Serendip is an independent site partnering with faculty at multiple colleges and universities around the world. Happy exploring!

Home › Neurobiology and Behavior, Week 7 ›

Reply to comment

Adam Zakheim's picture

questions...

Submitted by Adam Zakheim on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 8:17pm.
It seems correct to say that the “Reafferent loop forms reinforces one's identity and pattern through recycling the information originated from oneself within one's neural system.” This sense of a reinforced identity and behavior honed through a recurring motor symphony made me think about obesity. In the United States, over 72 million adults (34%) are obese. There are a lot of different theories that describe the causes of obesity, but the prevalent belief is that the problem is largely psychological, a matter of will power. In such cases, where someone is suffering from a purely psychological condition, is the reafferent loop to blame? Since this loop is responsible for coordinating and, in the absence of inputs, generating outputs, it seems to be responsible for our habits and predispositions. These patterns, as we discussed, are generated through improvisation, or are pre-programmed responses. With this model, how does one explain obesity?

Reply

To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.
2 + 2 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.

Remote Ready Biology Learning Activities

Scanning electron microscope image of SARS-CoV-2

Remote Ready Biology Learning Activities has 50 remote-ready activities, which work for either your classroom or remote teaching.

Narrative is determined not by a desire to narrate but by a desire to exchange. (Roland Barthes, S/Z)

What's New? Subscribe to Serendip Studio