Would it be possible to distil specific human emotions into an edible drug form?
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I am writing a dystopian future where I hope to make it possible that specific emotions can be taken in the form of pills or drug form; or, combined pills taken to form more complex feelings. Obviously there are certain chemicals associated with emotions such as serotonin and endorphins. But are there specific chemicals that could be used to create something very close to taking a drug and it giving you an overwhelming sense of sadness, jealousy or rage?
Are there hormones and chemicals specific enough for this, or would it have to be combined with some kind of visual aid to create context to then be able to feel sadness more, for instance? (Although this kid of defeats the point, as in my world these drug forms of emotion are meant to be taken by those incapable of creating it naturally themselves).
science-fiction near-future crime dystopia future
edited Nov 23 at 2:41
kingledion
72.1k25243426
asked Nov 22 at 18:54
Sofie
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show 2 more comments
up vote
9
down vote
favorite
I am writing a dystopian future where I hope to make it possible that specific emotions can be taken in the form of pills or drug form; or, combined pills taken to form more complex feelings. Obviously there are certain chemicals associated with emotions such as serotonin and endorphins. But are there specific chemicals that could be used to create something very close to taking a drug and it giving you an overwhelming sense of sadness, jealousy or rage?
Are there hormones and chemicals specific enough for this, or would it have to be combined with some kind of visual aid to create context to then be able to feel sadness more, for instance? (Although this kid of defeats the point, as in my world these drug forms of emotion are meant to be taken by those incapable of creating it naturally themselves).
science-fiction near-future crime dystopia future
edited Nov 23 at 2:41
kingledion
72.1k25243426
asked Nov 22 at 18:54
Sofie
461
1
A few years ago I would have written an answer around Lovheim's Cube of Emotions which linked our 8 base emotions to the three mono-amine neuotransmitters. However, it was drawn to my attention that the journal he published in is less than reputable, and little further research had been published. It might still be good eough for worldbuilding though.
– Cort Ammon
Nov 22 at 19:29
Here's a suggestion. As I mention in my answer, there's a lot of current research on this. All you need to do is drop in the right buzz-words from this research and it will make even professionals pause to think. As I say, I'll try to help with some of those terms in my answer when I have time.
– chasly from UK
Nov 22 at 19:56
Would a smokeable, vapeable, or snortable drug be acceptable? Would a lozenge that you suck on be acceptable? Or a blob that you chew but don't swallow? Drugs that are eaten need to pass through the stomach and duodenum, and then be processed by the liver. This tends to delay the effect, destroy about ninety percent of the drug, and damage the liver. Whereas if the drug can be absorbed by the nose, lungs, or mouth, you get a faster, purer, more intense effect.
– Jasper
Nov 22 at 20:34
Even with thenear-futuretag, your question "are there specific chemicals" seems to be asking for specific chemicals that exist now. If they existed now, someone would be using them, either therapeutically in trials or illegally.
– RonJohn
Nov 22 at 21:15
Yeah.. glenlivet do it regularly. If you're male try getting drunk on whisky and see what emotion they bottled. Gin if you're a woman.
– Richard
Nov 23 at 0:23
|
show 2 more comments
up vote
9
down vote
favorite
up vote
9
down vote
favorite
I am writing a dystopian future where I hope to make it possible that specific emotions can be taken in the form of pills or drug form; or, combined pills taken to form more complex feelings. Obviously there are certain chemicals associated with emotions such as serotonin and endorphins. But are there specific chemicals that could be used to create something very close to taking a drug and it giving you an overwhelming sense of sadness, jealousy or rage?
Are there hormones and chemicals specific enough for this, or would it have to be combined with some kind of visual aid to create context to then be able to feel sadness more, for instance? (Although this kid of defeats the point, as in my world these drug forms of emotion are meant to be taken by those incapable of creating it naturally themselves).
science-fiction near-future crime dystopia future
edited Nov 23 at 2:41
kingledion
72.1k25243426
asked Nov 22 at 18:54
Sofie
461
I am writing a dystopian future where I hope to make it possible that specific emotions can be taken in the form of pills or drug form; or, combined pills taken to form more complex feelings. Obviously there are certain chemicals associated with emotions such as serotonin and endorphins. But are there specific chemicals that could be used to create something very close to taking a drug and it giving you an overwhelming sense of sadness, jealousy or rage?
