The science of consciousness

Thursday, May 31, 2018

Cognitive Manipulation by parasites

Parasite-host interactions have been honed over millions of years of evolution, achieving astonishing and sometimes unsettling precision. The range of parasites capable of manipulating behavior spans viruses, insects, and even worms. In some of the most intriguing cases, the parasite influences the host brain's neuronal circuits to control its cognitive functions. To maintain long-term behavioral manipulation, the parasite must secrete compounds that can alter gene expression with lasting effects. This allows parasites to hijack the host's decision-making and behavior. Mind-altering manipulation can occur in nearly all animals. However, the phenomenon is often studied in insects because of their simple nervous systems and goal-directed behavior. For example, when presented with two very similar concentrations of the same odor, fruit flies take longer to decide, which can lead to errors.

Suicide manipulation:

Fungal infection manipulates insect behavior. The fungus (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis) infects ants and feeds on their innards. It produces chemicals that alter the ants' navigation, compelling them to leave their nests and seek out a plant in a humid area to climb to its top. The ant then clamps its mandibles around a leaf or leaf stem—a behavior never seen in uninfected ants. The fungus consumes the ant's brain until it produces spores, killing the host. These spores burst and spread from the top of the tree to infect other ants, starting a new cycle.

In another example of parasitic infection, the liver fluke in the genus Fasciola hijacks the ant's navigation by migrating to its head and settling near a cerebral ganglion. Unlike normal behavior, the infected ant climbs to the tip of a grass blade to be eaten by a grazing animal. The mature fluke expels eggs through the digestive system, infecting more ants.

Yet another case involves a hairworm that requires water for reproduction. The hairworm infects crickets and other terrestrial insects, developing inside their bodies. When mature, it causes the insect to seek out water. When the insect falls into the water, the parasite emerges to reproduce.

Offspring Care:

Although solitary insects do not provide care or protection to their offspring, one of the parasites' most fascinating behaviors is to coerce a host into caring for the parasite's young. Developmental symbiosis occurs when individuals of one species cannot reach maturity without help from another species. For example, a wasp sting injects eggs into a caterpillar. The wasp larvae mature by feeding on the host and emerge after two weeks. However, one or two larvae remain inside the caterpillar. These siblings activate the caterpillar's muscles to violently move its upper body back and forth. This behavior protects the pupae by deterring predators.

The caterpillar's aggressive guarding behavior can also occur in other insects without parasites. For example, a single wasp larva develops inside a ladybug, spinning a cocoon between its legs. The ladybug is still alive, but its nervous system triggers twitching and convoluted movements, which keep the wasp pupa safe from potential predators. It is thought that the parasite co-infects with a virus, which induces severe neuropathy and immune responses that cause the motor twitches.

Another example is the butterfly Maculinea arion, whose larvae mimic the scent of a particular ant species, prompting its members to carry them into their nests and care for them as their own. The sophistication and effectiveness of parasite infection might have inspired the simulation hypothesis.

An even more surprising twist, larvae of the European blister beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus) mimic the scent of flowers to lure bees. These lavae find a ride on the unsuspecting bees to their nest and eat the eggs they find there.

Infections in People

The fungal pathogen Candida auris can cause bloodstream infections that can be fatal in 60% of cases. Toxoplasma infection can be linked to mood disorders and mental health issues, including schizophrenia and behavioral changes, such as promoting risky behaviors.

Watch a fascinating video: In Praise of Parasites

https://youtu.be/eOCiIgYQaFo

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Consumption of raw fruits and vegetables might be beneficial for mental health

The old saying, “You are what you eat,” might need an update: your mind is shaped by what you eat. A new study found that raw fruit and vegetable intake predicted reduced depressive symptoms and was associated with higher positive mood, life satisfaction, and flourishing. The top 10 natural foods supporting mental health were carrots, bananas, apples, dark leafy greens like spinach, grapefruit, lettuce, citrus fruits, fresh berries, cucumbers, and kiwifruit.

The study investigated the differential associations between the intake of raw fruits and vegetables and processed (cooked or canned) fruits and vegetables, and mental health in young adults. Fruits and vegetables contain a variety of micronutrients critical to physical and psychological function. Antioxidants such as vitamin C and carotenoids might protect the body against oxidative stress. Water-soluble vitamins (vitamin C and B vitamins), and certain minerals (calcium, magnesium, and zinc), are essential for optimal cognitive and emotional functioning. Cooking and processing fruits and vegetables diminish their nutrient levels, limiting the availability of critical vitamins and other nutrients needed for optimal emotional functioning.

