Mind-Matter Interaction. How does the circle close
1. Mind - Matter Interaction. How does the circle close?
Aleksandra Dimova
Descartes, W. James, Popper, Eccles, B. Russell, Pauli, Jung, Umezawa, Atmanspracher,
and D. Chopra are just some of many philosophers, psychologists etc. who attempted, from
many different starting points, to solve the aspects of mind-mater interaction. Many questions
still stay open.
As a neuro-psychiatrist, my research concentrates on the missing link in the chain reaction
between a stimulus and the response of an individual to this stimulus - to explain how the
observed individual neuro-psycho-physiological responses after the contact to the stimulus
occur.
From the beginning it becomes clear that only a framework that integrates data from multiple
disciplines can help us develop a broader theory of mind-mater interaction; neuro-psychiatry,
or general medicine alone are too narrow to offer a valid and comprehensive explanation.
Here I propose a new approach to the problem of how “mind and matter are related”,
supported by the knowledge from physiology, psychology, psychiatry, the laws of
thermodynamics, and the quantum theory. This approach allows developing a new theory
which proposes the order of the sequences on the way one stimulus transfers from outside to
inside of the brain and body.
It presents a new understanding of the way the consciousness of an individual influences its
surrounding, its capability to “activate” a quantum of thermal energy from “something” which
exists inside and/or outside of the individual, and which possesses potential thermal energy
to be activated.
Beside the wide acceptance of the term “observer”, here I introduce a new term “appraiser”
despite the risk of this term as a new to be confusing to readers. My intention is with
extension of the role of an individual from observer to appraiser to highlight that the individual
is not only a passive observer. Through appraisal of each stimulus, as an act of
consciousness, the individual becomes an active creator of something new.
The model considers the mechanism on the example of an external perceived threat;
however, the same principles could apply in non-threatening (pleasurable) situations.
Thesis 1:
With each appraisal of a stimulus (as a pleasure or threat) which an individual does, a new
quantum of thermal energy will be activated from something which has been present outside
and inside of individual.
Thesis 2:
This quantum of the new energy acts as a separate entity, a new system which - according
to the laws of thermodynamics - interacts with and alters the level of thermal energy of the
body of individual.
2. A. Surrounding - Mind - interaction
Fact: Assessment of a stimulus as a threat causes a spectrum of psycho-neuro-physiological
reactions in an individual: peripheral vasoconstriction, tensed muscles, fear etc. These are
well-established findings in the literature.
Hypothesis: Acute psycho-neuro-physiological reactions observed during an
appraised threat are identical to the initial responses observed in a cold shock.
3. Fact: In cold shock and assessed threat manifest peripheral vasoconstriction, piloerection,
tensed muscle, shivering, fear etc.
Hypothesis: Uniformity of neuro-physiological reactions during a cold shock and
assessed threat indicates that by the act of an appraisal of a threat the body loses
heat, which is followed by a subsequent drop of the temperature: hypothermia
Fact: The neuro-physiological part of the response spectrum to a cold shock: peripheral
vasoconstriction, piloerection, tensed muscle, shivering etc. participates in thermoregulation
and are an attempt of the body, with positive heat balance, quickly to regain body
temperature set point.
Fact: According to the main principle of homeostasis the level of physiological functioning
changes only in the case of a prior change of one or more variables of the inner milieu.
Most of the threat studies report stress induced hyperthermia as an answer of the body to an
assessed threat. This observed hyperthermia, is only a consequence of the imperfect
answer of the body to the primary threat, stress induced hypothermia. The imperfectness of
the human thermoregulatory mechanisms to the coldness is fact. Human beings still have
not been accomplishing perfect adaptation to low temperatures. In response to dropped body
temperature, muscle tone increases with consequently release of thermal energy (heat). The
amount of released thermal energy is more than necessary the set point of the body
temperature to be regained. This is reason of the observed and registered hyperthermia.
The problem of registered hyperthermia in threat/stress is because the measurement of the
body temperature change will be preceded some minutes after exposition to threatening
situation. It is to long time having in mind the ultrafast muscle contraction as an answer to
appraised threatening situations
Hypothesis: Hypothermia caused by the assessment of a threat, as well as due to a
cold shock, results in threat induced GABAergic hypofunction.
Fact: All symptoms which have been observed in threatening situations a) increased muscle
tone, shivering - symptoms of altered central motor neurons, b) increased peripheral
vasoconstriction, piloerection, increased heart rate etc. - symptoms of increased sympathetic
activity, c) fear - psychological manifestation, are symptoms of GABAergic hypofunction.
