How many forms do thoughts exist in? Where do thoughts occur in the brain?
Thoughts are a fascinating part of the human mind that exist as metaphysical energy and physical structures. Caroline Leaf explains the science behind thoughts in her book Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess.
Keep reading to learn what exactly a thought is and where they are in your brain.
Your Mind, Your Brain, and Your Thoughts
To know where thoughts occur in the brain, you first need to know the structure of the mind and brain. According to Leaf, your mind and brain are two independent but interconnected entities: The mind is an energetic field that constantly creates, contains, and responds to the interplay of thoughts, emotions, and choices that make up our moment-to-moment existence and identity. In contrast, the brain is a physical structure that enables you to be conscious. It’s not the source of your mental experiences; rather, your mental experiences shape your brain.
(Shortform note: This perspective—that the mind and brain are independent entities—is known as dualism, which contrasts with the materialist view that the mind is a product of physical processes. Most neuroscientists are materialists, but others disagree for various reasons; Leaf, for one, cites biblical evidence for dualism. There’s ongoing debate about which perspective is correct, with evidence on both sides. For example, materialists can point to the story of Phineas Gage, who suffered a brain injury that permanently changed his personality, as evidence that mental experiences result from physical phenomena. On the other hand, dualists suggest that near-death experiences prove the mind can operate independently of the brain.)
Leaf argues that thoughts exist in three forms: as metaphysical energy, as physical structures located in your brain, and as physical structures in your body.
In your brain, physical thoughts consist of vibrating particles of energy in a protein called tubulin found within dendrites (which are parts of brain cells); Leaf uses images of brain cells to illustrate her view that physical thoughts are shaped like trees. In your body, thoughts exist inside cells as cellular memory, which allows you to recall and associate physical experiences with psychological events. For example, if you broke your arm shortly after a breakup, your arm might hurt when you think about your ex. Leaf also says your body cells are irradiated with the energy contained by the thoughts inside your brain.
| What Is a Thought? Leaf characterizes thoughts in three ways—as metaphysical energy, as physical structures in the brain, and as physical structures throughout the body. Let’s explore how other definitions of thought compare with Leaf’s. Are thoughts made of metaphysical energy? It depends on who you ask. This belief is common among New Age philosophers like Deepak Chopra, who argues in The Seven Laws of Spiritual Success that the universe is made of the energy comprising thoughts, as well as Rhonda Byrne, who argues in The Secret that you can harness the energetic frequency of your thoughts to attract what you want in life. But critics argue that such claims are based on a fundamental misunderstanding of quantum physics and that this kind of metaphysical energy doesn’t exist. Are thoughts physical structures in the brain? Neuroscientists say no. Thoughts are better understood as mental processes that result from biochemical and electrical activity in the brain. They’re not made of matter and can’t be broken down into constituent parts. Electrical energy helps thoughts form, but there’s no evidence that thoughts consist of or contain vibrating particles of energy. Neuroscientists haven’t pinned down the specific physical location of thoughts either. Leaf claims that as physical structures, thoughts are contained in a protein called tubulin located in the dendrites of your brain cells, but experts believe thoughts occur when chemicals called neurotransmitters carry electrical signals between brain cells. (Tubulin may play a role in cognition, but there’s no evidence that it contains thoughts.) Leaf also argues that thoughts are tree-shaped, but this isn’t possible if they aren’t physical structures. Neurons are tree-shaped, according to neuroscientists—and some of Leaf’s critics point out that Leaf may have conflated thoughts with neurons in her earlier work, too. Are thoughts physical structures in the body? Leaf says such structures exist as cellular memory, but most scientists use this term to talk about some cells’ ability to “remember” their histories. Some also argue that your body cells carry memories of life experiences, pointing to organ transplant recipients who believe they developed aspects of their donor’s personalities; however, this is controversial and lacks scientific validation. Additionally, there’s some evidence that sensorimotor feedback plays a role in thinking (this is known as embodied cognition). This explains why certain physical sensations can evoke specific memories (especially traumatic memories). These memories and associated thoughts are most likely evoked by the brain, though—not contained in various body cells. |
