The mind's power lies in its ability to change and search for proof, as such the body is the main collector of sensory input. In someone with a broken neck the connection between the body and the brain has been severed, the brain is not receiving the signals and thus cannot interpret the inputs. The brain and the body are both functioning as separate entities, but we can really only see the thinking patterns in the mind not the body. Are we led to understand that there are two levels of control in our body, that have evolved at different levels ? Is it that we needed some way to sense danger and the surface area of our body, our skin, served that purpose, and proceeding with better awareness off our surroundings, we were able to develop higher sense, the thinking and communicating part of our brain. On the same theme, language which is such an important part of behaviour has developed and is most certainly linked to neurobiology. The connections which form in infancy must serve us the rest of our lives, we must somehow learn to communicate and convey our thoughts. The action potential along neurons can be seen as the language of the body. It talks to different parts through the passing of waves of energy. Someone who's neck has been broken, will experience a complete loss of control, they will no longer be able to send signals to the rest of their body to carry out what their brain is thinking, whether or not their brain continues to image the body is an interesting question. The eyes and consciousness would almost certainly perceive the body as still being there, and vital life functions are still being carried out by the hypothalamus, but the control center is no longer active, messages are no longer being relayed. We can understand the behaviour of the brain but not that of the body, because we cannot talk to the body part of ourselves. Everyone else can thus be seen as a complete combination of brain and body, the mind is always still free to work, because of the cranial nerves, but the body must react to external stimuli on its own, it is no longer a protective mechanism, we cannot see danger coming and act appropriately to avoid it. Behaviour thus is a very important mechanism which has many, many inputs not only the body reaction to what it senses from the outside world, and communicating it to the brain, but within it there is also the generation of certain choices. The mind is capable of directing the brain, we are capable of manipulating ourselves, thus making us independent and completely autonomous.

Interesting and appropriate set of concerns/issues. They involve some dichotomies which we may have to re-examine. Mind capable of controlling brain, rather than mind as part of brain? Brain/mind as distinct from body, rather than being part of body? Spinal cord as controlling body with brain controlling spinal cord? Maybe both as part of body, interacting with other parts of body and each other, no one thing in control? We'll see. At least worth thinking through the various observations to date to see which summary better fits them. PG