The Soul Force

Being an advanced living entity, human body is perfectly equipped with different organ systems specialised for conducting various specialised functions; nervous system is one of such unit responsible for generation, conduction and regulation of electrical impulse; a system which imposes direct or indirect regulations upon rest of the other organ or system; a mechanism which never rests on any other system other than supply of nutrients to alter impulse transmission.

While addressing real nature of the Soul force of an individual it would be better if we prefer moving through instances of brain function. Human brain is the zone where intellect, memory, emotions, ego and rest of the other centrally regulated processing of senses (such as vision, hearing, smelling, taste and feelings) are perfectly accommodated.[1] Presence of functional overlappings in between different lobes of the central unit of this organ is also acknowledged by scholars.[2] Functional areas of this organ (popularly known as Brodmann’s area) differ considerably when seen under microscope.[3]  Cortex portion is distinguishable functionally as sensory cortex and motor cortex.[4] Primary sensory areas collect senses from different sense organs and process the same for enabling central unit to recognise all such signals. Attention, abstract thinking, problem solving and behaviour are principally regulated by the frontal lobe.[5]  There exists several minute regulators deeply embedded in the brain and make the functions little bit complex. It also confers the accommodation of wishes and wills amidst rest of the other neural responses of specific types. Movement regulation and behaviour design is the subject of basal ganglia.[6] We may not go deep into the structural details of this organ system. Our focal attention is to analyse some sort of functional complexities with which human brain accommodates mind, intellect and ego and also restricts the fellow individual from recognising involvement of soul force in making the entire structure functionally active. Some of the obligatory and acquired reflexes are regulated locally by spinal branches while bypassing central regulation of the brain. Some of the functions, such as breathing and heart beat, are regulated by automatized system embedded in the nervous system (parts of Hypothalamus and Pons). Chemical control of different glands and organ systems is also a subject of the master gland (Pituitary) which remains under the regulation of neuro-regulators duly provided by active part of Hypothalamus. Sleep, also considered as the inactive phase of human brain, is also considered very important as it ensures removal of toxins from functional sites which often develops due to prolonged functioning of the nervous system; it also ensures restoration of energy giving molecules at functional sites of the brain.[7] Lateralisation of function (because of which right part of brain controls function of left half of body and left half regulates the right portion) is the speciality of this organ system.[8] Regulation of emotion is a mullti component processes involving elicitation, followed by feelings, appraisal, expressin, autonomic response and tendencies of performing actions.[9] Involvement of basal ganglia in regulating happiness is duly acknowledged by scholars.[10]  There exists several other evidences to ascertain the real nature of localised functions of various parts of brain.

Regulation of cognition is also a brain function; as it works to filter information and removes irrelevant ones; as it holds ability of processing information and holding the same in functional part of memory; as it ensures ability to think upon multiple subjects simultaneously and swith attention from one subject to the other; as it ensures ability to inhibit impulses and to ascertain importance of certain sets of information.[11] Higher order of executive and exploratory function of human brain requires networked use of multiple basic executive functions, such as planning, prospection and fluid intelligence (a combination of reasoning and problem solving abilities).[12] Prefrontal cortex of brain plays an important role in this regard.[13]

Entire brain function is made possible because of the network of interconnected neurons; and their ability to recognise process and transmit electrical signals.[14] Almost one fourth of the energy giving nutrient is utilised by the brain which repreents only 2% of the body weight.[15]

Electrophysiology, a branch of science and technology, is developed to record different types of brain functions and response of sense organs to stimuli; it is also used in cortical stimulation mapping; used to predict interactions of cortical area and systemic functions; often used at certain instances to secify exact reason of neural malfunctions; used frequently to specify zonations of brain functions.[16]

