Re: Does Conscious Intelligence Affect Psychological Intelligence?

From: John Hasenkam (johnh_at_faraway.)
Date: 08/27/04 

Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 23:09:54 +1000

"Eric Gerhardt" <z32@tampabay.rr.com> wrote in message
news:a446b91.0408261411.2b6163dc@posting.google.com...
> I've been debating this topic with my friends the past few days. It
> would probably help if I understood the human body a little better
> (I'm only in Biology 1, I'm in 9th grade :). Anyway I was
> contemplating wether Conscious Intelligence (ie. Logicality, like
> playing chess. Or comprehension of X material.) affects the bodies
> Psychological Intelligence. And when I say Psychological Intelligence
> I mean the bodies abilty to repair itself, effectiveness in fighting
> off virii, New cell production etc. I realize there must be *Some*
> correlation betweeen the two, but how closely are the two related?
> Thanks in advance.

It is an interesting question but there is a lot of contradictory data. One
way to approach this question is to look at studies of laterality - the
amount of activity on the left and right frontal cortices of the brain. Some
conditions seem to be indicative of a change in the levels of activation in
the frontal cortices. For example, mania tends to be associated with
stronger left side activity, and positive emotions are also associated with
left side activity. "Mania" is where a person has a lot of energy,
frequently requires little sleep, tends to be wildly over optimistic, and
often all hell breaks loose in their lives because the person engages in too
many reckless adventures. It is almost the opposite of depression. Bipolar
disorder, sometimes referred to as manic depression, is where the individual
moves between mania and depression. In depression there is a tendency
towards more right side activation.

Fascinating studies on theravada meditation found some promising results in
treating depression. With further meditation there is a general shift to the
left side of the frontal cortex. This is not to say the other side shuts
down, it is a matter of balance of activity on the left and right. In
depression, though controversial, there is some evidence to suggest
excessive right side activation. For reasons completely unknown right side
activation is associated with a change in the immune and endocrine systems
that tend to slow down growth and proper immune function, with the added
paradox that the improper immune function is caused by an increase in
pro-inflammatory molecules produced by the immune system. This is very
confusing stuff because theravada meditation also improves immune function
and I'll lay odds one important downstream effect of the shift to the left
side is an increase in brain derived neurotrophic factor(improves growth and
health of neurons), which is lacking in depression and schizophrenia. Two
known ways to increase this growth factor: exercise and learning. Learning
increases activity in an area of the brain called the hippocampus. Learning
may have the added benefit for allowing better control of the stress
response axis because the hippocampus generally suppresses the stress
response. However, keep in mind that a little stress goes a long way,
actually improves body function. For example, one study found that mild
stress improved brain function for about six hours. Then again, too much
mental effort will also increase immune activity. This is not necessarily a
good thing because some types of increase in immune function prevent the
brain working properly and interesting research by Pollmacher et al has
demonstrated that even small increases in some immune molecules hurt
cognition. Again, the balancing act, too much learning will induce fatigue
and increase the stress response, not enough and the brain is like the body:
it will atrophy. So then, not so much intelligence but the orientation of
intelligence, in my opinion, does have some bearing on physiological
function. "Look on the bright side" has more going for it than a feel good
statement. However, don't listen to the idiots who assert that positive
thinking will solve all one's problems. If you want an historical reminder
of that, do this Google search: "Neville Chamberlain" "Peace in our time".
If it did the manics would be running the world and imagine the chaos from
all those reckless adventures. Positive thinking is its own reward, its just
a nicer way to deal with the world but there aint no magic in it no matter
what Tony Robbins says. Positive thinking stimulates us to persevere, and as
the Apostle Paul noted, perseverance is everything. As Henry Austin quipped,
"Genius is perseverance in disguise."

>From an unusual source(book on economics!) I recall this quote:

"Creativity has often been associated with a long and vigourous life." Barry
Jones: Sleepers Awake.

