Dialogue Following the Power Point Presentation

Bill

If physiological adjustments are made on the basis of predictions, then what about the dynamics that we psychologists call self-fulfilling prophecy. At times we act in a way that fulfills our predictions regarding what will occur if we act in a certain way. Does our body ever engage in self-fulfilling predictions?

Jeremy

Let me offer an example regarding how self-fulfilling predictions might operate in the human body. When our brain senses a sweet drink, whether it is a diet drink with no sugar in it, or a drink containing sugar, our brain signals to our pancreas that it should create insulin. So, our brain is not responding to actual glucose entering our blood stream; rather adjustments are made in a predictive fashion. This goes contrary to a caloric-based way of thinking which would calculation that there are no calories in a diet drink so this drink should have no influence whatsoever on the functions of the pancreas. This would suggest that the prediction of no weight gain for a diet drink is misdirected. Our body is working perfecting. This is a natural adaptation (based on the predicted impact of a sweet tasting drink) to an unnatural event (diet soda).

Peter

The prediction function of digestive secretion was discovered by Pavlov many years ago. He received the Nobel Prize for this research in 1904. So, we have known about this connection for 120 years.

Bill

Given this predictive power, are you suggesting that the primary role of the physician might be one of education rather than that of someone prescribing drugs.

Peter

We need to teach our patients that our body is operating at an optimal level. However, we are constantly throwing a wrench into the machinery of our body. You cannot eat the way people are eating. You can’t sit still the way people are sitting still and expect our body to operate in a healthy manner. Yes, we must attend to our health if we want to avoid maladies – and attend to our mind and spirit as well.

Perry

Peter, you seem to be saying that homeostasis is like medical treatment. We see a problem and we do something to try to fix and modify. Allostasis is more like preventative medicine.  We predict what might go wrong if we do bad things, So, we try to live in a way where we do fewer bad things. We stress our physiology less. Our body does fewer adaptive things that ultimately hurt us.