The significant influence of food on our brain health underscores the importance of dietary considerations. For example, calorie restriction improves blood supply to the brain. The Ketogenic Diet (high levels of fat and low levels of carbohydrates) improves the condition of epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and autism patients. Detailed studies have shown that reduced blood glucose levels and lower body weight might have resulted from the gut's improved microbiome. The Paleo diet, caveman diet, or stone-age diet might protect from Alzheimer's disease. The diet appears to reduce amyloid-beta accumulation in the brain, a known hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

Picture credit: Fruit market by Diderot

Read the whole article:

Intake of Raw Fruits and Vegetables Is Associated With Better Mental Health Than Intake of Processed Fruits and Vegetables

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Sunday, May 13, 2018

Adopt a growth mindset by striving toward flexibility

From the Stone Age to the industrial revolution life conditions for the overwhelming majority of people were miserable; they suffered from a seasonal shortage of food, adverse temperatures, threats, and lack of proper housing. Social history, the pomp, the conquest, and the culture rode on the backs of oppressed classes. Religion was the mental comfort and deep-seated hope that gave meaning to life amid the grueling drudgery.

Things cannot be more different at the beginning of the twenty-first century. In most parts of the world, food, clothing, and housing is a natural part of the human condition. In big, overstuffed, middle-class homes, out of season clothes are discarded like garbage. At the time when we achieved never experienced prosperity, we are faced with an epidemic of addictions, alienation, crime, and abuse. Trying to understand the root causes of this seismic social change we need to analyze several factors that had transformed society. Compared to the rigid, impassable class division of yesteryear, social mobility is open to anyone with the drive to succeed. The news is full of examples of tech billionaires and executives who started from modest beginnings. However, the comparison with the proverbial Johnsons can make every member of the society left behind at one time or another. The news, social media, and the internet can serve as a constant reminder of our failure in the rat race. To justify our perceived ineptness, we manufacture imaginary and impassable obstacles to success; theories of unfairness, conspiracies, such as far right or far left political oppression, government or alien manipulations and excess to ‘connections,’ as excuses for inaction.

Spending time on these emotionally demanding fantasies drains mental energies. It wastes not only precious time, but derails attention from personal well-being and career goals. The technological developments, financial complexities, and social changes demand meaningful decision making at every level. Maneuvering the stormy waters of change requires grooming our intellectual quotients. Occupation with gossip and unfounded fantasies leaves one stuck, while society is progressing at a breakneck pace. Being left behind by a progressing society creates increasing anxiety, which can easily culminate in depression, addictions and acts of desperation. We are the first generation to have the ability to analyze how our emotions influence our behavior. Certain aspects of our emotional inheritance can destroy the upcoming generation’s ability to succeed. The rigid mindset of the class system must be replaced by a strong belief in the ability of the self to initiate change.

Picture credit: Mother and child by Eva Deli

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Upcoming book on emotion regulation

Our relationships, personal and professional lives, depend on our ability to create and maintain emotional balance. Due to the close correlation between physiological states and the brain's neural activities, emotional intelligence is essential in personal and professional success.

Neuroscience found that negative emotions have greater energy needs, which turns them tiring. The resulting insecurity prompts defensive behavior, such as criticism and attacks. Putting others down is like a drug that generates an instant, although fleeting, feeling of joy. Toxic relationships degrade confidence, cause emotional, mental problems, and social deficits in numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Negative emotions also activate adverse regulatory functions. For example, vigilance damages the immune function. Chronic inflammation has been associated with a host of health problems and even early death. The malfunctioning hormonal pathways can damage the immune system. Some of the diseases implicate the immune system are cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, digestive, skin problems, cardiovascular disease, bone loss, and others. Permanent stress may affect immune cells in the brain, modifying cellular networks at the core of brain behavior.

In the past, technological advancements, such as the steam engine, which dramatically transformed society, also necessitated a mental transformation. The approaching and unprecedented technological progress will require social and psychological changes as well. Are you going to reap the benefits of being positioned at the front of this paradigm shift? My book, "The Power of Joy," gives you tools to optimize mental operations in ways to inspire success, happiness, and achievement. Following just one of the book's practices will help you perform better and achieve more with less effort.

My straightforward handbook, The Power of Joy, gives you the tools and advice you need to become the best version of yourself.

What if Amazon took Sprint's place as the US's fourth wireless ...

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Thursday, February 22, 2018

Analysis of neural computation might have application for deep learning

The cortical brain is an evolutionary marvel that interacts with the outside world via self-regulation based on its resting or ground state. The resting state, which is disturbed during the stimulus and sensory processing, is recovered by automatic operations. A new research article, THE THERMODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF NEURAL COMPUTATION, examines the brain's sensory processing as an energy-information cycle. The work is also relevant for artificial intelligence, such as deep learning.

The brain’s energy needs multiply in warm-blooded animals. Although the human brain represents only 2% of the body weight, it receives 15% of the cardiac output, 20% of total body oxygen consumption, and 25% of overall body glucose utilization. The baseline energy consumption might be entirely dedicated to neuronal signaling. This constant and massive energy use maintains the brain’s alertness, even during sleep, by a dynamic balance between inhibitory and excitatory neurons.