The trouble with that is that creativity is also associated with various
psycho-pathologies. For example, one study on writers found that 37%
suffered from depression. Now there is that talk about the right side of the
brain being creative, so you have to wonder, though I'm inclined to the view
that creativity is not one sided. Maybe it is just a case that writers often
have to get into the gutter of human existence and be isolated for extended
periods to do their craft thus forgetting for too long how to look on the
bright side(for a very good example of that read, if you dare, the Norwegian
Nobel Prize winner, Knut Hamsun). It does seem that musicians do well in the
longevity area but that is a hunch on my part. Depression and creativity is
fascinating but bewildering to think about, be wary of those who claim to
understand it. Recently saw an interview with Toni Mitchell, singer and
songwriter who commented, "depression is the sand that makes the pearl."

Intellectual activity does appear to be protective against dementia. In
dementia one often sees pro-inflammatory immune molecules and these can kill
and injure neurons. Intellectual activity will increase blood flow to the
brain, I think at present it is believed that blood flow through the brain
is regulated by activation levels in the various areas; there is no known
other way to increase it. Intellectual activity increases production of
growth factors that can provide protection against the things that cause
dementia. It is my belief that neurons needs to be active, the idea of a
"quiet neuron" is dangerous, neurons just keep on firing away even when they
are not "working". When a neuron fires, it releases an important growth
factor: activity dependent growth factor. (It would be very interesting to
see how this growth factor is regulated by the frequency of neuron firing.)
This growth factor changes the way "immune" cells in the brain - microglia -
function, preventing these cells from releasing chemicals that can damage
neurons. There is a lot of research at present that tries to find ways to
stop microglia killing neurons. As we age(particularly post 40 years of age)
microglia tend to become more active, releasing greater amounts of
neurotoxic molecules. Strange because typically one also sees, with age, a
decline in immune function in the body. Age associated cognitive impairment
is probably strongly related to the release of interleukin 1, one of those
immune molecules. Studies have shown that reduced il 1 production can
significantly improve old brain function and it appears that the reason
omega 3's work is that these compounds have an anti-inflammatory quality.
Omega 3 supplementation has been beneficial in relation to artery disease,
schizophrenia, depression, and ... ??? This association between the level of
pro to anti inflammatory molecules produced by the immune system has even
been associated with longevity. This is one reason why all this is so
difficult to comprehend. Interleukin 1 is also necessary to stimulate new
neurons and to help neurons function properly, but only at low levels of
il1. When interleukin 1 rises too much, it does the opposite: kills neurons
and damages function. This is a very common thread in physiology.

This is where we come back to the laterality question because right side
activation and depression is associated with excessive pro-inflammatory
production like interleukin 1. Optimists do live longer and they have more
left side activation In depression, we also find an increased risk of
cardiovascular disease. There is now strong evidence to demonstrate that
inflammation plays a key role in damage to arteries and hearts, it may even
be necessary to induce dangerous arterial plaque build up. There is even an
ongoing debate about whether or not the immune system, through excessive
production of pro inflammatory molecules, which damage the body directly by
damaging tissue and indirectly by preventing growth factors, might play some
part in the cause of cancer. For example, studies have shown that vitamin D
levels are related to the incidence of some types of cancers. Vitamin D is
produced when we are out in the sun, it prevents the production of
pro-inflammatory molecules, and a number of studies throughout the world
have revealed high rates of vitamin D deficiency. So if you want to be
intellectually active, read a book in the park and remember Helen Keller:
"Keep your face to the sun and you cannot see the shadows".

The interesting question here is: What determines the relative levels of
activation across the left and right frontal cortices? At a conference
recently I saw a neat experiment on this. Infants, babies, less than 2 years
old, had their right to left ratios measured in the presence of mother or
strangers. When the mum walked into the room the left side became more
strongly activated, when a stranger came the right. Studies on maternal
deprivation in rats and other animals, where the infant is deprived contact
with the mother, have indicated that in adulthood these animals display more
anxiety and depression. It may be the case that those earliest experiences
determine the relative levels of activation but it will be much more complex
than that(of course dammit!). Apart from the obvious genetic linkage with
depression, the other factor here to consider is that children tend to mimic
their parent's responses, which makes for an interesting scenario for a
genetically prone individual being raised by genetically prone parents who
too often forget to look on the bright side. One can also envisage here a
process where children raised under severely impoverished circumstances will
be far more likely to succumb to ill health and have poorer life prospects
through no fault of their own. Slowly but surely, and very tentatively at
present, we are beginning to understand the neurobiology and physiology of
"the poverty trap." Referring to Barry Jones again, "Postcodes are the
strongest statistical indicator of success in life." (close to that, my
memory aint so good because I've spent too much time in the dark side
lately)

