When Joaquin Phoenix describes imagining alternate ways to play a moment, he’s talking about counterfactual thinking, the same cognitive process the brain uses for creative problem-solving. Neuroscience shows that running “what-if” scenarios activates the prefrontal cortex, strengthening flexibility and emotional range. Watching other actors becomes a mental rehearsal space where the imagination rewires itself. When he says that some performances allow for no other version, he’s describing AWE.