Posted by SLS on January 9, 2009, at 19:02:40
In reply to Re: What % of personality is just neurotransmitters?, posted by desolationrower on January 9, 2009, at 17:15:46
Hi D/R.
> I'm not disputing mind is emergent phenomena from brain, but saying 100% neurotransmitter is not the same thing. brain is much more than neurotransmitters, the intracellular chemicals, the structure of individual neurons, and the strucutre of brain connections, as well as activity generally classified as neurotransmitter like ion channels, capillary activity, and immune system is profoundly important.
>
> i think its important because if one thinks that neurotrasmitters are all then one ignores too many important factors. There are different levels of mutability that are more or less changable which is part of the challenge to know what we can change and what we can not change.I think I understand what you are saying. I agree that it is not possible to understand the brain by simply focusing on chemical neurotransmitters. However, I can't think of a single experiential phenomenon that does not ultimately arise through synaptic neurotransmission; the functions of which involve neurotransmitters. Of course, just because I can't think of any doesn't mean very much.
To play devil's advocate (as if he doesn't already get enough help in this world), I would ask you what functions of the mind do not ultimately depend on neurotransmitters to facilitate them.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:847393
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/neuro/20080706/msgs/873031.html