*On contemporary models of cortical function, affect is an inferential construct. In a hierarchical predictive-processing architecture, the brain operates as a generative organ that continuously anticipates the causes of its sensory inputs, including interoceptive signals from the viscera, vasculature and autonomic state. Fluctuations in heart rate, grip force, muscle tone, respiratory rhythm and endocrine milieu are compared against learned templates; higher-order systems search the repertoire of prior patterns and assign an interpretation such as “I am afraid”, “I am excited”, “I am ashamed” – or “I am safe”, “I am loved”, “I am proud”. The resulting constructed emotion is a high-level estimate that binds bodily state, context and concept into a single conscious episode of fear, anticipation, guilt, or contentment, affection, quiet pride, and this estimate constrains the policies the organism selects in the next moment.