A Brain Charge Mechanism Modeled in Synchronistic Dyadic Interpersonal Interaction

Abstract

A simple model of charged brain states in coupled synchronous interpersonal interaction is presented. Active states are treated as electromagnetically positive and passive and receptive states are negative. Cognitive and behavioral action is modeled during simultaneous charge-paired dyadic conversational exchange as well as in longer-term social decision-making processes. Theoretical principles are derived from electrochemical and neurobiological foundations that can be tested using imaging and electrophysiological techniques.

Modeling and Measurement of Interpersonal Attraction and Coordination in Charged Social Space-Time

“…An electric-like or electrochemical theory of consciousness and psychology would probably begin the same way. This is because the bioenergetics of the brain and body are fundamentally electrochemically generated (Haas, 2011b;2012a). In theory, there could be charges that arise from the brain's neural electrochemical activities that, when considered as an aggregate collection and extended properly to the macroscopic level, can be assigned to specific actions of the brain and body.…”

“…It is particularly remarkable that what is called "positive" and "negative" activity is so often taken for granted to contain only a social or behavioral meaning while it evokes a strong electric-like quality. As it is well understood that all energy transitions are fundamentally electromagnetic in origin, the incongruity might be addressed by assigning an actual electrochemical charge to behaviors and cognition (Haas, 2012a).…”

“…To briefly summarize the new electrochemical model (Haas 2011a-d;2012a), energy stored and transformed in chemical forms always contains a relative electrochemical charge and related potential. There will therefore be a net electrochemical charge that results from the increased energetic activity of a part, or set of parts, in the brain and body.…”

“…Additionally, there are also known to be task "positive" and "negative" areas of the brain during a particular cognitive or behavioral activity (Raichle et al, 2001). It therefore follows that most neural activity can in principle be assigned a small relative net electromagnetic charge because higher levels of neural (or muscular) activity are electrochemically positive (Haas, 2012a). Similarly, there may also be 'static' neuronal states that contain a small net charge.…”

“…For instance, the formation of a memory of a person or object requires a cellular neurochemical modification such as phosphorylation (net negative) that contains a small net charge relative to an unmodified or baseline state. Consequently, a representative charge with a quantitative energy or magnitude -in classical terms, like a "cathexis" (Freud, 1899)-can then be assigned to particular affects, cognitions, and actions (Haas, 2012a). In contrast to isolated electromagnetic charges, these charges do not interact with each other through a direct Coulombic attraction/repulsion, except in the sense that they can be interpreted as components of an "equilibrated" dynamic network in the brain or a dynamic social system (Haas, 2011).…”