Lately I’ve been following an online discussion on brain chemistry and consciousness. I’m not a big science guy so some of what my eyes pass over in these posts goes deeper into the research than I find interesting, but the question itself is one I’ve thought about often over the years. Clearly there are correlations between brain chemistry and mental/emotional states. If you watch any TV at all, you’ve seen the ubiquitous and annoying commercials for various pharmaceuticals that seem to always show sunshine, flowers, blue skies and formerly unhappy people smiling while the announcer quickly and quietly lists some of the potential side effects. Dry mouth, insomnia, drowsiness and oily stool seem to be considered worth the benefits, but call your doctor immediately if body parts start falling off or you start to think it might be a good idea to blow your brains out.

Avoiding the temptation to go off on a rant about the pharmaceutical industry (not an easy choice), the real question seems to me to be what kind of universe do you live in. If you live in a strictly physical universe, then all thought and consciousness is a function of the brain/nervous system and the relative balance of brain chemistry will be responsible for your mental states right down to your very thoughts. This I can barely imagine and cannot believe. This view reduces us to meatware, robotically going about predetermined arcs of activity encoded during gestation. An extreme description to be sure, but the other end of the spectrum is no more satisfying. In a universe where a capricious God predetermines everything that occurs, and all is no more than God’s will, we are still mere puppets dancing on the ends of strings we have no effect on. I like to think that few people really believe these extreme views, but let’s be clear about the choices. Also see how those at the extremes are more alike than those in the middle, but that is a subject for another time.

For myself the answer must lie somewhere in between. We do to some degree live in a physical universe. To the extent that we are physical, we are bound by physical laws. If our brain produces too much or too little of some chemical, then we will have to deal with the physical consequences. But we also function at levels that are at higher vibratory frequencies and these have an effect on the physical. By making poor choices or not choosing at all we can create difficult conditions in our lives that result in unhappiness. At the same time depressed people can often start to feel better by engaging in physical activity. We can choose happy thoughts or focus on gloom and doom. An atheist can meditate and consciousness will rise without the need to believe in God or an afterlife.

So which is it? Does brain chemistry produce consciousness or does consciousness alter brain chemistry. The answer can only be yes.