Are there hormones and chemicals specific enough for this, or would it have to be combined with some kind of visual aid to create context to then be able to feel sadness more, for instance? (Although this kid of defeats the point, as in my world these drug forms of emotion are meant to be taken by those incapable of creating it naturally themselves).
science-fiction near-future crime dystopia future
science-fiction near-future crime dystopia future
edited Nov 23 at 2:41
kingledion
72.1k25243426
asked Nov 22 at 18:54
Sofie
461
edited Nov 23 at 2:41
kingledion
72.1k25243426
asked Nov 22 at 18:54
Sofie
461
edited Nov 23 at 2:41
kingledion
72.1k25243426
edited Nov 23 at 2:41
kingledion
72.1k25243426
edited Nov 23 at 2:41
kingledion
72.1k25243426
72.1k25243426
asked Nov 22 at 18:54
Sofie
461
asked Nov 22 at 18:54
Sofie
461
asked Nov 22 at 18:54
Sofie
461
461
1
A few years ago I would have written an answer around Lovheim's Cube of Emotions which linked our 8 base emotions to the three mono-amine neuotransmitters. However, it was drawn to my attention that the journal he published in is less than reputable, and little further research had been published. It might still be good eough for worldbuilding though.
– Cort Ammon
Nov 22 at 19:29
Here's a suggestion. As I mention in my answer, there's a lot of current research on this. All you need to do is drop in the right buzz-words from this research and it will make even professionals pause to think. As I say, I'll try to help with some of those terms in my answer when I have time.
– chasly from UK
Nov 22 at 19:56
Would a smokeable, vapeable, or snortable drug be acceptable? Would a lozenge that you suck on be acceptable? Or a blob that you chew but don't swallow? Drugs that are eaten need to pass through the stomach and duodenum, and then be processed by the liver. This tends to delay the effect, destroy about ninety percent of the drug, and damage the liver. Whereas if the drug can be absorbed by the nose, lungs, or mouth, you get a faster, purer, more intense effect.
– Jasper
Nov 22 at 20:34
Even with thenear-futuretag, your question "are there specific chemicals" seems to be asking for specific chemicals that exist now. If they existed now, someone would be using them, either therapeutically in trials or illegally.
– RonJohn
Nov 22 at 21:15
Yeah.. glenlivet do it regularly. If you're male try getting drunk on whisky and see what emotion they bottled. Gin if you're a woman.
– Richard
Nov 23 at 0:23
|
show 2 more comments
1
A few years ago I would have written an answer around Lovheim's Cube of Emotions which linked our 8 base emotions to the three mono-amine neuotransmitters. However, it was drawn to my attention that the journal he published in is less than reputable, and little further research had been published. It might still be good eough for worldbuilding though.
– Cort Ammon
Nov 22 at 19:29
Here's a suggestion. As I mention in my answer, there's a lot of current research on this. All you need to do is drop in the right buzz-words from this research and it will make even professionals pause to think. As I say, I'll try to help with some of those terms in my answer when I have time.
– chasly from UK
Nov 22 at 19:56
Would a smokeable, vapeable, or snortable drug be acceptable? Would a lozenge that you suck on be acceptable? Or a blob that you chew but don't swallow? Drugs that are eaten need to pass through the stomach and duodenum, and then be processed by the liver. This tends to delay the effect, destroy about ninety percent of the drug, and damage the liver. Whereas if the drug can be absorbed by the nose, lungs, or mouth, you get a faster, purer, more intense effect.
– Jasper
Nov 22 at 20:34
Even with thenear-futuretag, your question "are there specific chemicals" seems to be asking for specific chemicals that exist now. If they existed now, someone would be using them, either therapeutically in trials or illegally.
– RonJohn
Nov 22 at 21:15
Yeah.. glenlivet do it regularly. If you're male try getting drunk on whisky and see what emotion they bottled. Gin if you're a woman.
