7-16-12 THE LIMBIC SYSTEM = SOURCE OF EMOTIONS
Posted by Vincente E. Woodward on Monday, July 16, 2012
I want to briefly note that I have not forgotten to deal with repression, resistance and projection.
Instead, as I was writing on "transference" it occurred to me that we have mentioned "emotions" without telling what they really are other than in a general way i.e. they are affects caused by neutrotransmitters and other closely related chemical compounds.
Because "emotions" are so central to any discussion on the topics of transference, repression, and projection I thought that I had better take a moment to explain exactly what it is that I am generally talking about when I use the word "emotion".
I would suggest that we actually shouldn't be using that word, alone.
Instead, we should be speaking about "emotional reactions" or "an emotional complex".
This is because all "emotions" are caused by a cascade of chemicals, as opposed to any one chemical.
So that I have an "emotional response".
That is to say, my autonomic (automatic) nervous system
is dumping numerous different very powerful mood altering drugs into my bloodstream.
These are intended to serve any number of purposes.
Each having it's own "affective" qualities.
It is, after all, "affect" that the world will see when it looks at any person.
I cannot see your emotions, but I most definitely can see the "affect" which it is causing.
So that emotional response is a chemical cascade triggered by a startling event which ends up changing "affect".
The person in whose body these changes are taking place "feels" the changes (subjective position), while those looking at the person from the outside "see" the changes (objective position).
At the end of the day it is rarely emotion which is being spoken of, but, rather, "affect" (i.e. how you look like you feel).
A triggering event, then a cascade of neurotransmitters and associated chemical compounds, and finally a change in your feelings which is reflected in your affect.
Normally this all goes on without anyone noticing much of the process as it takes place right in front of us over and over again.
Now, given that most neurotransmitter secretions are being excreted by some kind of glandular-like muscular organ one can imagine without a lot of effort what will go wrong if any of the muscles become overly tired or overused.
For example, what if one is under continuous stress, of necessity, like the soldiers in WWI in the trench warfare.
Or like rescue workers or other emergency personnel.
They will pump adrenaline and various catecholamine cocktails all day long, one day after another, for years.
This means that as the adrenaline pumping gland works way too hard for way too long, so do the counterbalancing chemical glands.
Ultimately, as they become exhausted, they will not secrete in the proper ratios which they are designed to.
It is just like when you run and your legs begin to hurt really bad because of the buildup of various acids in the muscle tissue.
Before too long your legs will become so stiff that you will not be able to walk, much less run.
It is just the same with these little muscles which are controlling the secretions of the neurotransmitters and associated reactive compounds.
They have physical limits, just like all of the rest of the tissues in the human body (--- fearfully and wonderfully made; and that is no exaggeration!).
When it comes to the chemicals which we are talking about, this can be a really big deal (from "I love you" to "I am going to kill you" caused by applying voltage to the amygdala, for example).
Think of anyone who you have watched completely fall apart during menopause, as hormones rage unchecked.
So, what are the exact components of the LIMBIC SYSTEM?
The limbic system is thought of as consisting of several highly specialized organs which are primarily existing in the deepest center of the brain, and are connected via various sensors placed at various locations throughout the body (remember mind/body? more on that later), all being interconnected via "hard wiring" to the central and peripheral nervous systems (in order to carry out actions which have been initiated).
Very high speed intercommunication (and processing) between the various organs involved is necessary in order for the system to operate efficiently.
THE LIMBIC SYSTEM consists primarily of
Amygdala
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Hippocampus
Pineal gland
Cerebellum
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla
Spinal cord
Instead, as I was writing on "transference" it occurred to me that we have mentioned "emotions" without telling what they really are other than in a general way i.e. they are affects caused by neutrotransmitters and other closely related chemical compounds.
Because "emotions" are so central to any discussion on the topics of transference, repression, and projection I thought that I had better take a moment to explain exactly what it is that I am generally talking about when I use the word "emotion".
I would suggest that we actually shouldn't be using that word, alone.
Instead, we should be speaking about "emotional reactions" or "an emotional complex".
This is because all "emotions" are caused by a cascade of chemicals, as opposed to any one chemical.
So that I have an "emotional response".
That is to say, my autonomic (automatic) nervous system
is dumping numerous different very powerful mood altering drugs into my bloodstream.
These are intended to serve any number of purposes.
Each having it's own "affective" qualities.
It is, after all, "affect" that the world will see when it looks at any person.
I cannot see your emotions, but I most definitely can see the "affect" which it is causing.
So that emotional response is a chemical cascade triggered by a startling event which ends up changing "affect".
The person in whose body these changes are taking place "feels" the changes (subjective position), while those looking at the person from the outside "see" the changes (objective position).
At the end of the day it is rarely emotion which is being spoken of, but, rather, "affect" (i.e. how you look like you feel).
A triggering event, then a cascade of neurotransmitters and associated chemical compounds, and finally a change in your feelings which is reflected in your affect.
Normally this all goes on without anyone noticing much of the process as it takes place right in front of us over and over again.
Now, given that most neurotransmitter secretions are being excreted by some kind of glandular-like muscular organ one can imagine without a lot of effort what will go wrong if any of the muscles become overly tired or overused.
For example, what if one is under continuous stress, of necessity, like the soldiers in WWI in the trench warfare.
Or like rescue workers or other emergency personnel.
They will pump adrenaline and various catecholamine cocktails all day long, one day after another, for years.
This means that as the adrenaline pumping gland works way too hard for way too long, so do the counterbalancing chemical glands.
Ultimately, as they become exhausted, they will not secrete in the proper ratios which they are designed to.
It is just like when you run and your legs begin to hurt really bad because of the buildup of various acids in the muscle tissue.
Before too long your legs will become so stiff that you will not be able to walk, much less run.
It is just the same with these little muscles which are controlling the secretions of the neurotransmitters and associated reactive compounds.
They have physical limits, just like all of the rest of the tissues in the human body (--- fearfully and wonderfully made; and that is no exaggeration!).
When it comes to the chemicals which we are talking about, this can be a really big deal (from "I love you" to "I am going to kill you" caused by applying voltage to the amygdala, for example).
Think of anyone who you have watched completely fall apart during menopause, as hormones rage unchecked.
So, what are the exact components of the LIMBIC SYSTEM?
The limbic system is thought of as consisting of several highly specialized organs which are primarily existing in the deepest center of the brain, and are connected via various sensors placed at various locations throughout the body (remember mind/body? more on that later), all being interconnected via "hard wiring" to the central and peripheral nervous systems (in order to carry out actions which have been initiated).
Very high speed intercommunication (and processing) between the various organs involved is necessary in order for the system to operate efficiently.
THE LIMBIC SYSTEM consists primarily of
Amygdala
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Hippocampus
Pineal gland
Cerebellum
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla
Spinal cord
