ISPECTRUMIssue 05/January-February 2014 MAGAZINE FLASHBULB MEMORIES WHY ITS HARD TO FORGET THE PASTBiological clock Energy and Environment interview with Prof. Dr. von WeizsäckerThe influence ofemotions on genetics
CONTENTS Features 08 14 0324 Flashbulb Memories WHY ITS HARD TO FORGET THE PAST 06 Explaining FBMs 08 FBM variations and accuracy 14 Biological clock healthy sleep 15 Sleep restriction 18 Our life is a rhythm 24 interview with Prof. Dr. von Weizsäcker Energy and Environment 28 Energy efficiency 33 Climate protection 34 CO2 Emissions 3 37 37 The influence of emotions on genetics 38 Environmental influences can influence genes 41 Positive and Negative Emo- tions: How can they affect our health? 43 DNA for all: To laugh or to cry, that is the question 44 Music for Emotions 46 Mother Emotions: Fear and love. Can we control our emo- tions? 1
editorialDear readers, Mado MartinezI hope the year 2014 we have just Editorial Directorstarted will be even better than theone we left behind. Let’s move forward! IspectrumIssue #5 commences with “FlashbulbMemories”. I am sure you remember magazinewhat you were doing during the 9/11terrorist attack on the World Trade Editorial DirectorCentre Towers. Do you want to know Mado Martinezwhy you remember? You will have to [email protected] this. Art DirectorMarkus Köller went to an important Rayna Petrovainternational symposium in Münster, [email protected], to interview Prof. Dr. ErnstUlrich von Weizsäcker about climate Copy Editing and Proofreadingchange. It’s a matter of importance to Matt Lovedaylisten to what he has to say. [email protected] Vieira is a well known scientist Contributing Writersand a tireless researcher. She shares Rob Hutchinsonwith us in this issue her latest discov-eries in the field of our biological clock Markus Köllerand healthy sleep. What do they haveto do with obesity, diabetes and other Elaine Vieiradiseases? We will find out by readingabout her findings. Images Cover Photo : 9/11 World Trade Centre,NYAll these very interesting things, and a commons.wikimeadia.org,little bit more, launch us into what will public domain photos,be a fascinating year. Don’t forget to morguefile.comshare with us your comments and feelfree to submit your own articles. www.ispectrummagazine.com 2 [email protected] +44 7938 707 164 (UK) Follow Us
Ever wondered why there are certain events that stick in yourmind and no matter what you do you just cannot bury themin the past? 3
Flashbulb MemoriesWHY ITS HARD TO FORGETTHE PAST by rob hutchinson website www.ispectrummagazine.comA major world event or an exceptionally sharp memories are that they are flashbulb memories (FBMs) accident you witnessed or expe- a snapshot taken at a shocking or highly emotional time that sears the event into rienced yourself, these memo- the memory. But do these FBMs diminish over time and what affect does it have onries can seem as vivid as the day you eyewitness testimony? Surely a memory as powerful as this will be strongexperienced them many years later. evidence in court and be an asset to the criminal justice system.Take for example 9/11. If you ask any-body what they were doing that day asthe Twin Towers fell the vast majoritywill be able to tell you where they were,what they were doing, even what theweather was like. The reason for these 4
Memory Types -Wheredo FBMs fit in? The way information is stored to retrieve the memory), implicitdepends on the type of memory it is. (the major form of long termThere are two main memory catego- memory that does not require con-ries short and long term memory. scious thought, almost like an auto-Because it is not necessary to store pilot) and autobiographical memory,all the information we process in our which contains specific life eventsbrain these memory types act as a that we remember better thanfilter. After being perceived informa- others.tion passes to the short term mem-ory, which can store the information FBMs fit into this last categoryfor around 20 seconds. After of autobiographical memory. Thesethis the information is either lost or precise, long lasting and concisetransferred to long term memory. memories are remembered withThis transfer happens due to the astounding clarity. However, it is notrepeated use of the information or the same as photographic memory,rehearsal of it. as it is possible for FBMs to decayThe long term memory is limitless, over time and little details to be lost.although the memories in this vast FBMs are like taking an instant imagestorage unit can decay over time or of everything that is presentwdue to illness. Long term memory isobviously the more complex of thetwo and has separate categories ofits own.These memories can be split intoexplicit (requiring conscious thought 5
