Modern Research Into Physiology Issues Relevant to Epicurus's Views of Images and Other Influences On the Human Mind

    [ADMIN EDIT - This thread was split off from here: RE: "Epicurean Philosophy: An Introduction from the 'Garden of Athens'" edited by Christos Yapijakis Possibly the topic name needs further adjustment, and I see we don't really have a forum dedicated to "human body" issues. We can set one up if needed. The topic is really something more like "Modern Research that might link to Epicurean Views of Images and other influences on the mind.]


    Probably way off topic but this just caught my eye. Probably reflective of how we need to be flexible in keeping open to undiscovered - but natural - ways that thoughts can be influenced by physical changes:


    Personality changes following heart transplantation: The role of cellular memory
    Personality changes following heart transplantation, which have been reported for decades, include accounts of recipients acquiring the personality ch…
    www.sciencedirect.com

    I didn't realize that the PDF supporting the article is behind a paywall. A search of cellular memory indicates some people think it is quackery, but other articles seem to take it seriously. Might be worth splitting this off into a separate topic if anyone is interested or has access to the full ScienceDirect article to see how serious it is.


    Body memory - Wikipedia


    Could Memory Traces Exist in Cell Bodies?
    The long-held belief that memories are stored at synapses—the junctions between cells—may not be the full story
    www.scientificamerican.com


    Inherited Memory in Organ Transplant Recipients
    Imagine waking up after surgery knowing you have someone else's heart in your chest. Now imagine coming to the shocking realization that with this gift of life…
    discover.hubpages.com


    Cellular memory hints at the origins of intelligence - Nature
    Slime mould displays remarkable rhythmic recall.
    www.nature.com



    Also, probably more closely related to particle flows affecting the brain directly:


    - https://www.webmd.com/brain/ne…-brain-but-does-it-matter

    Maybe related, but intriguing nonetheless...

    Science | AAAS


    Can the legacy of trauma be passed down the generations?
    Our children and grandchildren are shaped by the genes they inherit from us, but new research is revealing that experiences of hardship or violence can leave…
    www.bbc.com


    Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: putative role of epigenetic mechanisms
    This paper reviews the research evidence concerning the intergenerational transmission of trauma effects and the possible role of epigenetic mechanisms in this…
    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

    Quote from Godfrey

    So Epicurus was on to something: maybe (part of) the brain is in the chest :/


    Fascinating with respect to the Canon!

    We know the mind is inextricably linked to the brain, but I've never been that hard on Epicurus for the chest thing. From the literally "breathtaking" feeling one feels in the presence of awe-inspiring sights to the feeling of being heartbroken, we really do *feel* emotion in the chest!


    Can You Physically Feel Emotions?
    Emotions are both a physical and mental experience.
    psychcentral.com


    Quote

    Here are some of the more common physical sensations of emotions:

    • Anxiety. Lump in your throat, churning stomach, trembling, dry mouth, sweating, shortness of breath, feeling weak or tense.
    • Anger. Hot or flushed face, clenched fists or jaw, shaking, jerky body movements.
    • Joy. Feeling of lightness in your body, warm heart, “butterflies” in your stomach.
    • Sadness. Feeling of “heartache,” heaviness in your body, tightness in chest, fatigue, drooping face.
    • Shame. Hot face, lowered eyes, sunken body posture.
    • Fear. Dizziness, weakness in legs, goosebumps, fast breathing and heart rate.

    We also have numerous sayings referring to the mind-body connection:

    • hot-headed (anger)
    • hot-blooded (passionate)
    • heartbroken
    • getting cold feet (doubt or apprehension)
    • stomach-dropping news
    • gut-wrenching anxiety

  • Cassius

    Changed the title of the thread from “"Epicurean Philosophy: An Introduction from the 'Garden of Athens'" edited by Christos Yapijakis” to “Modern Research Into Physiology Issues Relevant to Epicurus's Views of Images and Other Influences On the Human Mind”.
    Quote from Don

    We know the mind is inextricably linked to the brain, but I've never been that hard on Epicurus for the chest thing. From the literally "breathtaking" feeling one feels in the presence of awe-inspiring sights to the feeling of being heartbroken, we really do *feel* emotion in the chest!

    The phrase used in Diogenes Laertius 10.66 is:

    τὸ δὲ λογικὸν ἐν τῷ θώρακι

    to (de) logikon en tō thōraki

    "(and) the reason/intellect {is} in the "the thorax""

    Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, λογι^κ-ός

    Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon, θώραξ

    I also found it interesting that just prior to the logikon section, the "a-logos" is said to be distributed throughout the body.

    I'm going to have to go back and see how that Scholion fits into the pathē and pleasure and pain, etc. especially since it says we feel fear and joy in the "thorax"/chest.

    Not to sound like a skeptic, but to me, this kind of thing is a reminder of how much we really don't know - even in areas that we tend to assume modern science has pretty well figured out.


    This is especially irritating in the "how to be an epicurean" genre of books when they get into specific, supposedly scientific, lifestyle advice, psychology, etc.


    Reminds me of an anecdote about reading a news article about the field you work in, and thinking, "That is so misleading! Lots of people disagree about that. That's not even what the paper said! The paper they're referencing was retracted 6 months ago!" Then you read an article about a subject with which you're less familiar, and you don't realize it may well have all the same issues.


    Now back to being dogmatic.

    Quote from Todd

    Not to sound like a skeptic, but to me, this kind of thing is a reminder of how much we really don't know - even in areas that we tend to assume modern science has pretty well figured out.

    That sounds like withholding judgement until more evidence of available... Very Epicurean ;)