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I think the difficulty the author is pointing out is that it seems odd we would could obtain similar modifications to brain state by chemicals and speech. The i

I think the difficulty the author is pointing out is that it seems odd we would could obtain similar modifications to brain state by chemicals and speech. The issue is highlighted if you consider a hypothetical analogous situation that we never observe: imagine if we could become literally drunk just by hearing a certain sequence of words.

majewsky 10y ago
Anecdotal evidence: A friend of mine managed to get high by just imagining himself smoking weed. He believes, though, that this would not have been possible if he hadn't smoked actual weed before.
qu4z-2 10y ago
But plenty of words can have huge impacts on mental state. Is that odd? "Your significant other was just involved in a serious car accident and is in critical condition." Or consider attending a (good) stand-up comedy act. That situation can put you in a very different mental state even without the use of alcohol or other drugs (although people do often combine the two).
- westoncb 10y ago
  Right. The tricky thing is having words and chemicals lead you to precisely the SAME state.
  - qu4z-2 10y ago
    Sure, but "combats depression" is probably a broad enough effect that they wouldn't necessarily be the SAME state in this case either, right? They could both treat depression in different ways.
wnoise 10y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_high https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_high
pizza 10y ago
Well, how about "I love you.", for starters? I've been thinking lately that electrochemical modifications could enhance or add senses or experiences, say by tapping into the olfactory bulb in the nose or via the tongue / facial nerve (which already exist, actually - tongue cameras for the blind)
taneq 10y ago
Not literally drunk, but there are many other ways to modify brain chemistry and but you absolutely can have significant measurable changes that result from non-chemical stimuli. You can't tell me "you won the lotto" or "I'm breaking up with you" wouldn't result in massive spikes in various hormones and neurotransmitters.
awel 10y ago
We once fed a friend alcohol-free beer while convincing him it was in fact really strong. He got drunk.

majewsky 10y ago

Anecdotal evidence: A friend of mine managed to get high by just imagining himself smoking weed. He believes, though, that this would not have been possible if he hadn't smoked actual weed before.

qu4z-2 10y ago

But plenty of words can have huge impacts on mental state. Is that odd? "Your significant other was just involved in a serious car accident and is in critical condition." Or consider attending a (good) stand-up comedy act. That situation can put you in a very different mental state even without the use of alcohol or other drugs (although people do often combine the two).

westoncb 10y ago
Right. The tricky thing is having words and chemicals lead you to precisely the SAME state.
- qu4z-2 10y ago
  Sure, but "combats depression" is probably a broad enough effect that they wouldn't necessarily be the SAME state in this case either, right? They could both treat depression in different ways.

wnoise 10y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_high https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_high

pizza 10y ago

Well, how about "I love you.", for starters? I've been thinking lately that electrochemical modifications could enhance or add senses or experiences, say by tapping into the olfactory bulb in the nose or via the tongue / facial nerve (which already exist, actually - tongue cameras for the blind)

taneq 10y ago

Not literally drunk, but there are many other ways to modify brain chemistry and but you absolutely can have significant measurable changes that result from non-chemical stimuli. You can't tell me "you won the lotto" or "I'm breaking up with you" wouldn't result in massive spikes in various hormones and neurotransmitters.

awel 10y ago

We once fed a friend alcohol-free beer while convincing him it was in fact really strong. He got drunk.