Hypothesis: GABAergic hypofunction is the common trigger behind all acute neuro-
psycho-physiological responses observed after stimulus had been appraised a as a
threat
4. Fact: In the case of (threat/cold induced) GABAergic hypofunction all neurotransmitter
systems under its control behave as are hyperactive. The new ratio inhibitory vs. excitatory
neurotransmission changes its state compared to the state before the act of the appraisal of
a threat occurs. The new state is: primary GABAergic hypofunction / secondary
hyperfunction of excitatory neurotransmission.
The ratio of newly inhibitory/excitatory neurotransmission is a neural correlate of a mental
representation manifested after appraisal of threat: the fear.
This imbalance explains from one side the acute symptoms of threat response: increased
muscle tone, increased activity of sympathy nervous system and fear. From the other side,
this explains, the noradrenergic hyperactivity observed in the case of increased activation of
hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Actually this noradrenergic hyperactivity is secondary,
which had been induced, due to primary threat/cold induced GABAergic hypofunction. This
differentiation has an important role in treatment strategies of due to external conditions
caused adjustment, depressive, anxiety and posttraumatic disorders. The different
inhibitory/excitatory ratios refers to different mental states which “form[s] a trajectory
representing what is often called the stream of consciousness” (Atmanspacher, 2015) as well
as the psychological-psychiatric syndromes.
Hypothesis: The changed inhibitory / excitatory neurotransmission ratio influences the
value system of an individual (their picture of the world) which will be reflected in the
way the individual interacts with their surroundings.
Everyday psychiatric practice shows that in the case of different psychiatric conditions
(anxiety and adjunctive disorders, major depression, schizophrenia etc.) appraisal of the
same situation (for example the assessment of behavior of others in paranoid schizophrenia,
or assessment of one’s own behavior in major depression in the case of pathological feeling
of guilty) differs before and after the treatment with psychotropic drugs. Psychotropic drugs
act in the same time on different neurotransmitter systems altering their functioning level and
the inhibitory / excitatory neurotransmission ratio.
In this first part we started with a stimulus (surrounding), mind and consciousness of
individual which after appraisal of a threat, is followed by hypothermia and consequently a
change of the inhibitory / excitatory neurotransmission ratio. This changed ratio alters the
individual’s value system which will be reflected in the way the individual assesses and
interacts with his surroundings. The circle of interactions: surrounding-individual- surrounding
closes.
B. From the mind to the matter
Questions arising from this link are: in what way does the body of the individual who makes
the appraisal lose a part of its thermal energy? To what extent does the body of the individual
give off a part of its thermal energy in response to an appraised threat?
5. Hypothesis: With the act of appraisal of one stimulusas an act of consciousness, a
new separate entity will be formed.
The idea of the influence of the consciousness on a quantum field is not new. London and
Bauer proposed already in 1939 that it is “indeed human consciousness which completes
quantum measurement. (Atmanspacher, 2015) Hameroff and Penrose suggested in 1990
(cited in Atmanspacher,2015) that quantum mechanical processes “can be influenced by
mental intentions” and in 1996 proposed that reductions of quantum states are “an individual
elementary act of consciousness” (Atmanspacher, 2015) However, the idea that the
consciousness´s acts during the appraisal of the even/situation forms a new entity has not
been considered previously
Appraisal of a situation - as an act of consciousness - could be the first step which, through
the formation of a new entity, initiates information transit from the outside (surrounding) to the
inside (body/brain of individual).
Beck and Eccles proposed that “individual quantum state collapses offer room for the
influence of mental powers on brain states” (Beck and Eccles 1992 cited in Atmanspacher,
2015)
At this point including the influence of the appraisal of one situation - as an act of
consciousness - the proposed model offers one option about the ways mental activity might
be relevant for quantum processes.
Hypothesis: A new due to act of appraisal created entity possesses a quantum of
thermal energy. In the case of an assessed threat the temperature of this new entity
is lower compared to the body of the assessor.
According to the present-day understanding of the stability of the inner milieu (homeostasis),
the functional level of the physiological processes changes just after a prior change of the
value of the relevant variables of inner milieu. As above mentioned, the spectrum of neuro-
physiological responses observed after the appraisal of a stimulus as a threat, are involved in
thermoregulation to cold. The change of activity level of these thermoregulatory mechanisms
happens when the body gives off part of its heat to some other object. This “other object” is
the new entity. Each of the constituent particles of this new entity has to possess a quantum
of thermal (kinetic) energy. In that case the new entity, with its quantum of thermal energy,
will act as a disturbance variable for the inner milieu and interacts with the thermal energy of
the appraiser.
