brain science and panpsychism: are genes the human mind?
There is a new paper in Science, Two inhibitory neuronal classes govern acquisition and recall of spinal sensorimotor adaptation, where the authors showed that by inhibiting neurons that expressed certain genes, there were changes in motor and memory outcomes.
There is a 101 by the NIH, Genes At Work In The Brain, stating that, “At least a third of the approximately 20,000 different genes that make up the human genome are active (expressed) primarily in the brain. This is the highest proportion of genes expressed in any part of the body. These genes influence the development and function of the brain, and ultimately control how we move, think, feel, and behave. Combined with the effects of our environment, changes in these genes can also determine whether we are at risk for a particular disease and if we are, the course it might follow. Each cell turns on only a fraction of its genes, while it silences the rest. For example, genes that are expressed in brain cells may be silenced in liver cells or heart cells. Some genes are only turned on during the early months of human development and then are silenced later. A gene is a stretch of DNA that contains the instructions for making or regulating a specific protein.”
If gene expressions are responsible for functions, are genes the human mind?
Genes are responsible for brain development. Problems with genes are correlated with neurological disorders. Some genes are involved in making certain metabolic precursors to neurotransmitters. It is possible to track brain gene activity to behaviors. But, does parallel simultaneity in gene activities and behaviors mean genes are the mind? How different are genes from the human mind?
The NIH noted that, “genes ultimately control how we move, think, feel, and behave”. However, what immediately does? The approximately 6000 genes expressed in the brain do not know a home address, neither do they know a ball, so what is the relationship between genomic responses and the mind, or what is the mind?
When a person is thinking about anything, what is directly responsible? Are neurons? If so, what parts of neurons would be doing what? What is the body and what is the mind?
It is theorized that the direct and immediate responsibility of all mind functions are the collection of electrical and chemical signals of neurons, in sets with their interactions and features. Simply, the human mind is the signals, obtained in sets, as they interact and with their features.
Whenever it is said that neurons are silenced and a function is lost, it could [conceptually] mean that their ability [or default properties required for them] to allow signals do their jobs is impeded or that their contributions to the signals [mass or volume] required is slashed. It does not mean that neurons are the mind or genes are the mind, even though their activation seems to have an influence on functions.
While genes have four nucleotides, the mind has two components or signals. While genes are in pairs in a double helix, signals [conceptually], are in sets, in clusters of neurons.
A set of electrical impulses are theorized to strike, to fuse briefly with a set of chemical impulses, in an interaction that give rise to functions. This strike allows access into the configuration for which information — for a function — is organized. Information includes memory, feelings, emotions and modulations. Respective chemical signals, in sets, have rations that makeup configurations. These rations are accessed after the fuse-push, conceptually.
Simply, the mind works when signals interact. Their interaction is postulated to be a brief strike-fuse that allows for what is available to be accessed. It also allows for formation of new configurations, for functions.
Features of sets of impulses are proposed to be how they are qualified or [say] expressed. For example, there are several memories in mind, but they don’t all present at the same time — or the few that do, don’t, with equal intensities. Qualifiers grade functions. They include prioritization [attention], pre-prioritization [awareness or less than attention], intent [free will or control], and subjective experience or the sense of self.
There are several other qualifiers as well, principal spot, splits and so on. They often present in the spaces between the rations [of sets of chemical signals] that contribute to the configuration of functions.
In the brain there are around 6,000 expressed genes and over 80 billion neurons. It is theorized that the signals are how adaptability for experiences and relation with the world are established. Also, with epigenetics, environmental inputs have to be integrated and interpreted by signals, before chemical signals proceed to shape modifications — for genes that may then be expressed or not.
Genes are the foundation for what is possible [species, heritage and uniqueness]. They stay active in the brain [conceptually] to ensure that their initial possibility information is preserved. They also allow for adjusted possibilities [epigenetics]. However, what carries out what is possible for information functions of the brain [memory, emotions, feelings and regulations] are the electrical and chemical signals, making the mind chief.
If an individual was expecting to hoist a heavy mass, but turned out to be light, the expectation [or split of electrical signals (conceptually)] is not by the genes, even though it is possible to find neurons with certain genes active in those moments.
The mind is also not just one chemical signal, for one experience, like dopamine for craving or reward. All chemical signals contribute rations in sets, but experiences and information function is determined by interactions and features, in that set, not just of a signal. This shows that even with the elements of mind, it is not necessarily a direct correlation, for neurotransmitter to experience, the mind makes determinations. When genes are active, signals carry it out, what they influence. When they are not, signals are also involved. However, the mind holds the key to experiences and information, directly.
Mental disorders like major depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia and so forth could be a result of a defect in genes, resulting in limitations to how corresponding signals interact or are qualified.
However, the problem is not just the genome or what gene is expressed or not, but that how do signals mechanize functions and shape experiences? What is their architecture? How does that answer for how memory works, intelligence, mental health or consciousness, conceptually?
Panpsychism says the mind or a mind-like feature is present across the universe. This appears to be patently false. Maybe panpsychism should have been defined as the mind is present wherever genes are present, or that genes are fundamental.
Only cells have been able to present the ability for anything mind-like so far. So, that objects may have a sort of mind, is inaccurate. Bits — with their 1s and 0s — outside of genes, have been able to present a digital parallel of mind that can manipulate data, with the vectors of LLMs. Nothing atomic, molecular or subatomic anywhere outside of cells have shown anything mind like, refuting panpsychism.
