[moondaughter]

Interesting distinction between reward circuitry verses enjoyment and the associated implications. Take a l@@k!

http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...it-found-brain

In Brief

New research has uncovered hotspots in the brain that, when stimulated, enhance sensations of pleasure.
These hedonic hotspots differ from the “reward circuit” previously thought to be the basis of good feelings—a pathway now believed to mediate desire more than enjoyment.
Higher brain regions receive information from these pleasure and reward circuits to consciously represent the warm glow we associate with joy.
A decoupling of the brain systems that generate “wanting” and “liking” may underlie addictive behavior—a clue that may lead to new treatments.

from the "comment" section:

"According to Heath, the results were dramatic. Patients who were nearly catatonic with despair could be made to smile, converse, even giggle. But the relief was short-lived. When the stimulation ceased, the symptoms returned."

Perhaps an interesting observation here -- and a crucial one as the acceleration of depression in the general population is heading towards the point that it could even become a leading cause of death in the not-too-distant future.

It seems that not the hedonistic sites that had the temporary effect are the key, but rather somehow working the circuit that is now thought to mediate desire. Suppose that instead of external material stimuli causing "joy," it was internal stimuli. There might be at least two advantages:

1 - It will not be limited by the availability of the external stimulus.

2 - It can be continuous, as compared to coming in spurts and limits with material stimulus. [Like getting full after eating what started out as a delicious meal.]

But there would be a third very important advantage.

3 - The stimulus could be directed to the much larger enjoyment of others.

Imagine if that could be down -- bestowal become a fantastic, towering pleasure in its own right. One's pleasure would become not only evermore statistically continuous, but it would magnify.

And what would it mean if we could get pleasure in this way? Perhaps we wouldn't have the artificial "needs" that power unnecessary production the uses up and trashes the planet faster than it can replenish. Perhaps we would find true satisfaction, taking us away from depression that seems to go primarily in those populations most blessed with material goods. As well, if the pleasure could be directed into bestowal, mutual responsibility between the people, corporations, and countries of this planet would become extremely easy -- and working for each other than against each other will prove a great boon even regarding our material prosperity. -- However, we will hopefully have vastly greater pleasures from which to find life worth living.

[Conductor71]

You are a dreamer too (idealist)...I love this!

Laura

[moondaughter]

Originally Posted by Conductor71

You are a dreamer too (idealist)...I love this!

Laura

yep the cure for pd is going to be facilitated by the hundredth monkey effect where instead of producing dopamine from desire we use a higher functioning part of our brain through which we experience brotherly love !! YES indeed I do dream what if our immune systems have a governing factor that is sort of ennvironmentally universal? - just how interdependent are we truly?
maybe pd is the signal of evolution in process where chaos brings about a more complex higher forrm of organization - from reptilian brain to the frontal lobe....where one system simply becomes outdated.

thx for posting Laura
sharilyn

[lindylanka]

This sort of reminds me of mindful meditation practices such as the practice of loving kindness. I think there is research that backs this up too. An evolution indeed.

Yay for dreamers!