Hypothesis: The temperature difference between the body and the new entity causes
heat transfer and consequent change of thermal energy of the individual, i.e. his body
temperature.
6. Fact: Respecting the First Law of Thermodynamics one object can lose a quantum of thermal
energy just in the case of contact with another object of lower temperature. The change of
the activity level of the thermoregulatory mechanism to cold observed after appraise of a
threat, a) increase of the heat release – due to increased muscle tone and b) reduction of
heat transfer to the surrounding – due to peripheral vasoconstriction, piloerection indicates
loss of heat of the appraiser ´s body. The activation of the thermoregulatory mechanisms to
cold which we observe in the case of an appraised threat, suggests drop of the body
temperature: threat/stress induced hypothermia (TIH).
The heat transfer is dissipative. It happens always from the hotter to the colder object. Drop
of the body temperature after appraised threat indicates that the temperature of the new
created entity has to be lower compared to the body. Just in a case of drop of body
temperature the body will respond with change of the activity level of above mentioned
thermoregulatory responses to cold.
This hypothesis provides support – through a different approach – to the models which
take dissipation into account when the interaction of a system with its environment is
considered (Vitiello,1995) (seen from introduction of substantive revision of “Quantum
Approaches to Consciousness”)
C. Location of contact between appraiser´s body and new entity
Hypothesis: Heat transfer between two objects - new entity and body of individual /
appraiser - is possible just in a case of contact between them.
Fact: Heat transfer between two objects happens just in a case of contact between them.
The change of the activity of thermoregulatory mechanisms after appraised threat indicates
an existence of the contact between new entity and body of individual. The place of contact
between the body of the appraiser and the new entity has to be deep inside, in body core or
the brain of the appraiser: otherwise the body will not react with general thermoregulation
control mechanisms.
D. “Matter” of new entity.
Hypothesis: The “Matter” out of which a new entity is built has to be present and
available at all times inside and/or everywhere around individual.
7. The “Matter” out of which the new entity is built has to have at least 2 features: a) it has to be
available at all times and b) it has to have a potential that a quantum of thermal energy
which will be stored in the new entity could be “created“ or “activated” out of it. This means it
has to have the features of a field; it could be the quantum field. This field has to have a
potential, through the act of appraiser, a quantum of thermal energy, or maybe other form of
energy, to arise out of it.
This hypothesis about emergence of new entity from the field of potentials corresponds to
“Heisenberg's notion of the potential, of a tendency” which “relates to the
situation before measurement” (Atmanspacher, 2015). U. Warnke speaks about a “sea of all
possibilities”.
E. (Thermal) Value of new entity
Hypothesis: The quantum of thermal energy (temperature) a new entity possesses
represents the “value” the particular situation has for the individual / assessor at that
moment.
The value system of each individual is variable. Over time it changes within same person.
Most evident is the change in value system of individual when psychiatric disorders manifest
themselves. This is one reason why the appraisal of the same situation may be different for
different persons. This explains the individuality (subjectivity) of the neuro–psycho-
physiological reactions to same situation and differences in behavior.
Hypothesis: A quantum of thermal energy of the new entity stays conserved despite
of the continuously flow of thermal energy between the appraiser´s body and the new
entity.
Respecting the First Law of Thermodynamics one object can lose a quantum of thermal
energy just in the case of contact with other object with lower temperature. From the moment
of contact between those two objects, thermal energy transfers from the warmer to the colder
object until thermal equilibrium is reached (Zeroth law of thermodynamics). In the state of
reached equilibrium the temperature of the former hotter system drops.
In the everyday life, after one surrounding caused hypothermia, the body possesses enough
resources to reach a positive thermal balance to regain and to maintain the set point of its
temperature. The thermoregulatory mechanisms will function on a higher level until the set
point of the temperature has been regained. Being in contact the new entity as a colder
object will have to reach the value of temperature set point. Then both systems: the body and
the new entity will reach the thermal equilibrium at the set point of body temperature. When
the temperature of the new entity is equal to the set point of the body temperature it will not
play the role of a disturbance variable in the inner milieu anymore.
8. In the state of regained set point of body temperature, there should be no imbalance
between the inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitter systems anymore. The symptoms (the
neuro-psycho-physiological responses) caused due threat induced hypothermia should
disappear as a result of the successful rebalance of the inhibitory / excitatory
neurotransmission. In such case, the posttraumatic stress disorders, adjustment disorders,
and depressive disorders should exist very briefly.
