Does the Brain-Body-Mind Work as a Dynamic Syncytium?

Abstract

In the rationale of this book, philosophical background and philosophical questions dominate. Descartes suggested that few intelligible systems could dominate all ­processes in nature. In the chapter related to the description of the central nervous ­system (CNS), significant reference is made to the question presented by A. Fessard (1961), who asked, “Are there some general transfer functions dominating processes in the brain?” Chapter 10 extended Fessard’s question to cover neurophysiologic events during the evolution of species. Because the present chapter describes a ­holistic approach to brain-body-mind, we extend Fessard’s question again, to ­combine physiological processes of the CNS with the vegetative system. We now search for common rules and common transfer functions for the link that may ­demonstrate brain-body integration. Term body may be defined as the vegetative system together with all organs of the body that are linked to the brain electrically, by means of ­cranial nerves; and with transmitters by means of biochemical pathways.