9/11, 2001 Attack on the World Trade Center,New York at the time of a shocking event to be highly distinctive and signifi-in a person’s private or public life. cant. But how are these FBMs anyFeelings and emotional responses, different from traumatic memories?those present with them at that The key is that traumatic memoriestime, even the exact thing they were contain high levels of stress causeddoing the moment before the inci- by anxiety or fear, which aredent can all be recorded with amaz- generally absent from FBM. This ising detail. In a 2002 study on 9/11 not to say the two are not similar.by the Pew Research Center for the During a traumatic event arousalPeople and the Press 97% of those is increased, leading to increasedinterviewed had a FBM for the attention to surroundings and eventsattacks. Interestingly 38% of causing the memory to be morethose said that for them 9/11 was detailed.the biggest life event for that year,which explains why so many record- Much of the research into FBMsed a FBM. The key for recording a have focused on events whereFBM is that the event is of great important public figures who werepersonal importance and contains loved by many have been mur-high emotion and surprise alongside dered. The death of John F Kennedydrastic consequences. For thememory to be so long lasting it needs6
has always held a place Explaining FBMsin the hearts of manyAmericans, and provid- So how can FBMs be ones. The original FBMed a dearth of research explained? memory model wasinto FBMs. In the many There are a variety of designed by Brown &studies conducted a different models, so Kulik. The Photographichigh proportion of peo- here is just a taste of the Model determined thatple had a vivid memo- most compelling and for a FBM to occur therery of the day’s events, scientifically supported must be a high levelwith the personal emo-tional effect on them- JFKselves and the shockbeing the main con-tributors to the forma-tion of the FBM. It wasJFK’s assassination thatfirst prompted investi-gations into the FBMas many researchers atthe time were surprisedby just how accuratepeople’s memorieswere.Although certain aspectsof the memory disap-peared it was fixed intothe brain in such a waythat it did not appear toerode over time. Brown& Kulik studied thesememories in depth andcontributed to the defi-nition of FBMs that weuse today. 7
importance to the indi- vidual, therefore also affecting the individu- al’s emotional arousal. The level of importance of this event contributes to the prior rehearsal of the memories, mak- ing the FBM so strong. Associating these together allows the individual to remem- ber vivid aspects of the event such as what they were doing at the exact time and the people they were with, John Lennon,1975 alongside a detailed between the variables explanation of the event involved in the record- ing of the FBM. itself. Whilst the Photographicof surprise, consequen- Model put forward a A different take on thetiality and emotional jumble of variables, thearousal involved. A high Comprehensive Model FBM is provided by thelevel of arousal would worked at explainingcause more frequent the correlation between Importance-Drivenrehearsal and a stron- them.ger memory recon- The model proposes Emotional Reactionsstruction at later dates. that knowledge andThe Comprehensive interest in the event Model, which focuses onModel succeeds in determine the level ofgoing further than the personal consequencesPhotographic Model bybuilding an intercon- as the most importantnected relationship event. If the personal conse- quence is high then the emotional reaction will be strong, both important factors in the creation of a FBM. 8
This model is actually based on the FBM variationsexperiences of people who experi- and accuracyenced an earthquake. Victims of theearthquake were interviewed along- Like many aspects in psychologyside a control group and their cultural and gender variations canmemories recorded. At a later date affect the level of accuracyparticipants were interviewed again, in FBM.with the long term memories of the Edery Halpern & Nachson (2004)victims being understandably more looked into the gender differencesdurable and accurate than those involved in FBMs.of the control group. From this Israeli university students completedthey proposed the model, with the questionnaires about their memoriesimportance of the personal conse- for certain terror attacks, with thequences seen as a fundamental part results showing that men had morefor the formation of FBM. However, distinct FBMs than women and thatbeing based only on the one study they also recounted more signifi-it has very clear problems, and can- cant details of the events. Women,not explain why the murder of John however, reported more emotionalLennon affected so many people reactivity than the men. Due to thedespite his death not having any lack of research into this area it isclose personal consequences tomany of those who remember theevent so well.9