– Richard
Nov 23 at 0:23
1
1
A few years ago I would have written an answer around Lovheim's Cube of Emotions which linked our 8 base emotions to the three mono-amine neuotransmitters. However, it was drawn to my attention that the journal he published in is less than reputable, and little further research had been published. It might still be good eough for worldbuilding though.
– Cort Ammon
Nov 22 at 19:29
A few years ago I would have written an answer around Lovheim's Cube of Emotions which linked our 8 base emotions to the three mono-amine neuotransmitters. However, it was drawn to my attention that the journal he published in is less than reputable, and little further research had been published. It might still be good eough for worldbuilding though.
– Cort Ammon
Nov 22 at 19:29
Here's a suggestion. As I mention in my answer, there's a lot of current research on this. All you need to do is drop in the right buzz-words from this research and it will make even professionals pause to think. As I say, I'll try to help with some of those terms in my answer when I have time.
– chasly from UK
Nov 22 at 19:56
Here's a suggestion. As I mention in my answer, there's a lot of current research on this. All you need to do is drop in the right buzz-words from this research and it will make even professionals pause to think. As I say, I'll try to help with some of those terms in my answer when I have time.
– chasly from UK
Nov 22 at 19:56
Would a smokeable, vapeable, or snortable drug be acceptable? Would a lozenge that you suck on be acceptable? Or a blob that you chew but don't swallow? Drugs that are eaten need to pass through the stomach and duodenum, and then be processed by the liver. This tends to delay the effect, destroy about ninety percent of the drug, and damage the liver. Whereas if the drug can be absorbed by the nose, lungs, or mouth, you get a faster, purer, more intense effect.
– Jasper
Nov 22 at 20:34
Would a smokeable, vapeable, or snortable drug be acceptable? Would a lozenge that you suck on be acceptable? Or a blob that you chew but don't swallow? Drugs that are eaten need to pass through the stomach and duodenum, and then be processed by the liver. This tends to delay the effect, destroy about ninety percent of the drug, and damage the liver. Whereas if the drug can be absorbed by the nose, lungs, or mouth, you get a faster, purer, more intense effect.
– Jasper
Nov 22 at 20:34
Even with the
near-future tag, your question "are there specific chemicals" seems to be asking for specific chemicals that exist now. If they existed now, someone would be using them, either therapeutically in trials or illegally.– RonJohn
Nov 22 at 21:15
Even with the
near-future tag, your question "are there specific chemicals" seems to be asking for specific chemicals that exist now. If they existed now, someone would be using them, either therapeutically in trials or illegally.– RonJohn
Nov 22 at 21:15
Yeah.. glenlivet do it regularly. If you're male try getting drunk on whisky and see what emotion they bottled. Gin if you're a woman.
– Richard
Nov 23 at 0:23
Yeah.. glenlivet do it regularly. If you're male try getting drunk on whisky and see what emotion they bottled. Gin if you're a woman.
– Richard
Nov 23 at 0:23
|
show 2 more comments
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
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up vote
8
down vote
This is a big area of research at the moment. (I'll add some pointers to research as and when I'm online)
The answer is almost certainly yes but there is a long way to go. However it will rely on drugs that can be accurately targeted.
EDIT - to clarify
If you could isolate the chemicals in a human brain and inject those same chemicals into the brain of another person, but precisely into the same brain structures then I assert that the second person would experience the same emotions. Once we know what all these chemicals are and where to send them then with sufficient (very advanced) technology, we could replicate the same.
We couldn't replicate the other person's thoughts - just the emotions.
This might require nano-machines (also currently being worked on) to make sure the drugs were accurately delivered.
At present if someone takes an antidepressant or an amphetamine it floods the whole system and not just the brain (there may be some preferential uptake). There are centres in the brain (still not fully understood) which when stimulated by an electrode can cause changes in emotion.
It's complicated because a drug that causes excitation in one sort of synapse in one organ can suppress it in another.
Once the technology to precisely target small brain centres is achieved then your scenario is possible.
Notes
You didn't give a hard-science tag (thank goodness!) so I am relying on remembered facts from studies some time ago.
If someone paid me I could probably back my answer up with the relevant research but it would perhaps take hours. Maybe I'll find some pointers that I can add on here for you to read up on.
