MEDICAL BIOLOGY, ANATOMY, HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY - Ya.I. Fedoniuk 2010

ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, PATHOLOGY

SECTION 10. ANATOMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HIGHER NERVOUS (MENTAL) ACTIVITY

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENTAL ACTIVITY AND THE SOMATIC STATE OF THE ORGANISM

In many cases, pathological Changes in the functional activity of Internal Organs occur not As a result of direct damage to the organs themselves, but as a consequence of the imbalance of neural regulatory mechanisms caused by the overstrain of human mental activity. Neurotic states, which involve a disruption in the mosaic and dynamics of Excitation and Inhibition processes in the Cerebral Cortex, can lead, for example, to cardiac pain that mimics the ischemic Heart disease.

There are well-known cases of The Development of so-called "stress ulcers", Diabetes Mellitus, myocardial infarction, and many other disorders resulting from psychological distress and mental strain.

Mental activity cannot exist without emotions. Emotions are the Organism's reactions to stimuli from the external, internal, and social environments; they possess a distinct subjective coloring and encompass all types of sensations.

Emotional stress is accompanied by functional changes in organs—sometimes so profound that they manifest as an "autonomic storm".

On the one hand, emotions are highly beneficial for human life. Throughout evolution, they emerged as an adaptive mechanism. Furthermore, states of emotional arousal enhance memory, sharpen intellectual capabilities, and significantly increase physical performance. This is driven by the activation of the sympathoadrenal system.

However, on the other hand, excessive emotional reactions and asthenic negative emotions (such as fear, grief, or fright) can trigger numerous diseases. "Fear, grief, and sadness destroy the body, thereby opening the door to all kinds of illnesses," stated Ivan Pavlov.

Positive emotions are essential for maintaining high working capacity and overall human health.

It is not without reason that the ancient Romans said: "Bonus animus in mala re dimidium est mali" (A good spirit in adversity halves the trouble).