Re: META: Emotions "vestigial"? was Re: On being Extropian

Michael Butler (mbutler@ocv1.ocv.com)
Fri, 18 Oct 1996 12:12:12 PST


<<
This is not an either or question: vestigal or not vestigal.
>>
Agreed.
<<
Clearly, emotions come from an older part of the brain, the limibic system
we share with mammals, not the medula we share with reptiles (correct me
if I am wrong about this).
>>

Well, that's a big part of the model. But remember that practically
every interesting molecule in our bodies has at least *two* uses.

Example: epinephrine is a neurotransmitter as well as a hormone.
It's evident that at least *some* hormones are older than nervous systems
themselves. And that they appear to serve as a backup system for
signalling even in mammals is well known--vide the original discovery of
histamine as the agent for stomach-acid secretion in cows with all
the nerves to their stomachs cut (the histamine-stuffynose connection
was discovered later, and the histamine-orgasm connection later
still, I seem to recall).

Wild-assed-guess warning!

This suggests that epinephrine as a heart-speeder-upper may have been
"pressed into" service as a neurotransmitter, or the two functions may
have co-evolved. I don't know who would be able to determine that or
how accurately; archaeo-molecular-biology is a tough science to
practice.

So, do flatworms (or whatever critters have hormones) have
rudimentary emotions? :)

<<
Unfortunately, it seems that the
"emotional thinking" we share with other mammals continues on and can only
be overcome with conscious practice. [Anyone watch the Presidential
Debates?]
>>

Well, I have been settling for being able to *browse* my emotional
state and getting practice at focusing my attention.

I'm afraid my attention is too precious a thing these days to waste
on Tweedledum and Tweedledumber. :\ :P :

MMB, at but not for, etc.