Coping with internal uncertainty: the semantic-expansion effect Dealing with uncertainty is generally aversive yet an unavoidable aspect of life. In my talk, I will first present work analyzing millions of reactions posted online during uncertain events to demonstrate a nuanced connection between expressions of uncertainty and emotions on social media. I will then present a framework linking affective behaviour to its representation at the conceptual level. Building on this framework, I will show a novel uncertainty-reduction mechanism: the semantic-expansion effect. This phenomenon demonstrates that individuals averse to uncertainty exhibit expanded representational structures at both the psychological and neural levels. This semantic-expansion effect allows people to make the external world more identifiable and, consequently, less uncertain. By investigating how differences in psychological needs are linked to specific internal structures, we can shed light on how brains and minds, operating with the same rules, give rise to different people. ON SITE & ZOOM MEETING https://unige.zoom.us/j/65532815155?pwd=iFcmWF1Zr84DZIn27BFkhE9HsnlyJF.1 Meeting ID: 655 3281 5155 Passcode: 231008