BODY, MIND

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BODY, MIND MEMORY

• AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE

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Evolutionary definitions

• BODY physical envelop, and phenotypic
  expression, of its underlying genotype
• MIND complex neural-hormonal system (neural
  circuits neuro-hormones and
• -transmitters) ultimately evolved to protect
  our bodys integrity. Body and mind are
  inextricably tied to each other
• MEMORY prominent emerging property of the
  neural-hormonal system, consisting of imprinting
  and retaining images. It decisively contributes
  to build up, and strengthen, our self-identity

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WHY?

• From an evolutionary perspective, mind (and
  memory) are a result of natural selection serving
  our bodys integrity (and identity), not the
  other way around
• Thus, mind (and memory) ultimately contribute to
  immortalizing our genes, temporarily harboured by
  our bodies, until these are passed over to the
  next generation

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WHY and HOW?

• The best transmissible blend of neural circuits
  and -transmitters/hormones is the blend resulting
  from the selection process which best fits the
  natural and social environmental requirements
• According to EO Wilson, basic epistemological,
  ethical and aesthetical patterns imprinted in our
  minds in parallel to physical traits and to the
  extent they are genetically transmissible - fall
  into an adaptationist programme, tailored to
  natural and social environmental constraints

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WHY and HOW?

• Memory, as an intrinsic imprinting and retaining
  property of neurons, synapses, and
  neural-hormonal structures and circuits, is
  intimately connected with the development of the
  mind
• Parallels may be traced between mental and immune
  system mental memory seems to play a key role in
  ensuring to the individual organism, in parallel
  to immunological memory, a strong sense of
  identity and continuity throughout time

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PARALLELS BETWEEN PHYSICAL AND NEURAL-HORMONAL
INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS

• Individual variations of the minds (and
  memorys) biased patterns (EO Wilson), or
  archetypes (CG Jung) reflect the wide range of
  flexibility that is still compatible, within any
  given species, with the survival and reproduction
  of their carriers
• Neuroembryological development and the subsequent
  neural-hormonal phases of development
  characterizing our life after birth seem to be
  genetically pre-programmed as a result of natural
  selection advantaging individuals whose resulting
  behavioural patterns exhibit a fine-tuned
  adaptation to their natural and social
  environmental set-up (A Oliverio, A
  Oliverio-Ferraris)

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The making of consciousness(A Damasio, The
Feeling of What Happens, 1999)
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MEMORY

• Conventional, short term memory is already
  present in other classes of vertebrates, and even
  invertebrates endowed with nervous tissue, such
  as molluscs or insects. But the extraordinary
  development of long term conventional, up to
  extended, and ultimately autobiographic
  consciousness and memory, reflect the most
  sophisticated adaptations required by mammals,
  primates and, ultimately, humans, to effectively
  cope with their natural and social environment
• Within this context, memory (which in humans
  develops and unfolds as autobiographic
  self-consciousness, capable of both recalling
  past, and predicting future scenarios) (A
  Damasio) best fits, in its different kinds
  according to the different species, the
  surrounding natural and social environmental
  requirements

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TYPICALLY HUMAN

• Typically human is the interplay between memory
  and language (NA Chomsky, F Cimatti) humans are
  able to memorize internal or external objects or
  feelings, without actually perceiving, or
  interacting with, them. Language-based,
  memorizable symbolism develops early in human life

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THE HUMAN PARADOX

• We (the phenotypes) may be seen, ultimately, as
  the conscious puppets of our unconscious
  puppeteers (our genotypes)
• In fact, body, mind, memory, emotions, feelings
  none of them is present in our genotypes they
  are all entrusted to our phenotypes (which in
  turn, according to their greater or smaller
  statistical chances to survive their environment,
  may or may not allow their genotypes to be
  ferried to a new phenotypic life cycle)

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• Long term-memory? No, thank you too heavy a
  burden for us
• To solve most of our problems, it just suffices
  to fly off!