Brain chemicals (1 Viewer)

[Deadmanposting]

On the off-chance that there's a brain specialist here on Thumped, I wanted to ask this question

A runner guy I saw online said that when we wake up, the 'sleep chemical' melatonin is still in our bodies, but our brains 'wash it out'
He said we need to get out into proper sinshine in the morning to help that happen - all well and good

But he also reckons that caffeine in the first hour or so of the day 'masks' the melatonin from teh brain, and it hangs about
So only when the caffeine wears off does the brain get around to really getting rid of the melatonin, and we therefore suffer a drop in energy with all that unwashed melatonin still in there

This sounds like utter horseshit to me. But I am biased - I want my morning coffee back :-(

Help me, Cornu Kenobi

 

[ann post]

I know from doing science on myself that caffine after three pretty much rules out sleep

 

[Jill Hives]

On a similar note, what can thumped tell me about phantom limb syndrome?

@Cornu Ammonis and @GPThumped

 

[rettucs]

@Cornu Ammonis and @GPThumped

same person imo

 

[Reets]

@Cornu Ammonis and @GPThumped

Your Elvis leg?

 

[Jill Hives]

Your Elvis leg?

No. Brain making you feel pain that's not actually there.

 

[magicbastarder]

my granduncle had it all his life; lost his leg below the knee aged 13 and was on painkillers for phantom pain till he died,

 

[Jill Hives]

my granduncle had it all his life; lost his leg below the knee aged 13 and was on painkillers for phantom pain till he died,

How does the brain create pain that's not there? There must be a way to rewire one's brain to understand and stop sending false nerve triggers....

 

[Cornu Ammonis]

I can say a lot on phantom limbs but you’re going to have to wait until later when I can type it out.

 

[ann post]

How does the brain create pain that's not there? There must be a way to rewire one's brain to understand and stop sending false nerve triggers....

The problem is, when looked at closely, is that brains are really fucking stupid. If a brain has to do something a lot, it streamlines it - including pain because why not. So if you have a pain regularly you get better and better at having that pain, to the point where there is such a strong mechanism for that pain that i can mention it to you and you'll wince even if it isn't present...

The classic rubber hand and hammer trick that works on people with all limbs is an example of this happening. The minute you and a lot of spectators see a hammer heading towards a hand we already have the pain signal and reactions 90% loaded up, and nothing is happening to anyone.

Brains are stupid.

There are a few ways to rewire this ranging from magic mushrooms to meditation and what not.