safe liminal spaces, graded exposure and using touch as a communication tool. Listeners are invited & encouraged to re-listen for deeper understanding and to use the episode’s insights to rethink clinical reasoning and patient-centred approaches to pain management. Chapter Markers 00:00:00 - Welcome to the STA Clinician Podcast 00:01:38 - Meet Professor Dave Newell and Anna Maria Mazzieri 00:03:25 - Anna-Maria’s PhD Journey 00:05:22 - The Centre for Pain & Active Inference Research 00:06:58 - Understanding Active Inference 00:15:46 - The Role of Active Inference 00:21:35 - Clinical Applications of Active Inference 00:23:17 - Contextual Factors in Pain 00:29:46 - The Concept of Self-Evidencing 00:37:38 - Chronic Pain and Active Inference 00:38:35 - Listener Questions 00:42:15 - Therapeutic Alliance in Pain Management 00:45:50 - Co-Creation in Therapy 00:48:30 - The Complexity of Pain 00:53:42 - Conclusion and Next Steps Special Guest Links Website: The Centre for Pain and Active Inference (PAIn) Research at HSU Professor Dave Newell on Facebook Website: The ST School  The ST School on Facebook Further Reading An Embodied Predictive Processing Theory of Pain Experience Therapeutic Alliance as Active Inference: The Role of Therapeutic Touch and Synchrony MASSAG model: Towards an integrative neuroscience framework linking emotional trauma, pain, and mechanisms of force-based manipulations Mark Miller on Predictive Processing - Todd Hargrove on Substack Other Episodes  Part 1 - Ep.272 with Dr. Bronnie Lennox Thompson and Ben Whybrow - available on the Sports Therapy Association YouTube channel and all popular podcast apps. Part 3 Tues Feb 17th with special guest Dr. Rachel Dewar-Haggart, Postdoctoral Qualitative Researcher within the Medical Sociology & Health Experiences Research Group at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford. Part 4 Wed Feb 25th with special guest Dr. Rachel Zoffness, Pain scientist, International Speaker, Science Writer, with her new book “Tell Me Where It Hurts” coming out March 26th  Want to join the live recordings? Episodes of the STA Clinician Podcast are recorded live every TUESDAY at 8pm on the Sports Therapy Association YOUTUBE CHANNEL and FACEBOOK page. Everyone is welcome - you do not have to be an STA member! If you cannot join us live, be sure to subscribe to the 'Sports Therapy Association Podcast' on all popular podcast apps to be notified when new episodes are available. Interested in joining the STA? Use the code PODCAST25 to get 3 MONTHS EXTRA when you join for a single year! In other words, £75 will get you 15 months instead of 12!  Only valid for NEW members. If you are Level 3 (qualified after 2014) make sure you choose the ‘associate member’ option.