Hormesis

A low dose of a chemical agent may trigger from an organism the opposite response to a very high dose.

A low dose of a chemical agent may trigger from an organism the opposite response to a very high dose.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, accessed January 5, 2022.

Hormesis is a characteristic of many biological processes, namely a biphasic or triphasic response to exposure to increasing amounts of a substance or condition.^[1] Within the hormetic zone, the biological response to low exposures to toxins and other stressors is generally favorable. The term “hormesis” comes from Greek hórmēsis”rapid motion, eagerness”, itself from ancient Greek hormáein “to set in motion, impel, urge on”. The term ‘hormetics’ has been proposed for the study and science of hormesis. [1] Review Hormesis defined lMark P.Mattson Ageing Research Reviews Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2008, Pages 1-7 . From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, accessed January 5, 2022.

Paula and I are speculating that it is within the realm of possibility, that the endogenous production of carbon dioxide due to our own cellular metabolism is what is responsible for human thought and human memory. Too much or too little carbon dioxide in the body will cause mental confusion and memory problems because of hormesis. Looking at the graph above; it is possible that a certain amount of endogenous carbon dioxide stimulates the production of Mind and that too little or too much endogenous carbon dioxide inhibited the production of mind in a dose related manner.

Production of carbon dioxide by cells may not be a waste product at all, endogenous C02 may be central to the function of the brain and of our thoughts and memories.

It is an intriguing possibility, we think, and it explains the invisible yet substantive essence of our intellect…..that substance being a gas…a gas produced simply by being alive. A gas which can produce miraculous things, different things, by living plant cells and by living animal cells, in reasonable amounts, not to much and not too little [to quote the Goldilocks fable].

And our skeletal muscles move air in and out of our bodies to achieve the correct internal chemical conditions that make thinking an magical biochemical stable reality for most of us.

If this is true, then problems with breathing, whether from the impairment of the lungs or the respiratory muscles or because of high level of exposure to environmental carbon dioxide gas would lead to the same dose related outcome; reversible [unless you suddenly die] effects on mind, cognition and memory.

We think that this is an very interesting premise and that it takes into account that being alive produces carbon dioxide inside us and that this production of carbon dioxide [and water and energy or heat] is useful and key to out unique abilities.