Boring and awe-inspiring experiences can never exist at the same time. Cannabis research explains how each arises from opposite states within the same brain area. We will explore how it affects the part of
boring
Tolstoy defined boredom as “desire for desire.”
psychology today introduces the topic of boredom by pointing out that it is “easy to identify, but hard to define…”. It then focuses on excessive cannabis use as the neurological basis for boredom.
The topic of boredom has recently attracted researchers, with Dunkert and Eastwood arguing that “boredom arises when we are caught up in the conundrum of desire to do something and not do anything.” Other research has shown that boredom occurs when we are forced to complete repetitive tasks that are meaningless, offer little stimulation, and fail to sustain our attention.
GK Chesterton captured the core truth about boredom when he wrote, “There is nothing uninteresting, only uninteresting people.”
awe
Goethe believed that “the highest attainable by man is wonder”.
Dacher Keltner and Jonathan Haidt advanced their research on awe in 2003, suggesting that the experience of awe is characterized by two phenomena: perceived vastness and need for adjustment. It’s time to suggest the possibility. Overall.
The John Templeton Foundation white paper, “The Science of Awe,” contains an excellent summary of research on awe. The paper concludes: Self transcendence: They take our attention away from ourselves, make us feel part of something bigger than ourselves, change our perception of time, and even make us more generous to others.[1]
Multiple studies have also found evidence that awe increases connectedness, kindness, generosity, and spirituality.
unpublished manuscript (Meditation on Awe and Self1999) I wrote: and experience Our true place in the whole…. Infinite mysteries lie at the core of the universe, life and our minds. We can open our minds to this mystery. We can answer wonder…. [but] We cannot directly control awe…. We don’t want it to appear. We cannot seduce it, badger it, seduce it, or command it to appear. When we are in awe, we are… reaching the source of our spiritual longing.
Albert Einstein said, “A man who can no longer stand still and be in awe is as good as dead.”
Neuroscience lessons from cannabis research
Cannabinoid receptors are the most numerous and typical receptors in the brain, but they are not randomly scattered throughout the brain. I am concentrating on This explains why her THC in cannabis creates that signature experience. For example, short-term memory is disrupted by stimulating cannabinoid receptors in the hippocampus. By stimulating receptors in the amygdala, most people feel less anxious.
When the amygdala is electrically stimulated, people report myriad sensations of divine presence. When THC activates cannabinoid receptors in the amygdala, it adds novelty to perception. The world is seen with fresh eyes, new and attractive. Cannabis, like electrostimulation, inspires awe in many people. Time slows down. A heightened sense of connection with others and with your natural environment. And many feel kindness and generosity.
Frequent cannabis use significantly reduces the number of cannabinoid receptors. This receptor downregulation persists even after the high. If the amygdala receptor complement is not normal, novelty is reduced, if not eliminated. Nothing eye-catching. As a result, boredom is a symptom of frequent cannabis use, and it takes a month for brain changes to heal.
Conclusion
THC inspires awe. However, with frequent use, the cannabinoid receptors in the amygdala are reduced, making awe incapable. An activated amygdala creates the conditions for experiencing awe. Inhibited activity in the amygdala leads to boredom.
Opposite brain states underlie the awe and boredom of cannabis users. The two cannot coexist. Please don’t accuse me of reductionism that explains everything about awe and boredom. I’m just saying that it might shed some light on your experience.
Visit this post to see how safe you are using cannabis.