hard to draw conclusions from one FBMs show less personal connectionstudy or try to link the differences in with the event. Age differences alsoresponses to any corresponding play a part in the vividness of thefactors. Across cultures the factors memory. The younger you are thethat affect FBMs remain constant, more likely you will be tobut there are cultural variations have a strong recollection later inthat influence the vividness of the life. Cohen et al (1993) examinedrecounting. Kulkofsky et al (2011) age related differences in FBMs.studied the formation of FBM across They tested participants 11 daysfive different countries; the USA, after an important event and thenUK, China, Germany and Turkey. again 11 months later.They found that the Chinese memo- Less than half the adults hadries were less influenced by any per- a FBM of the event but nearlysonal factors connected to the event. all of the younger participantsThis could be because in Asian cul- did.ture there is less emphasis on indi-viduality, so their recollections of 10
As a tool for giving wit- the event then this is The accuracy of theseness testimony in crim- almost priceless evi- memories have beeninal cases the evidence dence. brought into question,would strongly suggestthat FBMs provide a Pearl Harbour , 1941compelling account ofevents and that theycannot be brought intoquestion.However, it is possiblefor FBMs to be incor-rectly recorded and it isalways best to take anaccount of these mem-ories as soon as possi-ble after the event. In acourtroom a year laterthese memories canbe questioned, but if awitness statement wastaken immediately after 11
Space Shuttle Challengerthe classic example of People who were asked have implications inUlric Neisser’s account about their memories the testimony of peopleof the Japanese attack of the Challenger who witnessed a crime.on Pearl Harbour in 1941 shuttle disaster in 1986 Researchers at Dukedemonstrating that key also showed discrep- University interviewedpoints of the memory ancies with the actual participants days aftercan in fact be wrong. events and what they the 9/11 attacks aboutHe recounted listening were actually doing their memories of theto a baseball game at at the time. It seems event alongside otherthe time of the attack possible that FBMs can mundane events thatwhen in fact no base- have discrepancies, happened that sameball games were being so even the smallest day.played at that time. incorrect detail could 12
Interviewed one week, six weeks, Participants remained very confidentor 32 weeks later they found that of their memories and were unawarethe consistency of the memories for of the inaccuracies that were creep-the attack and the mundane events ing in.was actually the same, with the FBMs are a vivid snapshot of a high-number of consistencies in both sets ly consequential and shocking lifeof memories dropping. event that is burnt into the13
FBMs are a vivid snapshot of a highlyconsequential and shocking life eventbrain like a hot iron branded into an FBMs are yet anoth-animal. It will be there until the end er example of the com-of your life unless illness causes it to plexities and endlessly astoundingdecay. It has its uses, but we must qualities of ourbe careful not to rely on their accu- minds.racy too much.14
byElaine Vieirawebsitehttp://www.linkedin.com/ Biological clockhealthy sleepO besity is considered today an identified as possible causes of obe- important health problem in sity. Among them, circadian (cyclesmodern society, leading to preventable of 24 hours) disturbances have beencauses of deaths worldwide. It reduces proposed as triggers of obesity andlife expectancy by increasing the rates type 2 diabetes. How do we disrupt ourof hearth disease, type 2 diabetes, circadian cycles, our biological clock?sleep disorders and cancer. Recently, Humans are the only species that do nonew possible contributors have been follow their biological clock! 15
In our modern society we are constant- ly exposed to these problems which are occurring in parallel with the epidem- ics of obesity. Today many researchers say that obesity could be a result of not how much we eat; but the time we eat! Sleep restriction The circadian biological clock is controlled by the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN), a group of cells in the hypothalamus that respond to lightDeregulation of your biological clock can makeyou fat and at risk of metabolic diseasesWe are constantly changing the time we and dark signals. Light reaches theeat, the time we sleep, etc. The most SCN, and tells our internal clock thatcommon ways that we disrupt our bio- it is time to be awake. The SCN thenlogical clock are: Lack of sleep (sleep- signals to other parts of the braining less than 7 to 8 hours), eating at that control hormones and otherthe wrong time, exposure to artificial functions that make us feel sleepylight at night, working at night and eat- or awake. With this exposure to lighting high fat diets. in the mornings, the SCN also sends 16
signals to raise body that a bad night sleep amount of sleep hastemperature and pro- can make people tired declined by 1.5 hoursduce cortisol. The SCN but today the scientific over the past centu-also responds to light community has dem- ry together with anby decreasing melato- onstrated that lack of important increase innin secretion, which is sleep can also increase obesity.associated with sleep the pre disposition to In 1999, a study fromonset. Melatonin pro- metabolic diseases Eve Van Cauter from theduction then increases such as obesity and University of Chicagoduring the night and diabetes. The average has changed the ideastays elevated through-out the night, promot-ing sleep. Thus, it isimportant to pay atten-tion to our biologicalclock and not disruptthe sleep-awake cycle.The recommendedamount of hours fora person to sleep isbetween 7 to 8 hours.If you sleep less than7 hours per day, thiscould be cause for con-cern. Everybody knows 17
