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Writer's pictureJames Swift

WHY LAMPREYS DON'T HAVE MORTGAGES How we make food choices



Lampreys, despite their physical ability, lack the cognitive ability to undertake financial transactions such as mortgages. Lampreys are ancient, primitive vertebrates that diverged from our ancestors 560 million years ago, which is before any animal could walk on land. We can observe the simplest connections in the brain that we share with lampreys. Initially, life had a straightforward start, but as it became more complex, decisions required for survival also became more complicated. Lampreys have the ability to eat, track prey, flee predators, build nests, swim, and feed. To ensure that the body does not confuse these various actions, the brain evolved the striatum, located in the basal ganglia, to receive “bids" that coincide with possible actions that the body can take. The basal ganglia acts as the gatekeeper of decisions to allow only one decision to pass through, with all other bids being turned off by default. The brain uses sensory input from the surroundings to determine the strength of the bid sent to the striatum, such as if another animal enters the scene, the lamprey will determine if it is prey or predator and if it is hungry.


The human brain, unlike lampreys, has undergone millions of years of evolution, which has resulted in a very powerful brain that consumes one-fifth of our total daily energy intake, or about 300-500 calories per day. This powerful brain allows us to make complex decisions such as what to cook for dinner, finding a job to earn money, choosing where to live, etc., which require intricate interactions of bids to the striatum. When we feel hungry, the brain sends a bid, and the loudest bid results in that action, such as eating food from the fridge, ordering food or going out to eat. Our brains have evolved to seek out high-calorie foods that are low in energy cost, such as foods that are high in fat, sugars, and calories this impacts how we make food choices. The brain drives us towards these options as it is a reinforcement behavior that ensures our survival to pass on our genes.


Dopamine, a chemical messenger, plays a crucial role in encouraging behavior engagement. Higher levels of dopamine increase the sensitivity of bids to the striatum, making it easier for bids to get through, as seen when we are motivated to eat. The modern world presents us with an abundance of easily accessible high-calorie items that our bodies crave, which makes it more likely that our brain will drive us towards these options. For example, we may crave ice cream because our brain knows that its flavor, texture, and appearance predict the delivery of a truckload of easily digested fat and sugar. Having evolved in an era of relative food scarcity, the human brain interprets this as highly desirable and draws us towards the freezer.


Reinforcement of eating behaviors is done subconsciously and silently, starting from the eyes and nose to the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines. Food properties shape our eating behavior by causing dopamine to spike in our brains, thereby driving us to seek flavors, smells, textures, appearances, and even places. Unconscious urges to eat calorie-rich foods can be challenging to fight, but advance planning can help. To make maintaining or losing fat easier, we can limit the amount of hypercaloric and palatable items in our homes, make lower-calorie nutrient-dense items more accessible, stick to basic food items that are minimally processed, and manage stress in our lives that will cause bids that go against our current goals to pass through, causing us to overeat. Additionally, moving our bodies with activities like walking, gardening, playing tennis, riding a bicycle, or strength training can help us move towards homeostasis with our bodies.

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