Why Does Mentat Hate Green Beans?

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In summary, Mentat posed a question about why individuals have different responses to a given stimulus, specifically focusing on the role of genetics in this phenomenon. The conversation delved into the neurological processes involved in sensory information and memory, and how they can be linked to conditioned responses. It was also noted that individuals' experiences are unique and can influence their responses to stimuli. The conversation concluded that the complexity of the brain and its connections make it difficult to fully understand the role of genetics in this matter.
  • #1
CrystalStudios
Mentat (popular poster here) asked the question to the effect of "Why does a given stimulus give a (negative) response, and why specifically is it different in people who are genetically very similiar?"

I thought the information I could provide was enough to warrant a new post. Here it goes:

The best and most logical way to go about this is to follow the sensational path of the experience. Let's use green beans. There is a few ways this experience can occur

1. One can smell green beans - and have the negative response
2. One can see the green beans - and have the negative response
3. One can taste the green beans - and have the negative response
4. One could hear a mention of them - and have the negative response
5. One could seemingly randomly have a "green bean" thought - and have the negative response


To handle the first 4 in one punch, we will generalize terminology.

First there is a piece of sensory information which enters the appropriate sense organ (a smell, sight, taste, or audio).

Once The information reaches the appropriate part of the brain for that sensory piece, it is immediately compared to all previous records to see if it is new or old information.

Some points to understand:

One of the brains most important ability is to compare incoming data with the entire memory.

When more than one function occurs in the brain in unison, one of those events begins to more easily activate the other neural function. It's the ultimate function of conditioning.

So when the information goes in, the brain compares it, and if it is repeated information, the brain, will either purposely reproduce the other neural functions which coincide with this information, or it will do them seemingly "on it's own" reletive to the wants of the person.

So for instance, if someone asks you "What are 5 countries in north america" you will purposely search for information which is neurally linked to this input. However, sometimes when someone will say something that bothers you, it will result in bad feelings, conditioned feeling! Get it? OK

So, the input information triggers other information to be accessed. At this point something interesting happens.

Let's say the smell of green beans is something mentat doesn't mind - he just hates the taste. The smell input might trigger the taste memory!

Now what would happen if mentat would eat green beans? The taste trigger would activate - so what happens is the smell triggers the taste memory, and mentats brain almost is tricked into thinking it has just tasted green beans - because the memory is still conjoured identically!

Usually the other-sensory information is not conjoured as "powerfully" as if it was the primary sensory information. This explains why most people can handle this, while some will gag and have negative sensations; some things are more "sensitive" to them.

So this explains why the negative information occurs.

You can surely understand why the memory itself would trigger the sensations.

The brain works as a neural network - and this has been proven. Things that have been experienced as having a relationship are linked - the stronger the relationship the more close and strong the link.

One can easily link FISH with OCEAN.

But one might be less likely to link the color PINK with SALMON, which is a FISH in the OCEAN.

When links aren't used - they diminish. This is how we lose information that is indeed still in our brains. The ITEM is NEVER LOST, the link just breaks down.



So what about a genetic predisposition? Indeed siblings separated at birth have been found to like and dislike certain things.

Sometimes these things are as simple as a particle food they like or hate - and sometimes they are as complex as having the same job or hobbies, or liking the same qualities in a mate!

Now, what this means is the genes which involve the development of the brain must have same relationship with neural pathways and networks.

Beyond that it is a very difficult question, and not yet answered. The specific physical position of every piece of the brain is directly linked with every aspect of the brain - what is in the memory, what someone is "better" at, and indeed someones personality. Every single connection is an important part of someone - and these connections are a function of the gene instruction for development, and the connections made and broken by environmental sensory experiences.

One more issue exists - which is why does something cause a negative or positive response?

Well - for a completely unique experience, we can almost always trace it back to childhood. We all had to eat green beans at some point as a kid. It's merely a matter of conditioned response, and really isn't as much a mystery as some would like. EVen if a child has one negative experience with the taste of something, it's most likely the child will never want to eat this food.

One fact is extremely important.

One of humans majors errors is thinking that two people experience something at all similiar.

No two people taste something the same way, no two people hear something the same way, and no two people see something the same way.

Most people would think that if two people listened to a song - they are hearing the same thing. But in fact they are not.

Why?

Well there ears essentially hear the same, but you must remember someone does not hear something, so much as they HAVE heard something.

You cannot know what you've heard until AFTER the stimulus has gone through parts of the brain that are BIAS.

These bias parts of the brain (which is nearly all parts of the upper brain) is the entire explanation why people can never agree on matters of opinion:

What is beautiful, what sounds pretty, what sounds bad, what feels good, what feels horrible. What scares me and what doesn't scare me.

That explain alot, and keep in mind that last part.

You may wonder why someone can not like a song you think is the best thing you've ever heard. The reason is because they are not hearing the same song as you. I know that is hard to believe, but it is the function of our brains being unique and terribly bias.

Anyone get this far? Lemme know what you think!
 
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  • #2
You make a lot of sense (and btw, thank you for attempting to answer my question) CrystalStudios. There is one thing you didn't directly address, that I'd like an answer to, why did I dislike that thing in the first place? What goes on in the brain the first time, that causes me to later get negative response from the sensing of green beans?
 
  • #3


Originally posted by Mentat
You make a lot of sense (and btw, thank you for attempting to answer my question) CrystalStudios. There is one thing you didn't directly address, that I'd like an answer to, why did I dislike that thing in the first place? What goes on in the brain the first time, that causes me to later get negative response from the sensing of green beans?

