Posted by Cam W. on March 25, 2001, at 23:23:19
In reply to I am cursed with a new theory, posted by Bradley on March 25, 2001, at 23:01:17
I like to look at mental illness as misconnection of neurons. We have a limited number of genes coding for limited number of neurons. These neurons overconnect with each other in utero and possibly neonatally. As we grow and age many of the connections are broken (called synaptic pruning) and many of the remaining connections are "hardwired" as memories and automatic actions (eg walking). As we learn, new connections are made between neurons and are strengthened via a process called long term potenitiation, resulting in learn behaviors and memories. Much of this is done through the hippocampus. Sometimes circuits are strengthened (when we learn something) and sometimes they are weakened (when we forget something or when certain neurons are damaged).
This may be why a small number of genes can produce more than 6 billion different personalities. It could be (and probably is) because we all prune our synapses in a different way, due to how we perceive environmental stimuli. This is probably also why different meds work differently on different people.
This complex of interconnections and changes (called neuronal placticity) can screw up and cause the syndromes we know as mental disorders or even medical disorders (eg artherosclerosis, Parkinsonism, Alzheimers, MS, etc). Many of these disorders resulting from neuronal screwups could be the downside to evolving consciousness.
Just a thought - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:57508
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010319/msgs/57545.html