Posted by Q (198.64.206.92) on January 14, 2000 at 20:46:09:
In Reply to: Maybe, but posted by BobG on January 14, 2000 at 20:24:19:
The brain does not have to act in a rational manner to attempt to get what it wants. Remember this is likely to come from a very primitive part of the brain, far removed from the conscious. Even if high-order functions are involved they too can be compromised: exhibit the addict who "knows" they are killing themselves, but are unable to do anything about it.
My guess is that once the imprint is there it will remember the effect forever. The brain does not have to achieve the effect it is seeking very often, it only has to try to get there. Therefore, the only effective surgury would be the one that removes the memory and prevents it from ever forming again. I doubt anything short of a full brain-transplant would do the trick for good.
This is where the transcendance comes in. Endorphines are very powerful. The low-order attraction to them would also be very powerful. The human brain is pretty powerful, but ultimately something more powerful must intervene. Everyone ultimately finds there own way.