Philosophy
We can acknowledge our experiences from within the body and recognize our thoughts. These two types of self-awareness stem from distinct networks within the cells and tissues of our living body.
We can focus on ourselves or contemplate ourselves, but typically not simultaneously, leading us to believe that the mind and body are distinct. Our minds usually refer to our thoughts and mental images. Thoughts can also pertain to the brain, or what happens in the mind rather than the body. Isn’t the head considered part of the body?
The head and brain are connected to the neck through a complex network of nerves, bones, muscles, and fascia that allow communication between the head and the rest of the body.
The brain in the head is connected to the rest of the body through the nervous system, and the hormones and neurotransmitters in the blood circulate throughout the body. The central nervous system is located in the head, with nerve cells connecting to the brain stem and spinal cord to establish links to the peripheral nervous system in the rest of the body. Medications and foods processed in the digestive system can impact mental health by travelling through the gut to the blood and brain.
When nerves are damaged in a specific body area, sensation and movement are lost in that region. Alternatively, if the components of the central nervous system responsible for receiving signals from a particular area of the peripheral nervous system are affected — for example, due to a stroke or head trauma — we experience a loss of sensation and mobility in the corresponding peripheral areas of the body.
The mind and body are fictional and lack a biological basis, even at a fundamental physiological level.
The brain triggers the release of hormones into the bloodstream. Hormones control various bodily functions, such as digestion, urination, body temperature, metabolism, and reproductive and sexual functions. The bloodstream reaches every cell in the body through its tiny capillaries.
Alterations in these peripheral cells transmit neurochemical signals to the brain through the blood and peripheral nervous system, prompting the brain to release specific hormones required by the body.
This connection between the brain and blood occurs at the brain’s base, in the hypothalamus, and the pituitary gland below it. By utilizing blood and neural signals, the brain organs kickstart the production of hormones, such as cortisol, necessary for metabolic energy to carry out activities like working out.
The hormones that travel through the bloodstream also reach brain cells and serve as neurotransmitters that impact brain function. After our workouts conclude, the hypothalamus triggers to decrease or halt the release of specific hormones. The body-to-brain connection decreases cortisol production after completing our workout or finishing work.
Returning to the idea of a distinct “mind” and “body,” numerous connections emphasize the head as another body component. The nostril passages and mouth in the head are linked to the trachea and lungs. The mouth is connected to the digestive system and its organs (such as the stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder) and the kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract through the throat and oesophagus.
Brain activity and physical mechanisms in the body produce speech sounds. The tongue is a muscle in the head connected to the neck muscles, which link to other muscles attached to bones in the chest and shoulders. Through the entire nervous and neuromuscular systems, the eyes and ears in the head influence head-turning and body movements towards or away from sights and sounds.
The numerous connections between the head and other body regions challenge the idea of a clear separation between the mind and body. Embodied self-awareness better illustrates that our thoughts and feelings are brought into awareness through pathways extending throughout the body.
Through a mysterious process in the development of our species, a type of consciousness emerged where thoughts appeared to originate from within the mind. This fiction continues because we become unaware of our body’s sensations when we think. Our thoughts are based on an embodied experience formed within the network of cells, tissues, and structures of a living human body.
On the other hand, muscle pain, for instance, appears to originate from a specific area of the body (such as the arm, leg, fingers, or elsewhere). A network of cells in the peripheral nervous system that connect to brain centers produces the awareness of pain, making it conscious, felt, and perceived as coming from the periphery. It’s how thoughts appear to be situated in the head.
Our conscious experience of ourselves leads us to believe in the concepts of “mind” and “body.” It’s similar to thinking that the compelling depictions of characters in movies and TV shows turn them into actual individuals instead of recognizing them as fictional characters crafted by Elmore Leonard and brought to life by skilled writers and filmmakers.
By removing the concept of a separation between mind and body, new possibilities arise for incorporating the body into various healthcare, therapy, and emotional and physical healing treatments.
Many mental illnesses impact how we perceive our bodies, such as experiencing shortness of breath during anxiety or panic attacks. Similarly, physical illnesses can influence our thoughts, like the worries that come with chronic conditions such as cancer and heart disease.
When we meditate, we step away from all of this — without ideas, judgment, inner dialogue, or the need to define — and step into a space of awareness, a space where we merely observe how the mind behaves and where we experience the present moment … without thinking, without distraction.
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