Pleasure into pain and vice versa
Tim Maroney
Reward and punishment seem to be mediated by different physiological
mechanisms. Specifically, pleasure areas of the brain are in the
median forebrain bundle, and its synapses are mediated by
norepinephrine, the endorphins, and dopamine. Punishment areas are in
the periventricular bundle and mediated by acetylcholine and
serotonin. (These functions are both somewhat more generalized, but
these areas are by far the strongest known.)
I don't know whether there are any direct connections of significance
between these two areas of the hypothalamus, but the different
neurotransmitters of the two systems would seem to make that less
likely. However, many people do report an apparent continuum by which
pain can be turned into pleasure, both in the alternative sexual
communities and in the mystical communities. It would be very
interesting to do real-time potential imaging of the hypothalamus of a
meditator or bottom undergoing these activities.
We might speculate beforehand that stimulation of either system leads
to a general hypothalamic stimulation that naturally causes spillover
from one to the other, and that the two are also capable of a
synergistic effect when simultaneously stimulated. Given the lack of
specific study, this remains only speculation.
--
Tim Maroney, Mac Software Consultant, sun!hoptoad!tim, t...@toad.com
Postal: 424 Tehama, SF CA 94103; Phone: (415) 495-2934
"Everything that gives us pleasure gives us pain to measure it by."
-- The Residents, GOD IN THREE PERSONS