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Mind and Matter I

Mind and Matter I. Brain and Mind The Nature of Matter Influences of Matter on Mind "…our notions of mind and matter…must pass through many a phase as yet unimagined."  F . W. H. Myers. Outline of Topics for the Course (not the order of presentation).

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Mind and Matter I

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  1. Mind and Matter I Brain and Mind The Nature of Matter Influences of Matter on Mind "…our notions of mind and matter…must pass through many a phase as yet unimagined."  F. W. H. Myers

  2. Outline of Topics for the Course (not the order of presentation) I.  The Nature of Matter Findings from physics and astronomy II. Influences of matter on mind III. Brain and Mind The relationship of brain to mind IV.  Mind over Matter: Influence of mind on body Placebos, nocebos, psychoneuroimmunology, “spontaneous" remission of cancer, etc. V. The Role of Mind in Quantum Physics Experiments VI.  The Mind-Body problem Evidence for the existence of mind independently of matter Theories of the relationship of mind to body VII. Theories of Reality Mind and matter in the grand cosmic scheme

  3. Topics for today • Brain and mind • Introduction to the mind-body problem • Influences of Matter on Mind • Drugs, nutrition, exercise, gut bacteria • The Nature of Matter • Atoms, electrons, protons • Electromagnetic waves • The Physical Universe

  4. Topics for today • Brain and mind • Introduction to the mind-body problem • Influences of Matter on Mind • Drugs, nutrition, exercise, gut bacteria • The Nature of Matter • Atoms, electrons, protons • Electromagnetic waves • The Physical Universe

  5. The Mind-Body ProblemDifferent dudes have different views • A person is made up of three components: BODY -- MIND -- SPIRIT • A person is made up of two components: BODY and MIND/SPIRIT • A person consists of a body Mind is just the operation of the brain Spirit is an illusion • A person consists of mind/spirit The body is an illusion

  6. Another way of looking at it • Spirit (or Soul), if it exists, is an aspect of mind • Along with consciousness • In that case we have just two major components: • Body (including brain) • Mind (including spirit, if any) • Then we have the question of how these two are related • Dualistic view: Mind and Body • Problem: How are they related • Monistic views: Two alternatives • Body is real, mind (incl. consciousness) is just the working of the brain • Mind is real, body (and the physical world) is made up by mind And it therefore more or less illusory

  7. Topics for today • Brain and mind • Introduction to the mind-body problem • Influences of Matter on Mind • Drugs, nutrition, exercise, gut bacteria • The Nature of Matter • Atoms, electrons, protons • Electromagnetic waves • The Physical Universe

  8. Influences of matter on mind • Nutrition • Drugs • Exercise • Gut bacteria

  9. Influences of matter on mind • Nutrition • Drugs • Exercise • Gut bacteria

  10. Nutrition and Mental Function I • Deficiency of B vitamins • Vitamin B1 (thiamine) • Damage to nervous system • Apathy • Poor short-term memory • Decrease in calculating ability • Confusion • Irritability • Vitamin B3 (niacin) • Depression • Apathy • Memory loss • Vitamin B6 • Depression • Confusion • Abnormal brain wave patterns

  11. Nutrition and Mental Function II • Deficiency of vitamins C and D • Hysteria • Depression

  12. Nutrition and Mental Function III • Amino acids • Found in protein foods • Used for making neurotransmitters • Dopamine (from tyrosine) • Norepinephrine (from phenylalinine) • Serotonin (from tryptophan) • Promotes relaxation, contentment

  13. Nutrition and Mental Function IV • Sugar • According to a 2012 article in the journal Nature, sugar is a toxic substance that should be regulated like tobacco and alcohol • Elevates blood sugar levels, resulting in • Mental confusion • Decrease in insulin production • Erratic behavior, hyperactivity • Kills beneficial gut bacteria which manufacture B vitamins • Decreases glutamic acid • Result: neurological disorders • Parkinson’s disease • Neuropathy • Depression

  14. Influences of matter on mind • Nutrition • Drugs • Exercise • Gut bacteria

  15. Influences of matter on mind • Nutrition • Drugs • Exercise • Gut bacteria

  16. Exercise and Mind I • John Ratey, psychiatrist, Harvard Medical School author of the book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain: • "Exercise is the single best thing you can do for your brain in terms of mood, memory, and learning,” • "Even 10 minutes of activity changes your brain."

  17. Exercise and Mind II • Exercise causes release of endorphins • The source of “runner’s high” • Contributes to formation of new brain cells (“neurogenesis”) • Even in elderly people

  18. Influences of matter on mind • Nutrition • Drugs • Exercise • Gut bacteria

  19. Gut bacteria • Single-celled organisms—mostly bacteria— • outnumber our own cells 10 to one • most of them are in the gut • Changes to the gut bacterial community affect people’s ability to digest certain foods

  20. Gut bacteria and mind I From “That gut feeling” by Dr. Siri CarpenterMonitor on Psychology Vol 43, No. 8 (Sept 2012) • The gut has a stunningly complex neural network • 100 million neurons embedded in gut wall • Communicates with the brain via the vagus nerve • Gut bacteria produce hundreds of neurochemicals that the brain uses to regulate basic physiological processes as well as mental processes such as learning, memory and mood • GABA, serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine and melatonin • About 95 percent of the body's supply of serotonin • Serotonin influences both mood and GI activity

  21. Gut bacteria and mind II From “That gut feeling” by Dr. Siri CarpenterMonitor on Psychology Vol 43, No. 8 (Sept 2012) • The gut microbiome can influence neural development, brain chemistry and a wide range of behavioral phenomena, incl. • Emotional behavior • Pain perception • How the stress system responds

  22. Gut bacteria and mind IIIBercik et al., in Gastroenterology (2011) • A demonstration of the potency of the so-called "microbiome-gut-brain axis" • Experiment on BALB/c mice • A strain of mice that are typically timid and shy • Fed a cocktail of antibiotics that changed the composition of their gut bacteria • Their behavior completely changed • They became bold and adventurous

  23. Gut bacteria and mind IIIBritish Journal of Nutrition (2011) • Study conducted on healthy human volunteers • Given a 30-day course of probiotic bacteria • Lactobacillus helveticus • Bifidobacteria longum) • Result: • Decreased anxiety and depression

  24. Topics for today • Brain and mind • Introduction to the mind-body problem • Influences of Matter on Mind • Drugs, nutrition, exercise, gut bacteria • The Nature of Matter • Atoms, electrons, protons • Electromagnetic waves • The Physical Universe

  25. The Physical Universe: Matter and Energy • Matter • Molecules • Atoms • Subatomic particles • Energy • Electromagnetic waves

  26. Waves (1) When a pebble is thrown into water, it creates a disturbance and forms ripples which travel away from the point of impact. These are waves in the medium water. The wave is an energy transfer through medium with regular vibration or oscillating motion.

  27. Waves (2) • Different wave lengths, different frequencies

  28. Waves (3)

  29. Waves (4)Wave interference

  30. Waves (5)Wave Interference: Constructive

  31. Waves (6)Wave Interference: Destructive

  32. Waves (7)Wave Interference Pattern • Double Slit Experiment

  33. Electromagnetic waves

  34. Electromagnetic waves

  35. The Physical Universe http://htwins.net/scale2/

  36. T h a n k s f o r y o u r a t t e n t i o n !

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