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June 22, 2010 14:06How does instinct work?How does instinct work? |
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June 22, 2010 14:06How does instinct work?How does instinct work? |
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I will use some examples in order to answer. Imagine that a species is created which has as a certain characteristic. The brain and neuros is structured in such a way that every time the brain finds out a new picture (i.e. an other animal) it falls asleep, or it starts dancing or something else. This species will not survive.
Imagine now that an other species, whose brain is different, every time it sees something new it starts running. This species has more opportunities to survive than the previous.
So, instict is a union of commands that the brain gives and which have been created ACCIDENTALLY. The fact that all species have right instict is because those with a wrong one don't survive.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instinct
Yeah, that somehow has to do with what Darwin said about natural selection... But, sorry to say, I didn't ask why animals have those certain reaction, but how instinct actually works... Even the Wikipedia article doesn't answer this...
How is it possible that we are born with certain 'commands' into our brain?
They must be "stored" somewhere, am I wrong? How are they "translated" into (re)actions?
Let's take the example of the kitten... I found out that its instinct "includes" digging, suckling, playing, fighting, scratching etc. There must be a certain group of all the functions that a KITTEN's instinct includes, otherwise it would be possible that a kitten adopt other habits, like growling, wagging its tail when happy, etc. Is there a way to know all these "functions" included in instinct?
" Instinct is an impulse or powerful motivation from a subconscious source. For instance, if you were crossing the street and a car comes speeding towards you, you would try to jump out of the way before it even 'registers' with your conscious mind that a car is coming.
The part of your brain that is associated with these types of reactions is the amygdala. As you may know, different parts of the brain recieve different signals and make them consciously known. The auditory cortex, for example, is responsible for hearing. The amygdala has its OWN set of 'recievers' for sensory intake. In the aforementioned scenario, it will take in information from the surroundings, like the sight on the car coming at you, and make a decision on what to do before you CONSIOUSLY think about it.
While this response is very important for survival, it is very primitive. It's commonly called the fight or flight response, for obvious reasons. This response makes us "downshift" and use only our lower brain. That means we sometimes cannot think of a logical solution to a problem. Anger makes many people with anger control problems downshift. They cannot think of a moral solution, so they do something destructive. When you are downshifted you become less at efficient at less things. This is why a dangerous school environment keeps children from reaching their learning potential.
When it is in an environment where you feel safe and secure, the brain goes into "overdrive" mode. This means that the upper parts of the brain are used to think, so all decisions that are made are logical, thinking is more clear and memories are stronger.
Noise and distraction can keep your brain from going into overdrive mode. Someone who tries to study in a noisy room with distractions like a TV probably won't remember as much as someone who keeps himself from distractions. There are many methods of improving how much you remember, like using emotions and using music. "
As you have read, amygdala has its own sensors. Certain senses will cause certain actions, because these senses "excite" certain neuros. There is no data stored in this part of the brain. A cat which falls from a tree, doesn't have information in amygdala that will tell it how to balance on the air and fall down without hurting itself. Amygdala, "senses" the difference at the liquid inside our ears that make us have the perception of balance (knowing where is "up" and "down") and this sense that is sent to amygdala with electricity, excites certain neuros that send through electricity "commands" to certain muscles.
I want to emphasize that there is NO INFORMATION stored in amygdala. It just has its own sensors which are excited and cause the production of electricity which causes the movement of specific muscles.
The other part of the brain uses information that is stored DURING our life.
PLEASE, don't tell me that I haven't answered your question neither now! I won't stand it! :D
Of course you have NOT answered my question... *evil laugh* (just kidding!!) ;-P
Sincerely, thanks for writing all that...! I think I've understood!
I have two more questions, however, regarding what you wrote. (It's really hard to prevent ME from asking more questions...!)
Does that mean that instinct is a mechanism that has nothing to do with our consciousness? Like a complicated system based just on electrical signals? 0_o If it doesn't have to do with our consciousness, why don't babies have the same reactions as adults? (If we'd leave a baby or a kitten or a puppy on the road, they would probably get killed, cause they wouldn't react to a vehicle coming). Is it that this system hasn't developed completely yet? (Please, do NOT experiment with poor puppies or babies to show me the answer...!)
Also, what you said about "overdrive" and "down-shift" mode brought me another subject in mind... Why do some people find it more easy to instantly focus on something, whereas other are really affected by distractions? Not all people pay the same attention to distractions - what controls that? (That's a bit irrelevant with instinct, but I'd love to know more!)
This is getting very interesting, Orfea...! :-)
I have to admit that for some seconds I was horrified ( "Of course you have NOT answered my question" ) :D
Well, the answer to your first question is YES. Instinct has nothing to do with consiousness. It is as you said a complicated system based just on electrical signals. In amygdala there is NO:
1. data stored for certain actions.
2. mechanism which could be called "thought".
During our life, more and more information is stored in our brain, neuros make new connections and in that way we gain EXPERIENCE and we THINK more than using our instinct. For this reason there is difference between babies and adults. Adults don't use amygdala really usually. They use 1. their memory and 2. logic. The baby doesn't know the danger when passing a road. It doesn't know the danger when it plays with a knife. Only if it hirt itself or be advised, it will avoid this danger. The system of thought and memory developes as years passes. On the other hand, amygdala doesn't change, but has less and less force. Actually, I made an experiment with my little brother and sister and I found out... :P
About your second question, the answer is that these differences occur because amygdala as I said, has its own sensors, so some of them might be "damaged" in the same way you may have myopia, or be ignored by our brain because of its great focus on something specific. It depends on the force of their thought. It is like trying to control the beast inside us! :D For example, some people can control themselves more than others who may lose their temper and start hiting, shouting etc. Besides, all people have different brains.
I know I can make people terrified...! ^_^
But thank you, anyway, everything seems clear now!
It's weird to realize that some of my most common reactions are not even... mine!
So, it's experience that makes the difference between babies and adults! *Hitting my face* I should have thought of that earlier! :-S Hope your little siblings are ok! +_+
But are you sure about the second answer? I haven't heard of anything like "power of thought"... How can someone's "thought" and generally consciousness be stronger than another one's? :-s
BTW, I'm the type of person who does NOT have the ability to control herself... I wish I could change that - is it possible?
My brother and sister are fine. :D
When I was talking about the power of thought, I meant the part of the brain that uses logic. The more you use it, the better it becomes (of course it may be destroyed at some time because of getting older). If the connections between neuros and this part of the game are "stronger" (which means more complicated or more in numbers) then our body doesn't do what amygdala commands us to do (in some cases).
I don't know how you can make your logic better... I suppose you shouldn't play playstation or computer games and read more... :D
(I don't play computer games or playstation... but anyway!)
Thanks! But if the "power of thought" decreases when getting older, wouldn't that mean that older people act more instinctively...? That's not so true.