that the only effect of to develop obesity and more risk of develop-lack of sleep was tired-ness. His group showed type 2 diabetes. ing diabetes.that sleep restrictionin healthy young men One study showed thatled to signs of insulin people who slept for 5 Is sleep duration more resistance which can hours each night had important than sleep lead to type 2 diabetes. an increase of 3.6% quality? Sleep qual- The mecha- nism behind in body mass index. ity is just as important these effects seems to Interestingly, the group as sleep duration. The involve two important that slept fewer hours same effect of reduced hormones that regu- had a preference for insulin sensitivity was late hunger (ghrelin) fatty substances and found in people who and satiety (leptin). carbohydrates and con- slept 7 to 8 hours but The group who slept sumed more calories were prevented fromfewer hours had anincrease in the levels of through foods of this entering deep sleep.ghrelin and a decreasein the levels of leptin type. Reducing sleep- This effect could beincreasing their appe-tite1. ing time has a power- explained by the factIndeed, many studieshave found that peo- ful effect on cells in our that the onset of slow-ple who sleep poorlyare more susceptible body. wave sleep coincides For instance a study with hormonal changes by Tasali, Brady and in our body. van Cauter demon- strated that four nights of just 4.5 hours of sleep reduced the reducing sleeping time insulin has a powerful effect sensi- on cells in our body tivity of fat cells2. It means that these people have 18
Our biological clock is regulated bycomplex mechanisms involving sev-eral hormones and, at a molecularlevel, by the so called ‘clock genes’.The body clock is important becauseit regulates the time we eat, when wesleep and other physiological func-tions. Today we knowthat besides thecentral clocklocated in the body clock is importantthe SCN in because it regulates the timethe hypo- we eat, when we sleep andthalamus, other physiological functionsevery cellin the bodyhas its ownclock that helps toregulate the cells metabo- that a lack of anotherlism. Mice that lack the clock gene clock gene called Rev-erb alphadevelop high blood sugar, high cho- leads to impaired insulin and gluca-lesterol levels and become obese3. gon secretion, the two key hormonesMy research with Dr. Ramon Gomis in the development of diabetes 4,5.group at IDIBAPS-CIBERDEM, Nutrients such as high fat diets canBarcelona, together with research- disrupt the circadian pattern of clockers Dr. Ivan Quesada and Dr. Angel gene expression in cells that couldNadal from Universidad Miguel be responsible for impairment inHernandez, Elche, Spain, has shown their function. Indeed, she showed 19
that mice fed with high fat diet for6 weeks had a loss of circadianclock gene expression in pancre-atic islets (tiny clusters of cells thatproduce insulin, glucagon and otherhormones important to maintainglucose homeostasis) that could beinvolved in defects of the beta-cellfunction during obesity and type 2diabetes 4. 20
Eating at different times that got the same diet lates sleep) during thecan also affect our bio- but were allowed to eat night. Nowadays hav-logical clock. Mice fed a at a normal time6. This ing a nocturnal lifestylehigh fat diet only dur- study could be trans- is considered one ofing the day time, when lated to the human the main risks for obe-these nocturnal ani- situation when people sity and diabetes.mals should be sleep- eat during the nighting, gained significantly time. Indeed, people The exposure of brightmore weight than mice with a nocturnal life- light at night through the use of computers, style characterized TV and cell phones by having a dinner can also disrupt our late at night and body clock. Studies in eating snacks at humans showed that night showed high bright light at night levels of glucose reduces the secretion and low levels of of melatonin7. The rea- leptin and melato- son is that the artificial nin (important hor- mone that regu- 21
light emits wavelengthsthat can activate cellsin the retina and sendthe light signals to theSCN telling the body:“it is still day time”, somelatonin productiondecreases. The reducedmelatonin levels candisrupt sleep keepingpeople awake for a lon-ger time, which makesthem eat more duringthe night. Importantly,exposure of bright lightat night is already beingconsidered a risk forcancer development. 22
