Interesting!

As you know, my own approach would implicate a soliton wave. In this respect an important question to ask relates to the precise nature  of the 'coupling' (if any) between serotonin and dopamine. For solitons to emerge there must exist a linear component and a non-linear component. The linear component is essentially dissipative whereas  the non-linear  component gives rise to a compressive tendency. Solitons emerge when the dissipative and the compressive components cancel out. This seems to chime somewhat with your description above.

Ideally, there should be maintained a state of dynamic equilibrium between serotonin and dopamine. The situations you describe may possibly relate to states of depression and excitation of 'mania'.

Hi Chris! Thanks for the input.

Would you go so far as to equate serotonin with compression and dopamine with dissipation? Perhaps the dissipative effect of a vessel sailing along a canal and the compressive effect of the channel walls is roughly equivalent to a wave being compressed (upward against gravity) forcing it to break and a surfboard penetrating the surface, like a boat.

I guess I am questioning the basic premise of the whole project, which is that a model derived from a real world scenario can provide insight into the workings of a radically different system. I obviously think it is a valid approach. But, I am suspicious that most people view it as mental gymnastics, without any real application.

Incidentally, our wave pool technology uses a kelvin wake, while our main rival uses a soliton! In that context, the problem with the soliton is that the turbulence has to settle before the next wave can be generated. Our method produces waves at a much higher rate, which helps to make the business viable.

http://webberwavepools.com/

Daniel,

It can be argued that my own research approach involves bringing 'life' back into the fold of physics - I am trying to prove that life is a fundamental physical and thermodynamic phenomenon involving a union between energy and physical structure in the form of a catalytic wave - a soliton. It follows that I am very sympathetic to the idea that there should exist 'prototypes' of fundamental biological processes to be observed in the 'non-biological' environment. indeed, if this were not the case then it would be difficult to understand how life could have evolved from non-biological physical processes.

I am not well enough versed in the complexities of neurotransmitter dynamics and their 'couplings' to answer your question. It could well be that the principle means of coupling the production of serotonin and dopamine is via behavior - this would be interesting. Also, upon reflection. If serotonin is associated with 'excited' states, whereas, dopamine is associated with depressed states then the action of these neurotransmitters may be associated with a more global neural quantity - the excitability of the medium (within the context of the fractal catalytic model the brain is considered to be an excitable medium).

I hope this helps

Chris

Thanks, it does help. I am also out of my depth on how neurotransmitters work. There are lots of other factors to consider, like neurons that are phasic v. tonic, various pathways, agonists vs. antagonists: all of which could theoretically find their way into the surfing analogy. But I don't want to keep going deeper if it means losing the reader (assuming there is one!) (;

Daniel, 

The surfing metaphor is a great one. Not only in terms of wave dynamics but also in terms of the ideal state of the surfer. Nothing exemplifies 'the living' like great skill. Life hovers at the fulcrum - in perfect balance between what has been and what is to be! The surfer understands this - not necessarily as an idea - but as a 'sense' of weightless 'being''. The surfer is forever falling and at the same time catching him/herself - just like a soliton! But I am sure - you understand this better than I.