Molecules of Emotion

Molecules of Emotion

by Candace Pert

Molecules of Emotion brings science into the conversation about the body mind connection; basically showing that ligands and their corresponding receptors constitute the information processing system of the body. 

Ligands can be neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine or serotonin, to name just a few of the better known ones.  Or they can be steroids such as cortisol, released under stress and also include the sex hormones, testosterone or estrogen, created in the testes and ovaries.  And finally, the vast majority of ligands are the peptides, which as strings of amino acids are produced at the cellular level.  When matched with their corresponding receptor they are involved in nearly all life processes.

The potential connections to taijiquan are numerous and will be explored in future posts.  For now, it will suffice to say that, the complex information processing systems of the body are certainly brought into play during the learning and performance of taijiquan.  With the acceptance of a body mind connection the concept of health expands to include the systems described in Molecules of Emotion.