Changing sleeping time such as in the case of shift work can also affect our health. One of the effects of industrialization was the adop- tion of 24-hour continuous work in a number of industries. This has resulted in an increase in the pro- portion of the population engaged in shift work. Epidemiological studies show that shift work is associated with obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, abdominal obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease8. Thus, it is clear that if we do not pay attention to our biological clock we can cause metabolic problems.23
time and protection from artificial light could be solu- tions to normalize our bio- logical clock and prevent many diseases.Scientists are now using tools to scientistsrestore the biological rhythms to are now using tools totreat some diseases. restore the biologicalFor instance, helping obese peo- rhythms to treat someple to lose weight just by improv-ing their sleep time and quality. diseasesThus, future therapies that aim tocorrect the time of meals, sleepingReferences: 5- Vieira, E. et al. PloS One. 8, e69939 (2013).1- Siegel, K. et al. Ann. Intern. Med. 141, 846-850 6- Megumi Hatori. et al. Cell Metabolism. 15, 848–860(2004). (2012).2- Broussard, J. et al. Ann Intern. Med. 157, 549-557 7- Reiter, RJ. et al. Crit. Rev. Oncog. 13, 303-28(2012). (2007).3- Turek, F. et al. Science 308, 1043-1045 (2005). 8- Knutsson A. Occup Med. 53: 103-08 (2003).4- Vieira, E. et al. Endocrinology. 153, 592–601(2012).24
interview withProf. Dr. von WeizsäckerEnergy and Environment by Markus Köller website www.medien-loge.deD aily economic challenges require with environment protection. One of his main propositions is that with an increaseforward-looking decisions. The German of the efficiency of resources by a factor of 5 (80%), we can solve current globalm:ut-symposium set an objective to solve issues. In a quiet corner of the event he has answered several questions for ourentrepreneurial questions. One of the journalist Markus Köller. Read about von Weizsäckers concerns, his private life andgreatest environmental scientists of our how a better future can start today!time was the main speaker of the event:Prof. Dr. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker isknown for his courageous commitmentfor sustained economic growth in unison 25
26Photo:(C) 2013 Ingo Kannenbäumer, MEDIEN LOGE
M.K. : Prof. Dr. von Weizsäcker, today’s event is called „m:ut” which is theGerman word for „bravery”. When have you shown bravery in your life?Prof. Dr. von Weizsäcker Hardly ever. Well, I ing and changing indi- to do. So if you´d calldon’t think of myself as viduals by being quite that kind of actionsa brave man. I’m just frank in public speeches spirited, then perhapscourageous in facing and presenting what I I’m brave.opportunities of teach- think is the right thing Photo:(C) 2013 Ingo Kannenbäumer, MEDIEN LOGE 27
M.K. : Isn´t a retirement a way to show bravery, too? To me the age of 74years seems like a good time to retire.Prof. Dr. von Weizsäcker Actually I find it more was saying, which I find nal obligations for fouramusing to travel around important. So, my work weeks. In this time wethe world and try to is one way of enjoy- stay at a lovely lakechange peoples’ behav- ing life. Of course I resort in Austria andior by teaching them do enjoy life at home, enjoy our togetherness.good science and phys- too. As a matter of fact Christmas is anotherics. Everybody I met so I have an agreement date, of course, whenfar was very interest- with my wife: in sum- I enjoy staying withed, listening and learn- mer we both have to the whole family at ouring from the things I call off all other exter- house.M.K. : A little guessing game: How many kWh (Kilowatt Hour) do you needto move a ten kilogram object on the top of Mount Everest?Prof. Dr. von Weizsäcker Yes, very good! I love Actually the answer is kWh can do is roughlyto ask people this ques- just a quarter – which a thousand times lesstion, because the answer is absolutely astonish- from what a kWh canis so astonishing! Every ing! do in reality.time I ask my students, In this difference lies On this assumption,the answer is every- one of the hugest prob- which depends on wrongthing between 300 kWh lems of our society: our physics, we are basingand a thousand kWh. expectation of what a all of our estimates of 28
energy demand. That in the use of energy. consumption of energy,is a scandal! The result If protecting climate, water and minerals, weof this misbelief is an environment and bio better have to start withimmense wastefulness diversity requires less correct physics.M.K. : The increase of energy efficiency is the main point of your theoryfor a better future. Your goal is to raise the productivity of resources upto 80%. Here, at the m:ut symposium, are many German decision mak-ers. If I‘d tell them to increase energy efficiency about the amount of thatpercentage, they would call me crazy.Prof. Dr. von Weizsäcker Well, actually this of me to propose such technology and correctincrease is just the things, then indeed I’m physics.beginning. So many brave. I find it com-people think I’m crazy, pletely normal. It’s justand if you call it brave good science, good 29
