What are thoughts made of?

[m1469]

Uhm, I was just thinking and wondering, what are thoughts as well as the objects within them, made of?  Or, in other words, what is the substance of thought?

I am interested in everybody's ideas, and would also greatly appreciate a scientific approach (Perhaps you, xvimbi could shed some more light on this?).

Thanks,
m1469

[xvimbi]

Uhm, I was just thinking and wondering, what are thoughts as well as the objects within them, made of?  Or, in other words, what is the substance of thought?

I am interested in everybody's ideas, and would also greatly appreciate a scientific approach (Perhaps you, xvimbi could shed some more light on this?).

Thanks,
m1469

The latest is that when people are asked to think about something, it shows up as neuronal activity in the brain (as is easily detectable through MRI, magnetic resonance imaging). This extends to emotions. The region of the brain involved depends on the subject of the thought or type of emotion.
Neuronal activity is nothing else than electrical impulses. When a neuron "fires", an electrical impulse travels along an axon (a tentacle that connects one neuron with another). This causes the axon terminal (synapse) to release neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that are picked up by a neighboring neuron that then decides if it sends out an impulse on its own or if it suppresses sending out an impulse (this depends on a lot of things).

[m1469]

When a neuron "fires", an electrical impulse travels along an axon (a tentacle that connects one neuron with another).

Scientifically, why does a neuron fire?  Or, what causes it to do so other than some command, or another thought?

This causes the axon terminal (synapse) to release neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that are picked up by a neighboring neuron that then decides if it sends out an impulse on its own or if it suppresses sending out an impulse (this depends on a lot of things).

Is this basically a binary system, like that of a computer?

The latest is that when people are asked to think about something, it shows up as neuronal activity in the brain (as is easily detectable through MRI, magnetic resonance imaging). This extends to emotions. The region of the brain involved depends on the subject of the thought or type of emotion.

So, if I am thinking about a candy cane, let's say, there is certain neuronal activity in the brain.  In my thinking of this object, the object in thought is made up of this neuronal activity.  Is that the same thing that the external candy cane is made up of?  Basically, is my thought about it and the thing itself, the same thing?

[super_ardua]

Observing the mind,  one sees a lot of big parts made of little parts, which themselves are made of smaller parts,  but there seems no essential substance to be found

[xvimbi]

Scientifically, why does a neuron fire?  Or, what causes it to do so other than some command, or another thought?

Beyond a certain background activity (noise), any neuron needs a stimulus. Stimuli can be external (e.g. light) or internal, e.g. some receptor binding a certain chemical (e.g. a drug molecule) that then causes the neuron to fire or suppresses its activity.

Is this basically a binary system, like that of a computer?

Some neurons work in a binary fashion, but it is usally a lot more complicated than that. Most neurons have several (up to hundreds) of connections to surrounding neurons. They have to integrate the incoming signals and, depending on what type they are, either transmit a signal or suppress a signal.

So, if I am thinking about a candy cane, let's say, there is certain neuronal activity in the brain.  In my thinking of this object, the object in thought is made up of this neuronal activity.  Is that the same thing that the external candy cane is made up of?  Basically, is my thought about it and the thing itself, the same thing?

No. Candy is made of sugar (mostly). Your brain is not (I would think so, at least). The neuronal activity, though, invokes images of candy and can even trigger sensations that are identical to those that you would have if you were actually eating candy (perception is reality).

(there is a lot of information about this as well as what consciousness might be on the web)

[m1469]

Gotchya  !

I don't think that my brain is made of sugar, but my thoughts might be   (hee hee)

Thanks