The slightest variation in excitation determines whether a spike is generated. Such a delicate balance of excitatory and inhibitory neurons turns the resting state into a highly energy-requiring state. Even without stimulus, the delicate balancing of excitatory and inhibitory neurons produces seemingly arbitrary activations. Like the tennis player's anticipation of the opponent's serve, the brain’s dynamic balance ensures its ability for a rapid, targeted response. For example, changes in inhibitory neurons increase frequencies and their energetic needs. The brain partakes in information exchange with the environment via the sensory system.

Read the whole article in the Journal of Neuroscience & Clinical Research

The book Emotional Reasoning: Insight into the Conscious Experience is published on August 30, 2024.

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Thursday, February 15, 2018

Emotions: GPS for your mind

The future is fast approaching, and unprecedented technological progress will increasingly characterize every aspect of life. Adapting to constant change requires mental flexibility. My upcoming book, 'Athena's Wisdom,' anticipates the personal side of this forthcoming singularity. My goal is to create a book that serves the reader in every step. This book will put you in the know about this exciting field full of practical information about effective practices based on the latest neuroscience research. The following is an excerpt from the book.

Historically, the economic necessity to use brute force and tedious work made intellect unnecessary and even dangerous. The breathtaking technological transformation of the past one hundred years replaced hard physical labor with machines. In contrast, human intellectual involvement is increasingly important at every level in the corporate world and society. The recognition that conflicts and problems between employees tax morale, degrade efficiency, and shorten the time spent on work led to increasing awareness and focus on the work environment's human side.

Emotional and intellectual patterns are absorbed early in life by observing and copying the family environment. This powerful mental legacy hands the cultural fabric of society to the next generation. Unfortunately, parents also project accumulated fears, weaknesses, and imperfect emotional coping mechanisms onto their children. Thus, children grow up with a rigid mindset from the past and carry emotional triggers that predispose them to failure. Unfortunately, personal change can take generations. Emotional instability leads to attention problems, making it impossible to absorb the school material and handicap a person’s ability to contribute successfully at work. High intellect requires emotional stability, confidence, and love.

Starting in Kindergarten, social skills can be taught and practiced in school. But changing the mind and mastering emotions is possible at any age. Bringing this awareness to companies and communities can transform society. Over time, the understanding of emotion regulation can become as common as traffic rules. In a world where this understanding is a democratic right, individuals feel secure and supported. Support enhances responsibility towards our society, the environment, and for each other. Confident citizenry elects responsible governments, which act for peace, prosperity, and well-being. The positive changes on the individual level would meet positive changes in society and lead to a better world.

Discussion about this paradigm shift, information, and news events will be shared on FaceBook. Sign up to receive notification about the publication of my Upcoming book on emotion regulation

Picture credit: Mother and child by Eva Deli

Sunday, December 17, 2017

The simulation argument: Does it reflect a frustration in physics?

In physics and evolution, a list of recent observations and experimental results challenge existing theories. For example, the universe's gravitational complexities could not have been produced by the existing matter content; time, horizon, inflation, cosmological constant, and unification present unsolved and puzzling problems. Irreconcilable conflicts can lead to a mentally weak position, inspiring just-so answers. Just so responses might have led to the simulation hypothesis that considers existence just a computer simulation. How can science, the field built on experiments and a solid understanding, consider such a far-fetched idea?

New ideas need to be tested or thoroughly argued in science before publication; therefore, scientific understanding progresses on a slow but stable footing, and conceptual leaps are rare. When newly developed techniques accumulate conflicting data with existing theories, daring and even bizarre solutions are proposed to keep the current paradigm. For example, in the nineteenth century, aether was invented to explain the spread of gravity.

For example, once accepted, general relativity became a magnet for countless applications to explore and develop the theory’s potential. However, the field's evolution reduces its flexibility. Emerging contradictions are patched up by increasingly fantastical explanations, which might have inspired the simulation hypothesis. Only radical ideas that completely change the field's current vision can solve the great schisms in the sciences.

The static time principle shows that entanglement formulates a cosmic evolution, which gives rise to polar singularities, called black and white holes. Nevertheless, the high entropy poles maintain low entropy regions between them, which have great complexity and evolutionary potential. Other recent hypotheses, such as the black hole firewall hypothesis are well-proven, yet it is not incorporated into mainstream science.

Considering the universe as a self-regulating, coherent system, it engenders its own evolution toward increasing biological complexity. In biological systems, Maxwell’s Demon utilizes the second law of thermodynamics to maintain low entropy and produce sophistication, organization, and intellect. This way, the mind emerged as a result of a global, self-regulating universe. Applying Landauer’s Principle for the brain shows how energy/information exchange increases synaptic complexity via comprehension, memory, movement, and other reactions. The fractal universe has three energy levels, the elementary particles, the mind, and the whole cosmos. Therefore, the universe’s evolution and complexity can be explained within a physicalist framework.

Read the whole article on Academia.

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