Only 400 out of 20,000 different genes are identified specific to signify structure and function of the central nervous system;.[17]   such specialities can be altered due to long term use of alcohols by the individual; as such kinds of use may alter the systematised gene expression and may induce cellular architecture involved in regulating brain functions.[18] Alteration and decline of synaptic functions in ageing brain is also confirmed by scholars; as changes in gene functions alter the levels of proteins involved in different pathways of neural functions; as such kind of alterations leads to loss or decline of neural functions; as such kind of sensory malfunction leads to synaptic contact dysfunction or loss of senses.[19]

It is also confirmed from studies that multiple head injury may lead to long lasting chronic traumatic encephalopathy (a neurodegenerative disease leading to repeated trauma to the head).[20] It can affect different parts of brain and can affect movement, memory and cognition.[21] Mental disorders (such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome, and addiction) are known to relate to the functional anomalies of the brain.[22] Such anomalies can be addressed effectively by using psychotherapy, psychiatry or social interventions; as such anomalies are often caused by different types of complicated social, economic, spiritual or cognitive issues; as such anomalies rarely become recognisable by any physical or physiological means; as such anomalies can be addressed by adpting multiple approaches of therapy.[23] Our scientific temperament and clinical research approaches of various types indicates that brain development is also regulated considerably during pregnancy by nutritional disorders, use of recreational drugs and by infectious diseases.[24] 

There is no common concern related to instances of brain death and diagnosis of the same which can be recommended for widere practices. Concerns related to such kind of neural collapse are prepared locally at different places and is in practice with slight varriations.[25] Poor communication with family members and associates of patient makes the diagnosis of brain death quite complicated.[26]  Absence of breathing and response to stimuli often signify the onset of “brain death” but the entire thing is still under the consideration of research scholars.[27]

If we start considering entire thing from spiritual angle then all sorts of propositions and functional linkages of human brain to sensory and motor responses become manageable at all instances; as all such anomalies related to function of senses, mind, intellect and ego becomes adjustable and self regulating for having access to timely as well as masterly guide to the fellow aspirant. It is the critical juncture where we are allowed to shift from evidence based medication to need based guidance which may ensure spiritual ascent of the individual; such guidance will qualify the fellow aspirant for gaining such ascent.

Impulse transmition and its central regulation makes the idea confirmed that cortical regulation of senses is the main functional superiority with which human brain works. Question arises about the masterly regulation of mind, intellect and ego for materialising all sorts of sensory and motor regulations duly exhibited by the living entity. Science rarely permits us to move beyond the scope of recognisable evidences to configure the real zonation of mind, intellect and ego; as only frontal cannot encompass loss or gain of memory; as memory formation is accomplished layer by layer; as intellect is the regulation housed within any part embedded in the cortex but cannot be confirmed by providing evidences; as ego is mounted on all sorts of sensory and motor functions just like superimposition of a blanket upon any object without encompassing any specialised neural zonations; as ego confers the recognisable quality parameters (three qualities duly explained in Vedas, Upanishads and Epics as satwa, Rajas and Tama); as ego experiences a shift from one quality to the other. There are instances like good qualities, moderate ignorance and animism which develop, transform and perish time to time. Masterly guide always works to develop and enhance good qualities in an individual; such guidance also works to remove affinities of animism from ego; refinement of such type is the desirable progress which spiritual master wants to accomplish.

Spirituality, is therefore, the only way out for enhancing creative brain function for ensuring development and manifestation of good qualities, friendly nature in aspirants; for such kinds of progress will ensure human to human bond in society; for such kind of acculturation will minimise instances of sensory and motor difficulties in individuals; for such kinds of approaches work considerably as confidence building measures; for enhancement of aspirants of this type will work as a hidden current of river aiming ultimately to ascertain spiritual and intellectual progress of the individual.

We can correlate the Vishwaroopa (or the vision of the Universal expansion of creations) through explanations registered in the chapter 11 of Bhagvadgita. Names of different characters were pointed out symbolically to narrate the true nature of the Knowledge confluence from one generation to the other. Saints always played a vital role in preserving, cultivating and transferring the holy knowledge from generation to generations. Lord Krishna recognized himself as Kapil amongst all sages. This recognition has confirmed the alignment of the Philosophical alignment of Gita towards Sankhya Philosophy. Other schools of thought process will register their presence in the light of Sankhya narratives. The converging nature of the synthesis of Divine Knowledge is also confirmed by different instances of discussions depicted in Bhagvadgita.

