Let’s talk about the pineal gland! First, describe Rene Descartes’ proposed function for the pineal gland,...

Let’s talk about the pineal gland! First, describe Rene Descartes’ proposed function for the pineal gland, as well as the larger philosophical problem that this function solved for Descartes. Next, describe the physiological function of the pineal gland, as we understand it today, in humans and in seasonally mating animals. A complete answer MUST include the following terms: brain, darkness, day length, dualism, immaterialism, interact, interactionism, light, materialism, melatonin, mind/body, monism, parallelism, philosopher, physical, pineal gland, problem, reality, Rene Descartes, reproduction.+

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The philosophical problem in ancient times about the brain and the pineal gland had a lot to do with spiritual terms. People argued about where was the soul/mind located, how is memory and thinking related to the physical structures of the brain. Descartes believed that the pineal gland was located in the center of the ventricles and acted as a container of the soul, he believed memory, movements and imagination were made there. He thought that humans had two different elements that are crucial: body and soul/mind (dualism), and that these elements had characteristics on their own and characteristics that were born by their interaction (interactionisms). He believed that this interactions would lead to a syncronicity called parallelism, where a physical change in brain structure could lead to mental changes like mental diseases.

Nowdays we know the pineal gland is responsible of melatonin production, this hormone regulates the sleep cycle. The light inhibits the melatonin production, when the eyes recieve light a signal is sent into the nerves to decrease melatonin production, while in darkness melatonin production is then increased again, then melatonin production is related to the day length. Since the pineal gland has an important role in the organisms cycles, it also plays an important role in reproductive cycles, specially in those animals where reproduction is strongly related to seasonal cycles.

gladiator answered 1 year ago

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