M.K. : Do you really think your factor 5 thesis is a realistic approach to the climate issues? Prof. Dr. von Weizsäcker Oh, absolutely! I always give examples in my speeches, which show the possibility of an increase in efficiency even by a factor of 10.Photo:(C) 2013 Ingo Kannenbäumer, MEDIEN LOGE 30
M.K. : How can politics encourage this development?Prof. Dr. von Weizsäcker You can define the ment has to become ping pong mechanism,connection with a ‘ping a ‘ping pong’ between maybe it will be goingpong’ metaphor: If you resource productivity for a hundred years.raise productivity, you and resource prices. Of course it is easier tocan get higher wages. I often recommend- establish the ping pongIf you raise wages, you ed politics to increase mechanism betweenhave a stronger incen- resource prices exactly wages and labor pro-tive to rationalize labor… by the percentage that ductivity, because work-So that’s the basis of resource productiv- ers take to the street ifour economic world. ity has been raised. So they are unfairly paid.The same ping pong increase resource prices Whereas a kWh has nomechanism can be initi- and productivity goes union, no lobby andated in the energy effi- up, raise productivity remains silent in theciency section: Political and prices go up and so corner without fightingdecisions and develop- forth. This will go in a for a higher price. 31
M.K. : Here in Germany the prices for energy are already rising. But Iheard the amount of energy being wasted – even CO2-Emission – is notgoing down. So a kind of opposite development is recognizable.Prof. Dr. von Weizsäcker The increase of energy This has a totally dif- discovered and is usedprices is very good for ferent background: for a short amount ofGermany. Nevertheless, In the USA, a new time now: it is calledas you said before, the method of raw materi- FRACKING and is aemissions are rising. al production has been method of extracting 32
natural gas from theground. This productionmethod has strikinglydecreased the coal pric-es on the US-market.The solution of the coalproducers was to sell theexcess coal to Europe.And now they blame theEuropeans for increas-ing their carbon emis-sions. Process of Hydraulic fracturing (FRACKING) 33
M.K. : I think the current state of climate protection is perfectly explain-able with the so called „prisoner’s dilemma” – no one wants to move first,because the one who’s moving first is losing. So how do we start?Prof. Dr. von Weizsäcker Exactly. That’s the cur- Nobody wants to move ma and move into therent mentality of the first. Part of my mes- first-mover-advantage-decision makers and sage is, you can over- situation, by improvingthe attitude of the cli- come the situation of resource productivity.mate negotiators. the prisoner’s dilem-M.K. : Big goals need the support of everybody. Isn’t it very frustrating foryou to watch the inconclusive debates between politicians and economistsover the years? For instance, as with the debates at the last United NationsClimate Change Conference in Warsaw (Poland)?Prof. Dr. von Weizsäcker Of course it’s frustrat- ing in waves. About the German govern-ing sometimes. I also 10 years ago, after ment were very active.know that we’ve to be Al Gore published his Since then, the prioritypatient with long term INCONVENIENT TRUTH, of environmental pro-developments, because everybody believed that tection has decreasedthe engagement for climate protection had in northern America anda better environment to be the first priority of in Europe, too.and especially for every government. Forthose changes is com- example the British and 34
M.K. : China is known as a “Climate Killer”, it barely ascended one rankup in THE CLIMATE CHANGE PERFORMANCE INDEX 20141 from the state“very poor” to “poor”. Do you think that this is an ongoing tendency?Prof. Dr. von WeizsäckerI should think so. What because the Chinese actual goals in envi-many persons wouldn’t are slowly facing the ronmental and climaticbelieve is that the good right direction. I mean, protection ambitions,exception in the field of they managed things we can expect a fastreducing CO2 Emissions in 30 years, where we and positive change inis Asia. The „Climate needed more than 100. the country.Killer” label for China By transferring this kindis a very wrong term, of development to the1 Cf.: http://germanwatch.org/en/7677 Benxi heavy steel industries in 2013 (China) 35
M.K. : In comparison to China, how do you rate the activities of the UnitedStates of America regarding climate issues?Prof. Dr. von Weizsäcker President Barack Obama I think that President tive for many decades, ed. Sadly Obama gaveObama’s ambitions are maybe since the Reagan up on his environmentaldichotomous. The top years, so hardly any ambitions in the end.priority was to over- progress can be expect-come the scandal ofthe northern Americanhealth insurance situ-ation: one quarter ofthe Americans has nohealth insurance. This25% are simply dyingif they are deadly sick,because they can’tafford medical treat-ment. So he consid-ered the overcoming ofthat scandal a higherpriority than combat-ing climate change.The biggest problemis that the US-Senate,the American con-gress and the Houseof Representatives hasbeen utterly conserva- 36
