Are We Living in an Illusion, According to Neuroscience?
Understanding the role of acetylcholine in our brain
Are We Living in an Illusion, According to Neuroscience? — AI Image by Author (Microsoft Designer)
This write-up explores a speculative link between the genuine Vedanta philosophy and our modern brain science pursuits. If you understand my meaning, you could say we’re in a difficult situation — a state of illusion. Understanding the role of acetylcholine might shed some light on how we’ve found ourselves in a bit of a locked state that needs a good effort to open.
The concept of Maya in the Vedic tradition, you see, refers to the illusion that hides the true nature of reality. Extremely fascinating, that. In parallel, acetylcholine, a very important brain chemical, is crucial in altering our perception, attention, and memory. Directly influences how we see the world around us, and it does.
Acetylcholine, discovered in 1914 — a great year, — is involved in quite a few cognitive and bodily processes. In the brain, it regulates how we process what we sense, form memories, and stay alert. These processes could be the mechanisms that keep us stuck in a locked state of perception. Bit of a problem, wouldn’t you think?