Research
Mobility Coupled with Motivation Promotes Survival: The Evolution of Cognition as an Adaptive Strategy
by George B. Stefano1,2, Richard M. Kream2 and Tobias Esch1
1Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, Germany
2Department of Psychiatry, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic
Cite as: Stefano, G. B., Kream, R. M. & Esch, T. (2023). Mobility Coupled with Motivation Promotes Survival: The Evolution of Cognition as an Adaptive Strategy. THE MIND Bulletin on Mind-Body Medicine Research, 1, 3. https://doi.org/10.61936/themind/202301312
In a recent publication [1], we present the hypothesis of an evolutionary and functional relationship between the occurrence and use of the catecholamine dopamine (DA) as a neurotransmitter (messenger)—particularly in invertebrates—and the catecholamines epinephrine (EP) and norepinephrine (NE), messengers that are found only in vertebrates. Interestingly, both are also involved in pathways leading to the production of endogenous morphine, another messenger substance. We assume that the use of EP/NE as messengers represents an evolutionary advantage and adaptation process, whereby this “metabolite” (its biochemical intermediates) is only used “in retrospect” as a neurotransmitter (evolutionary “retrofitting”); on the way to greater
mobility, with a need to expand data storage (memory, cognition) within the scope of this expanded radius, additional messengers were needed. Moreover, challenges and “stress” coming with increased mobility (e.g., entering unfamiliar environments) had to be successfully met to ensure survival. The same applies to the synthesis of morphine, which is formed from tyramine and tyrosine via DA (mediated by enzymes that also interact with EP/NE) so that morphine can be chemically classified as an “end product” of a DA-opiate cascade. Morphine’s functional importance is the downregulation and termination of a motivational sequence from wanting (appetite) to avoiding (avoidance) to relaxation/quiescence (assertion).
Reference
[1] Stefano, G. B., Kream, R. M., Esch, T. (2023). Mobility Coupled with Motivation Promotes Survival: The Evolution of Cognition as an Adaptive Strategy. Biology, 12(1):80. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12010080