The Nebulous Kingdom

The Biochemicals that Drive Us

5/27/2012

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I’ve been interested in mind-body interaction for awhile and recently spent a bit of time getting “blog smart” (rather than actually smart) on some of the biochemicals in our bodies.  If you are ever in the mood for a round of procrastinating Internet research, it’s a worthwhile and really fascinating topic.

I got interested in the topic after a series of moments where I found myself noticing myself experiencing emotions that were clearly biochemical in nature – euphoria after drinking caffeine in the morning, mildly adrenaline high during routine presentations, irritation after the reason for the anger had dissipated.  Ten years ago, I would have conflated the experienced emotion with some subconsciously crafted story that was somewhat coherent with the data to serve as the rationale.  Today, in contrast, I sometimes find watch myself experiencing these emotions from a distance.  After noticing this, and also reading literature on how trust and infatuation have a chemical basis, I asked myself the question:  Are all emotions chemical in nature?

A few examples:
  • Exercise and laughter release endorphins (Source 1 | 2)
  • Eating raises blood sugar while the chewing releases endorphins (Source 1 | 2)
  • Caffeine and alcohol release endorphins (Source 1 | 2)
  • Social isolation produces cortisol (Source)
  • Social interactions release oxytocin, reducing cortisol (Source)
  • Music can also reduce cortisol levels (Source)
  • Falling in love has a chemical basis, a cocktail of dopamine, vasopressin and oxytocin (Source)
I don’t mean to oversimplify emotions, and reduce us to our simple chemistry.  I don’t discount the power of free will and our ability to be our own deus ex machina.  I believe the interaction must be deeply complex, beyond our ability to predict or fully understand, and chemicals are only messengers and mediators.  But emotions have such a dramatic effect on our life’s experience, and there are myriad self-help books that instruct us to address these emotions directly when we have limited direct control over the biochemical drivers.  I have to wonder: Are we going about it all wrong?  

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Some observations:
  • Our physiological emotions are  mediated by chemicals
  • A whole slew of things influence our biochemistry 
  • We have limited direct control over this ecosystem
  • How we think and how we act are our main levers
  • One significant category of action is introducing and interfacing with external elements, notably other people 
  • A complicating factor to be aware of is the extent to which our thoughts and behavior are swayed by chemicals, emotions, and other variables largely outside of our control
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Perhaps the best way to manage our emotional state is obliquely.
 
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    I'm interested in uncertainty, time, trust, consistency, strategy, economics, empathy, philosophy, education, technology, story-telling, and fractals.
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