carrot & stick

I posted this in my Stanford University Conference Videos: Brain, Mind and Emergence thread, but since there's no response there, I'll assume nobody read it. So I'll re-post it here, because I think it's extremely relevant.In 2003, Dr. Robert Sapolsky gave a talk at conference on Cognition hosted at Stanford University (you can view the talk here for free). His talk discussed the differences between humans and non-humans. One of his major points was that, while humans clearly use the same basic systems as other animals, they often use them in ways that are novel and unique.Below is the summary of a subpoint of how the mammalian dopaminergic system works, and a proposal on how humans use it uniquely. This was discussed from 27:30 until 31:00 in the video, and I would highly recommend watching it. So I think this does 2 things:
- Provides some biological evidence that, yes, there is some 'carrot' reward system.
- Clarify the nature of the system, to show that it's not afterlife that has to be the reward. As long as there is always something in the future to strive for, the system of delayed reward and extended anticipation will work.Ben

lfen,RealPlayer is a competitor to Windows Media Player and Apple Quicktime. It's the free version of the player made by RealNetworks, a publicly traded company located in Seattle. So, the source is more credible than what I normally would deem 'spyware scam'...Then again, I just assumed everybody has RealPlayer; it's interesting to know not. There's the whole litigation between RealSystems and Microsoft trying to get Media Player removed from being installed with the OS and having access to 'hidden' programming interfaces that allow it to perform better with the underlying OS...By the way I noticed that the website is not just for that conference--they have MANY conferences videotaped on the website. I'm excited... anyway, thanks for the note.BenP.S. I searched a bit on the net for a written transcript, but I couldn't find anything.

lfen,Would this thread be an appropriate place to post your speculation? I agree that it seems like a release from the dopaminergic reward system. But beyond that, I don't have any ideas offhand... I'd be interested to hear yours.Just not sure where's a good place to talk about it. If it's here... let's do it Ben

Interesting stuff, lfen. Your relation between it and 'primordial awareness' is interesting. I hadn't made that tie before.The loss of sense of self is really interesting to me. So is the loss of sense of time. Even at the end, the apparent 'choice' to choose to 'go back' or 'stay here' is food for thought.Lots to think about. Thanks.
Ben

I don't know."Pavlov's pooches" are supposed to show associative learning. I don't know the neurological basis of associative learning, or even if it involves the dopaminergic reward system.Just curious... why do you ask? I don't see where you might want to take it.