Emotional and Behavioral Continence

Behavior as defined by Webster’s dictionary is: anything that an organism does involving action and response to stimulation. We can break this all the way down to the level of the exposome and genome—the environment, both internal and external, interfacing with the genetic code. The change in genomic expression in response to exposomic stimulation results in a shift in transcription of the code, a change in phenome, a change in physiology, and a change in action. Behavior of the organism changes at the molecular level within this definition.

We don’t commonly think in terms of molecular changes as behavior, but perhaps we should. We also don’t commonly think of autonomous functions as behavior. For example the changes in our pupil size, tension in the small muscles within our ears, facial expressions, saliva production, respiratory rate, heart rate, gut motility, sweat production and posture that all occur relatively automatically and with little volitional control, depending on how the environment is interfacing with us. These, too, qualify as behavior as defined.

Our emotions are connected to our behavior. Emotions are the feedback mechanism of the physiologic status of our system to central brain centers. When the physiology information reaches cortical structures of the brain, then this physiology becomes our feelings. These emotions are designed to get us to do something—move, or perhaps not move.

Emotions stimulate behavior at a level above the molecular and autonomic levels. Better stated, the environment stimulates physiologic changes that in turn change emotions and behaviors. Thus, physiology precipitates both a feeling and a reaction that are intertwined as they come from the same soup. Mood, movement, and motivation are all integrated at this level.

The physiology of emotion registers at a subcortical brain level prior to registering as feelings within the cortex of the brain, and so, too, does the physiology of behavior register, and behavior can be initiated at a subcortical level prior to awareness at the cortex of the brain.

From a biologic level, this is very adaptive for survival. It speeds up the process from stimulus to reaction by not requiring the data to loop through the cortex of the brain for evaluation and action. Better to be quick than to be lunch. A horn honks and we automatically jump, duck, retreat, and become agitated or fearful, all in response to the threat of possible injury —then thought and processing set in.

Stress physiology can initiate emotions and behaviors. We can start to lash out, reach for a donut, or get up off the couch to get a beer, all prior to the awareness of our reactions, let alone our feelings or desires. The environment changes our physiology, which changes our emotions and our behaviors prior to our awareness of our feelings, desires, and reactions.

The cognitive processing of our environment, feelings, desires, and reactions comes next, and it is slow. Not only is the process last in the sequence and relatively slow in completion, it, too, is influenced by our physiology. If we are in a state of threat, our thoughts will be biased towards a defense in the protection of the self. If we are in a state of safety, our thoughts will be biased towards equanimity and engagement with others.

It is notable that as much of our emotions and behaviors are initiated below the level of our cortical awareness— from the bottom up—the cortex is playing as big a role in modulating and inhibiting emotions and behaviors as it does in initiating emotions and behaviors—from the top down.

The process of micturition, or peeing, is worth reflecting on. The bladder fills, stretch receptors signal to the spinal cord and brain stem the time to void is near, visceral receptors deep in the brain at the insular cortex sense the need to void, but we are in the middle of a meeting, ugh. The prefrontal cortex sends a signal to hold on, as it is not appropriate to let go and pee at this time.

The higher level of the cortex overrides the system, and we clamp down as our distress escalates and our bladder continues to fill. We wait for a more appropriate time to pee. Once out of the meeting, we reach the restroom, hopefully still continent, and we allow the urine to flow and empty our bladder with great relief; the distress and drive to pee dissipate, and we become unaware of our bladder….until the next time.

Our emotions follow a very similar path with the sensing of physiology and the generation of feelings within the insular cortex of the brain. Emotional sensing and feeling occurs alongside of visceral sensing and feeling. When our emotional bladder, so to speak, fills, we get an urge to express our emotions.

But, again, we are in the middle of a meeting, ugh. The prefrontal cortex sends a signal to hold on, as it is not appropriate to let go at this time. The higher level of the cortex overrides the system, and we clamp down as our distress escalates. We repress the urge. The question is, once out of the meeting, where is the rest room for the release of these feelings? Where do we go to allow the flow? Where do we get relief and allow our emotional distress and drive to dissipate? What happens if we don’t empty: Does the emotional bladder burst? Maybe…but more likely we hold on, and discomfort and distress continue to elevate— pain, suffering, and sickness will follow.

Emotions and behaviors have deep biological roots. Four billion years of evolution pushing them forward from the interface of the environment with the genetic code, to the cell, through the automatic functions of the body, then to the cortex of the brain. Sometimes only to be confounded by a few-hundred-thousand-year-old human cortical brain—“Don’t." “You need to.” “You have to.” “You should.” “You must.” “You mustn’t.."—usually for social compliance.

This isn’t all a bad thing. Socially acceptable behavior plays a significant role in our health and happiness. No one wants literal or figurative pee or, worse, poop in their conference room. Continence is a good thing.

But how many of us know where the key is to the emotional and behavioral restroom?

Stay safe and stay tuned,