In a case of a existence new entity and its contact with in the appraiser’s body, the set point
of the body temperature will be not reached beside continuous heat transfer from the body to
the new created entity. The chronicity of the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorders
(PTSD) indicates an altered balance between inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission.
This point out at persistent body temperature alteration, one sustained hypothermia. In the
case of PTSD (as well as adjustment-, and depressive-disorders) the appraiser, with its
internal (the body) and external energy resources cannot manage to regain the body
temperature set point. The new entity, the product of an appraised threat acts sustained as
disturbance variable.
What could be the explanation of this behavior which does not correspond to the recognized,
known laws of thermodynamics? One explanation could be that the thermal value of the new
entity stays fixed, „frozen“, despite the fact that according to the laws of thermodynamics,
the colder entity will continuously receive thermal energy from the appraiser´s body. The
value the appraiser gave to the stimulus plays a role of thermostat keeping the temperature
of the new entity at one fixed value. In such a case, the new entity will act as a long term
disturbance variable interacting continuously with the thermal condition of the appraiser. The
consequence is chronic alteration of the ratio inhibitory / excitatory neurotransmission and
appearance of psychiatric and somatic symptoms and syndromes. For me it is clear that this
daring hypothesis is in conflict with the law of energy conservation.
Hypothesis: The quantum of thermal energy the new entity possesses is variable
Fact: Changes of the intensity of the neuro-psycho-physiological reactions observed during
reassessment - change of the value of the traumatic life through effective psychotherapy and
correction of the inhibitory/excitatory imbalance, due treatment with psychotropic agents
supports this hypothesis.
F. Appraiser’s value system
Hypothesis: The value system of an individual/appraisal represents the balance
between inhibitory vs. excitatory neurotransmission at that moment
This we see very clearly before and during treatment of severe psychiatric disorders such as
major depression, schizophrenia, panic and anxiety disorders etc. with psychotropic drug.
9. Hypothesis: The quantum of thermal energy which the new entity contains is the end
sum of thermal history of that system.
The quantum of thermal energy which one system contains is the end sum of thermal history
of that system. It concerns also the new entity
G. Destiny of the new entity after death
The attempt to answer the question about destiny of the new entity remains unsolved for me.
If an individual´s consciousness as a the creator of new entity is “conditio sine qua non” for it,
“birth”, if the individual´s value system defines the content of thermal energy of the new
entity, and the body and a brain give the material basis for the value system of the appraiser,
with a death in absence of individual´s creative consciousness there could be two possible
scenarios: a) the new entity dissolves after death, which looks wasteful from the point of
view life which was “for nothing” or b) the new entity will be let free with its fixed content of
thermal energy because there is no more consciousness, no more individual with his value
system.
G. Discussion and Conclusion
“Mind–world interaction is taken for granted in everyday experience and in scientific
practice.” (Atmanspacher, 2015)Adding the knowledge from psychiatric disorders and
their treatment with psychotropic drugs to the existing body of knowledge of quantum
physics, psychology, physiology, neuroscience etc., I present another option for the
mind–world interaction.
The measurement problem in quantum mechanics is the problem of how (or whether) wave-
function collapse occurs. Due to present-day technological restrictions it has been still not
possible to observe this process. The body reactions manifested after contact and appraisal
of some stimulus from the side of the individual give us potential proof that wave-function
collapse under appraisal as an act of consciousness indeed happens. The presented
findings give a support that “Mental causation—the mind's causal interaction with the world,
and in particular, its influence on behavior—is central to our conception of ourselves as
agents”. (Atmanspacher, 2015) Moving from this purely psychological, or cognitive,
description to its neuro-psycho-physiological counterpart, maybe the proposed model could
bring us closer to the answer of the question: What is the neural correlate of a mental
representation? Inhibitory / excitatory neurotransmission imbalance as a neural correlate of a
different mental representations is correct, but too broad as a definition. The experience with
psychiatric disorders and their treatment with psychotropic drugs indicate that the neural
correlate of a mental representation has to be a special proportion of activity of different
neurotransmitter systems (GABAergic, noradrenergic, dopaminergic etc.), in different brain
regions.
In my research I started from the neuro-psycho-physiological responses (symptoms)
observed after appraisal of one situation (with the particular focus on a perceived threat).
Working backwards, provided additional evidences about creative power of consciousness,
the emergence of new entities from the “sea of all possibilities” through an act of appraisal of
one stimulus. The quantum of thermal energy possessed by a new entity possesses
represents the value the stimulus constitutes for the appraiser.
Starting from the interaction of an individual with an stimulus, the creation of a new entity,
caused by the alteration of body temperature affecting the GABAergic neurotransmission and
