It would be silly since it leaves out the intestines, for example. But oddly, and I mean from a purely physicalist, non-dualist perspective, people often talk about brains thinking as if it is the only part of the body involved. Like, say, not the endocrine system, not the large neuronal networks around the heart or in the gut. In fact there is a tremendous tendency to focus on neurons alone, since people don't seem aware of all the research on glial cells and cognition. Next time I encounter that kind of unjustified reduction I am going to use your nice quote here. With credit, here, anyway.Digestion cannot be reduced to stomach. So what? — Banno
One point is that I don't think this is true. There has been a deceleration in the growth - in part because some of the patents on common psychotropics are running out. But that's a reduction in the amount of growth, theire's still growth, and that's something they are not going to give up on.Psychiatry is a discipline involved with treating brain disorders/illnesses with drugs - which most pharmaceutical companies have pretty much given up pursuing because they cannot make a profit from them due to the carpet bombing effect on the brain (depending on the person, or even some specific period of time for a person, the effects of drugs can be completely different). — I like sushi
One point is that I don't think this is true. — Coben
The other part is that brains can surive a lack of external stimulus while continuing to experience. Sensory depirivation can even be experienced as stimulating over short periods of time. That was a bit of a tangent, but mainly I was responding to what seemed to be implicit that the brain's stimuli only come from outside the brain. — Coben
The OP and subsequent comments seem to regard "mind" as an entity separate from the brain, repeating Descartes' mistake of conflating the concepts of soul and mind. — Greylorn Ell
Well, I looked at the money, just to make sure I wasn't confused. The psychotropic drugs are still huge sellers People like 'magic bullets', my quotes intentional. I'm no fan of psychotropics, though I am sure they've been useful for some people, especially as stopgap measures.I’ve heard several people say the exact opposite recently regarding funding for such treatments - because it’s seriously unpredictable (essentially there is more profit elsewhere). — I like sushi
Oh, ok. I think that's because generic versions are cutting into profits so the companies are looking for drugs in other areas like oncology.I was talking about new drugs. Funding has pretty much stopped for research development for the kind of drugs I mentioned. — I like sushi
I certainly agree that these are interesting avenues. I'd vastly prefer a plant based treatment that has been used for centuries over big pharma's latest side effect monstrosity. And they have way too much control over their own oversight. Revolving door stuff, lobbying, control of candidates.The issue is the brain is complex and what works for one person does the opposite for others. Psychotropics are certainly the way to imo, but the kind of substances that have a lot of potential have been illegal to research until recently - psilocybin, DMT and other substances are interesting avenues to explore. — I like sushi
No doubt you've examined Chalmer's "Hard Problem." Would you share your thoughts about it? — Greylorn Ell
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