M.K. : Prof. Dr. von Weizsäcker, one last question: What is your inwardurge? What is still driving you after a lifelong commitment for humanityand the planet?Prof. Dr. von Weizsäcker My motivations are mychildren and grandchil-dren. They should getthe possibility of havinga better future. 37
Image courtesy of jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net by mado martinez website www.madomartinez.com The influence of emotions on genetics Lash out in anger, fall into a melancholy state, laugh, feel grate- ful, experience fear... Emotions are within the river of the state of mind that flow in the sea of our organism. Scientific studies suggest that what we feel influences the genetic printing of modifications that could determine the difference between a healthy life and one of illness. 38
Environmental influences caninfluence genesI Epigenetics. The name literally approached the Public means “genetic control” and com-Biomedical Research Center in pletely changed the idea of life sci-Barcelona. Here works Elaine Vieira, ences. In the last decade researchPhD, from the University of Uppsala has established that epigeneticin Sweden. She investigates chro- patterns of DNA passing throughnobiology and has a post doctor- genes are not definitive, ie, thereate from the Karolisnka Institutet are environmental influences suchin Estocolmo and the Universidad as nutrition, stress and emotionsMiguel Hernández. Apart from hav- that can influence genes. One con-ing a warm smile and the charm- sequence of epigenetic modifica-ing disposition to collaborate with tions is that changed genes canme, when I asked her if emotions pass on to future generations.can influence my genetics, sheresponded; Yes, much more thanwe imagine. Not only emotions,nutrition, the environment, too.How is this possible?The idea that our environmentcan alter our genes is notnew and it has a name:39
You acclimatize or you ‘acclimadie’ I have always heard that eating magnetics specialist and Director offood that contains harmful chemi- Medical Specialties at the Faculty ofcals results in these chemicals Medicine in Madrid. This great sagebeing deposited in my body. Not considers himself a neolamarckianonly are these transmitted in the and speaks very clearly about thefood chain, but also from parents relationship between emotions andto children for generations. Elaine genetics.opens the door to even more pos- Stress, for example, can be con-sibilities. sidered from a neurochemical andI called Doctor Luis Bardasano, neuroelectric viewpoint as an ele-biologist and physician, bioelectro- ment that could alter, or modify, 40
In life you acclimatize or you ‘accli- madie’. If you can acclimate, you pass your genes to your descen- dants. A plum tree that is sick but overcomes the illness gives the following year’s best and highest quality fruits, and consequently gives the best seeds with a great- er capacity to fight disease and become immune. The same happens between par- ents and children.the genetic component of a cellwhen it exceeds certain conditions.What about the possibility that wepass on to our children the genet-ic modifications acquired by theinfluence of our emotions? DoctorBardasano believes this is so, andhe replies with a simple botanicalexample: 41
Positive and Negative Emotions: How canthey affect our health?To say that having a positive atti-tude and a cheerful dispositionfrom childhood will mean a healthylife almost sounds like a fairy tale.So “good” emotions have goodconsequences and “bad” emotionshave bad consequences.The famous Dr. Deepak Chopra,author of several diverse books,including Quantum Healing,explains how positive and nega-tive emotions influence the spreadof disease and/or the accelerationof healing process or the opposite:The labyrinth of the mind-bodyconnection is not so easy to solve.If we ask why a positive mind isnot necessarily a promise of goodhealth, when it would make sense,we realize that the answer lies inthe definition we give to the word“ mind.” It is not a philosophical pioneering studies in the fifties, established a relationship betweenquestion, but a practical problem. feelings and cancer in childhood. He used to track his patients childhoodIf a patient comes to me with can- to banish the black seed that poi- soned their psyche, thus defendingcer, at what point am I to judge his a theory that there is a seed whichmental state on the day of diagno-sis, much earlier or much later?Dr. Lawrence LeShan, author of 42
