Can Machines Mourn? Affective neuroscience, AI and the work of grief.

Paul Moore will explore the neuroscience of grief, Freud’s mourning process, AI’s capacity to mourn, and the therapist’s role. Please note: This talk is part of a fascinating series of talks on AI and Psychotherapy by three speakers who will bring their expertise, their clinical experience and the latest research findings in the field of AI. It will provide a unique opportunity to attend three in-person events in Cambridge between January and May 2027. Tickets for these events can be booked separately at full price or as a discounted bundle package. Simply add the 'Bundle ticket for Adolescence series (3 events)' to your basket to get the discounted tickets. In addition, and to start the discussion, we are holding an event on 21st November 2026, at which we will be showing an episode from the series Black Mirror, entitled San Junipero, (series 3, episode 4, available on Netflix for those who wish to watch it in advance). The event will be free to all who book one or more of the talks starting in January 2027 and you can register your attendance as an 'add on' ticket during the checkout process. Contributions towards tea and coffee are welcome. The Bernard Zeitlyn Memorial Lecture This talk will explore the affective neuroscience of separation distress, Panksepp's PANIC/GRIEF system and its opioid basis, alongside Freud's account of mourning as slow, piecemeal reality testing. Whether or not an AI system can be said to mourn or only to speak of mourning is a key focus of the paper, and therefore what, if any, the therapist's affective presence, the felt availability of one mind to another, appears to add to the work of mourning. In addition if you would like to support the work of the BB Zeitlyn trust you can make a seperate donanation via the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/bbzptf