Good question.

Ok - their are inherent likes and dislikes which serve evolutionary purposes right. Like the idea of eating your own feces sounds horrible - and it happens to be extremely unhealthy and very possibly lethal.

Surely you know that...but greenbeans wouldn't fit that. Sucha thing is most likely based upon the specific VERY specific development of your sensory parts. Specifically how your taste buds repond to the level of the pallate (sp?) of tastes.

We all don't taste something the same way - and the development if your sensory parts which has a million and one factors during the first nine months largely determins this.

It's not a huge mystery - it all has to do with development. That's why some people don't think certain hot peppers are as hot as other people think, and also why someone who acknowledges how hot a pepper is still likes it!
 
  • #4


Originally posted by CrystalStudios
Good question.

Ok - their are inherent likes and dislikes which serve evolutionary purposes right. Like the idea of eating your own feces sounds horrible - and it happens to be extremely unhealthy and very possibly lethal.

Surely you know that...but greenbeans wouldn't fit that. Sucha thing is most likely based upon the specific VERY specific development of your sensory parts. Specifically how your taste buds repond to the level of the pallate (sp?) of tastes.

We all don't taste something the same way - and the development if your sensory parts which has a million and one factors during the first nine months largely determins this.

It's not a huge mystery - it all has to do with development. That's why some people don't think certain hot peppers are as hot as other people think, and also why someone who acknowledges how hot a pepper is still likes it!

You know, your explanation actually makes sense, though I'd like to add a clarifying point:

In the evolution of the genotype, the individuals (phenotypes) must vary greatly, but tend toward one optimum. The variations that don't contribute to reaching the "optimum" are just randomly-produced personality differences (and they're what makes us "special" :wink:), and don't usually have any noticable effect. So, my distaste for green beans (getting nauseated just thinking about them ) is just a randomly-produced personality difference, that may or may not have been passed to me genetically, and will have very little (if any) influence on the evolution of the genotype.
 
  • #5
my apologies, but this statement;

Originally posted by CrystalStudios
(SNIP)Let's say the smell of green beans is something mentat doesn't mind - he just hates the taste. The smell input might trigger the taste memory!(/SNOP)

Is erroneous of fact inasmuch as current studies show humans as being capable of tasting five (5) distinctions, salt, sweet, tart, sour, and MSG, all acomplished on/by the tounge.

The act of "tasting" is an 'aromatic event' and is linked to the nose which is why in the elderly, as the 'refresh' rate of neuronal regeneration/replacement diminishes, (the nose is the only place neurons re-grow) the sense of smell is 'ebbing', and as most elderly people will then tell you, "Food just doesn't taste like it used to"

You distaste of green beans may also have come from your mother, and/during the time you spent gestating there, and sharing "personal tastes".

Thanks
 
  • #6
Originally posted by Mr. Robin Parsons
This statement... is erroneous of fact inasmuch as current studies show humans as being capable of tasting five (5) distinctions, salt, sweet, tart, sour, and MSG...

LOL!

...all acomplished on/by the tounge.

The act of "tasting" is an 'aromatic event' and is linked to the nose which is why in the elderly, as the 'refresh' rate of neuronal regeneration/replacement diminishes, (the nose is the only place neurons re-grow) the sense of smell is 'ebbing', and as most elderly people will then tell you, "Food just doesn't taste like it used to"

Well, this is commonly known to be true. CrystalStudios was probably so intent on making a point that s/he didn't really care much about the exact illustration used (which is something I've been known to do, from time to time).

You distaste of green beans may also have come from your mother, and/during the time you spent gestating there, and sharing "personal tastes".

But my mother loves green beans. Of course, you may still be correct, since many traits are "masked" (or unexpressed) in one generation, while they are expressed rather potently in the next.
 
  • #7
It also occurs, sometimes, in pregnant woman, that the dietary regimes changes from what had been "their" norm.

Perahps this reflects the burgeoning fetuses(SP?) needs, perhaps not.

When I was younger I disliked green peas to the point of, well, regurgitation. As I aged, I became less senstive to them, and now I can eat them, but only to be polite, they are not a staple of choice of mine.
 

1. Why does Mentat hate green beans?

Mentat's hatred for green beans is most likely due to a combination of personal preference and past experiences. It is possible that they have had a negative experience with green beans in the past or simply do not enjoy the taste or texture.

2. Are there any health reasons for Mentat's dislike of green beans?

While green beans are generally considered a nutritious vegetable, it is possible that Mentat may have a food intolerance or allergy to green beans. It is always important to listen to your body and avoid any foods that cause discomfort or adverse reactions.

3. Is it common for someone to have such a strong dislike for green beans?

Individual taste preferences can vary greatly, and it is not uncommon for someone to strongly dislike a particular food. In some cases, this can be due to genetics or past experiences that have shaped one's taste buds and perception of certain foods.

4. Can Mentat's dislike for green beans change over time?

It is possible for one's taste preferences to change over time, especially with exposure to new foods and flavors. However, it is also possible for some people to maintain a strong dislike for certain foods throughout their lifetime.

5. Are there any potential benefits to Mentat's dislike of green beans?

While it is always important to have a varied and balanced diet, there is no harm in avoiding foods that one strongly dislikes. Mentat may be able to find alternative sources of nutrients found in green beans from other foods that they do enjoy.

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