lies dormant in the Amit Goswami is a the- its applications to thesubconscious for years oretical nuclear physi- mind-body problem. Hebefore inducing the dis- cist and member of the is the author of, amongease. I myself treated a Institute of Theoretical other books, Quantumpatient with lung cancer Physics at the University Doctor. Goswami con-who could survive com- of Oregon, where he firms experiences thatfortably for five years taught physics for 32 demonstrate the pres-with a major injury in years. After a period ence of subtle fieldsthe lungs. There was of distress and anguish (when he refers to theno suspicion that the in his private and pro- chakras, we must takeinjury was cancerous into account the traditionbut the cancer grad- from which Goswami,ually arrived, and who received hiswhen I told him doctorate inthe diagnosis Calcutta) in theof lung can- human body.cer, he pan- This brillianticked. After negative emotions mind nucle-a month, interfere with the body’s ar theo-he began ry statesto cough internal programming that nega-up blood which affects tive emo-and he died tions inter- the immune systemthree months fere with thelater. If it is true body’s internalthat his mental programmingstate helped pre- which affects thecipitate the events, he immune system.had to act fast. Thispatient could overcome fessional life when hehis tumor, but not his was 38, he becamediagnosis. interested in quantum cosmological theory, quantum physics and 43
affected by distance or by time, an energy that exists everywhere and all the time. Curiously the results also shows that DNA changes shape according to the feelings of those whom they studied, depend- ing on if they feel fear, anger, stress, or relax- ation, love, joy, grati- tude or appreciation. It is worth mention- ing that experiments conducted in the Math Heart Institute con- firmed that individuals who were trained to feel a deep love were able to change the shape ofDNA for all: To laugh or to cry, their DNA.that is the question According to him, there is an energy similar to a closely knit network that connects all mat-The scientist and engi- on DNA he suggests ter, and that this net-neer Gregg Braden, that there is an ener- work may be influencedauthor of such excit- gy field through which by our vibrations.ing books as The Divine DNA is communicatingMatrix, has interesting with photons. He alsotheories. says that living cells areConsidering various recognized by a formexperiments performed of energy that is not 44
Music for Emotions I contacted with Marco also affect our genetics, explained about theAntonio Diaz, direc- the answer would be study conducted bytor of Radio Evolution, obvious, he answered Manfred Clynes on emo-dedicated to science me. tions and pressure. Theand music. Could music Exposing our state study generated a testaffect our emotions? of mind to music can where they put peo-Regarding your question change our predisposi- ple in situations thatabout whether there is tion into other direc- have made them expe-a possibility that music tions. rience several emotion-and musical emotions Dan Winter, in fact, al responses and after 45
feeling the emotion, playing a musical instru- the sand grains adoptthey pressed a button. ment produces the more and more com-The button recorded same emotional effect plex shapes. In biologythe changes in pres- on the vast majority of it is exactly the same,sure on the button over people. Lets say that and therefore we cantime. Clynes realized the sounds give shape say that emotions defi-that people pressed to material, therefor nitely affect our genet-the same in China as that is why cymatics ics, they rebound andin Mexico and in New (the study of waves) resonate to the state ofYork. The emotions we shows that grains of our society, the planetsreceive are transferred sand that are moved and the stars, he con-in a clear and concise by the vibrations of a cluded.way through our pres- speaker and as yousure, he explained. increase the frequencyTherefore someone emitted by the speaker, 46
Mother Emotions:Fear and love.Can we control ouremotions? Chinese tradition says the worldof emotions translates into yinand yang. Indeed, Eastern wisdomestablishes two mother emotions,from which all others derive: Fearand love. But can we control emo-tions?A psychological consultation cangive me the answer. Years ago, ina discussion with Ana Moyano, psy-chologist in Alicante, we were facedwith this challenge. What was it Iwas told by this woman?That emotions come from thoughts,but you can control what you think.It’s simple: Think of a red dinosaur.Have you thought about it? Great.Now think of a blue dinosaur. Yes?There you go. From this point ofview, controlling our emotions is aseasy as choosing what to think ofevery time.If you do not want to feel a sademotion you have to replace thenegative thinking that is causing it 47
(stop thinking that I lost my job, for example) and replace it with a positive thought (think how good it feels to bask in the sun in the garden or how lucky I am to have good friends, for example) that will trigger a range of emotions in line with the vibration of thought. General Adaption Syndrome: you may be stressed Do you feel tense? You may be under much pressure, your inter- ests are blocked, you feel threat- ened, isolated, frustrated, and you feel forced to process many infor- mation in a little time during diffi- culties at work, or you could even feel surrounded by harmful envi- ronmental stimuli. Have you thought what to do to combat stress? No? Maybe you48
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