 

 

 

 

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[2] Ackerman, S. (1992). Discovering the brain. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. pp. 22–25. ISBN 978-0-309-04529-2.

[3] Hall, John (2011). Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology (12th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier. ISBN 978-1-4160-4574-8.

[4] Hall, John (2011). Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology (12th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier. ISBN 978-1-4160-4574-8.

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[6] Purves, Dale (2012). Neuroscience (5th ed.). Sunderland, MA: Sinauer associates. ISBN 978-0-87893-695-3.

[7] "Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke". www.ninds.nih.gov. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017.

[8] de Lussanet, M.H.E.; Osse, J.W.M. (2012). "An ancestral axial twist explains the contralateral forebain and the optic chiasm in vertebrates". Animal Biology. 62 (2): 193–216. arXiv:1003.1872. doi:10.1163/157075611X617102. S2CID 7399128.

[9] Sander, David (2013). Armony, J.; Vuilleumier, Patrik (eds.). The Cambridge handbook of human affective neuroscience. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-521-17155-7.

[10] Phan, KL; Wager, Tor; Taylor, SF.; Liberzon, l (June 1, 2002). "Functional Neuroanatomy of Emotion: A Meta-Analysis of Emotion Activation Studies in PET and fMRI". NeuroImage. 16 (2): 331–348. doi:10.1006/nimg.2002.1087. PMID 12030820. S2CID 7150871.

[11] Malenka, RC; Nestler, EJ; Hyman, SE (2009). "Preface". In Sydor, A; Brown, RY (eds.). Molecular Neuropharmacology: A Foundation for Clinical Neuroscience (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical. p. xiii. ISBN 978-0-07-148127-4.

[12] Diamond, A (2013). "Executive functions". Annual Review of Psychology. 64: 135–168. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143750. PMC 4084861. PMID 23020641.

Figure 4: Executive functions and related terms Archived May 9, 2018, at the Wayback Machine

[13] Hyun, J.C.; Weyandt, L.L.; Swentosky, A. (2014). "Chapter 2: The Physiology of Executive Functioning". In Goldstein, S.; Naglieri, J. (eds.). Handbook of Executive Functioning. New York: Springer. pp. 13–23. ISBN 978-1-4614-8106-5.

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[18] Warden, A (2017). "Gene expression profiling in the human alcoholic brain". Neuropharmacology. 122: 161–174. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.02.017. PMC 5479716. PMID 28254370.

[19] Flores, CE; Méndez, P (2014). "Shaping inhibition: activity dependent structural plasticity of GABAergic synapses". Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 8: 327. doi:10.3389/fncel.2014.00327. PMC 4209871. PMID 25386117.

[20] Dawodu, S.T. (March 9, 2017). "Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – Definition and Pathophysiology: Overview, Epidemiology, Primary Injury". Medscape. Archived from the original on April 9, 2017.

[21] Colledge, Nicki R.; Walker, Brian R.; Ralston, Stuart H.; Ralston, eds. (2010). Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine (21st ed.). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-7020-3085-7.

[22] Volkow, N.D.; Koob, G.F.; McLellan, A.T. (January 2016). "Neurobiologic advances from the brain disease model of addiction". The New England Journal of Medicine. 374 (4): 363–371. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1511480. PMC 6135257. PMID 26816013.

[23] Simpson, J.M.; Moriarty, G.L. (2013). Multimodal Treatment of Acute Psychiatric Illness: A Guide for Hospital Diversion. Columbia University Press. pp. 22–24. ISBN 978-0-231-53609-7.

[24] Perese, E.F. (2012). Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nursing: A Biopsychsocial Foundation for Practice. F.A. Davis. pp. 82–88. ISBN 978-0-8036-2999-8.

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