Some studies have shown that intellectually active people, even if they show
the typical plaques(tangled proteins that damage brains) of alzheimers on
various scans, still retain good cognition. The general take on this at
present is that it is not the plaques that are the problem but the
inflammatory cascade they initiate; though I also suspect the plaques block
one of the pathways in our cells that clear out bad proteins (this has just
been demonstrated in relation to Parkinson's disease). So intellectual
activity has a protective effect on brain function by stimulating new cell
growth in the brain, releasing trophic factors that keep cells healthy, and
stopping microglia producing too many neurotoxic molecules. I add that it is
intellectual activity with appropriate levels of arousal because depression
is in part a result of excessive arousal. Saw an interesting note on this
recently. One researcher noted that in clinical practice it has been
observed that gifted children are more likely to suffer anxiety and "stress
out" more easily. A recent Australian study on mathematically gifted
children came to the conclusion that the key difference in their brain scans
was a much wider region of frontal cortex activation. High levels of
activation help learning but combined with too much stress may also
precipitate depression and other problems.

So the content of conscious intelligence does play a part in how bodies
function. Doing things like trying yet again to top your best score in the
final battles of Command & Conquer: Red Alert is probably not going to do
one much good(trust me, I know), but picking up a new book to read, or a new
computer game, just might. Learning to play a musical instrument, there's
real promise in that.

You will note the above constitutes a series of educated guesses. We don't
know much about this at present but if you're in 9th grade by the time
you're ready to go to university we'll know a bit more. Decades later,
hopefully, some clever bods will have discerned the relationships between
the various common molecules used by both the immune and nervous systems.
For example, nerve growth factor and brain derived neurotrophic factor also
affect immune cell function. Some molecules, like interleukin 1 and tumor
necrosis factor, also affect brain function in varying ways. There is a
fascinating set of linkages here that will take a long time to sort out. On
and on it goes, I have to stop here because my brain is beginning to hurt
and I reckon I've just developed a new strategy to stop the Allies blowing
up that bridge so I can send my troops across for the final mighty battle.
It will be many decades before we penetrate these mysteries(Red Alert and
physiology). You might want to think about that, should keep you busy ...

John.

PS: If this confuses you, don't worry, it confuses me, which is why I have
been unable to more clearly explain it.

Relevant Pages

  • How Vaccines Can Damage Your Brain(Mercola)
    ... How Vaccines Can Damage Your Brain ... Vaccines, Depression and Neurodegeneration After Age 50: ... their body is exposed to a very large dose of immune adjuvant. ...
    (misc.health.alternative)
  • brainworms - how they survive
    ... Parasites in the Brain? ... bodies, even in our cells, and most of the time we do not even know ... of the immune system's cells from entering, ...
    (sci.med.diseases.lyme)
  • Diet And Mental Health
    ... Clinical depression is the biggest international ... or nutritional approach to mental health problems. ... nutrients to alter their brain biochemistry. ... Optimum Nutrition and author of the bestseller Optimum Nutrition for ...
    (sci.med.psychobiology)
  • Forget drugs - diet is the way forward in treating mental illness
    ... Clinical depression is the biggest international ... or nutritional approach to mental health problems. ... nutrients to alter their brain biochemistry. ... Optimum Nutrition and author of the bestseller Optimum Nutrition for ...
    (misc.health.alternative)
  • Re: Chemical imbalance: bottom line
    ... Now if you'd like to volunteer for having a brain biopsy when you're ... How can they 'prove' it's not a chemical imbalance when there are over ... depression get blue-brained. ... So perhaps it isn't pills you need but treatment for the PTSD ...
    (alt.med.fibromyalgia)