Provisos
Some emotions can be very close to each other in physiological terms - for example mild fear and excitement (both involve adrenaline). It may be necessary for the subject to prepare mentally or hypnotically to avoid a 'bad trip'. However there are different brain structures that could be stimulated in addition to merely giving adrenaline. The combination could distinguish between fear and excitement. So a complex targeted drug could work.
Pleasant emotions could be very addictive.
The pills may have undesirable long-term effects.
Added To get perfect results it might be necessary to tailor the proportions of drugs to each individual to get the right balance. This could be achieved by a DNA analysis together with a brief personality test.
List of references (in progress) Note that typing these terms into YouTube will usually give a layperson's guide.
Cognitive and emotional influences in anterior cingulate cortex http://www.georgebushmd.com/GBMD-Website/Research_&_Publications_files/Bush_2000_TICS_CingReview.pdf
Vagal tone and the physiological regulation of emotion. [This refers to the Vagus Nerve] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7984159
How the Brain Processes Emotions
When it comes to emotions, it turns out that there are regions in the
brain, specifically in the limbic system, that are associated with
each of the 6 main emotions. Emotions are actually experiences that
are associated with activation of certain regions in the brain.
http://www.neurologytimes.com/blog/how-brain-processes-emotions
The gut-brain connection https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection
Chemosignals Communicate Human Emotions
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797612445317
Biochemical Variables in the Study of Temperament https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4899-0643-4_10
answered Nov 22 at 19:08
chasly from UK
8,43934085
Then you should delete your comments, and add any important parts to your answer. Comments are ephemeral, make sure the important points get added to the permanent record of your answer.
– kingledion
Nov 23 at 2:39
add a comment |
up vote
4
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Some psychiatric medication is used to change the affect of patients: anti-depressants diminish sadness, depressants diminish joy, anxyolitics reduce fear, anxiogenics increase fear, there are drugs that make aggressive and drugs that reduce aggression, and so on.
The problem with all of this is that every human brain is different, and that not everyone reacts to the same drug in the same way. Which is why there are so many different anti-depressants, for example, and why for some patients none of them work (or not in the expected way or not without adverse effects).
So while it is easily possible to create a drug that will induce a specific emotion in a single individual (given enough time to research that individual), it is impossible to create a drug that will have the same effect on everyone.
answered Nov 22 at 19:17
user57423
448110
1
This is true at the current state of technology and understanding. The problem is that current drugs are a hammer to crack a nut. All sorts of unwanted side-effects may be caused. - In the OP's dystopian future sufficiently selective, targeted and sophisticated drugs could do it. Right now in 2018 people are working on tailoring drugs to a patient's DNA. This taken to its extreme could give very precise results. Take a blood sample, stuff it in the analyser and the specific cocktail of drugs for you pops out.
– chasly from UK
Nov 22 at 19:36
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2
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Not really, since there's a mental component to feelings. Basically, you need something to be sad*, jealous, or mad about to get the full emotional effects. If you've ever had allergy testing, you might actually have experienced something like this. When the tests are finished, the doctor gives you a shot of adrenaline https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenaline to counteract any lingering effects. This of course is the same hormone evoked in "fight or flight" situations, so you experience the physical component of the emotional response, without there being anything to fight or run away from.
*Though see depression and the use of antidepressants.
answered Nov 22 at 19:09
jamesqf
9,43011735
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0
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I think there might be a way.
As other answers have mentioned, emotional responses are pretty complicated things.
Some emotions are more readily induced or modulated than others, and the more complex the emotion the more complex the means of effecting it needs to be.
Some real-world foods can make you happier some of the time simply because they're high in carbs. High-carb foods reduce stress hormone release in the brain.
As has been mentioned already, getting very precise at this point seems to require access to the inside of the brain itself and being able to distinguish between and selectively modify specific regions in specific ways.
The solution depends on how techy you want your story to be. If you're both going for a super high tech/robotic setting and want accuracy, you could use nanobots that migrate to specific regions of the brain on their own over time, then receive signals of some form or other in order to provide the necessary response.
ie:
acquire nanobots
nanobots migrate to their specified locations
nanobots recieve signal
appropriate nanobots release/trigger release of appropriate neurotransmitters
This signal could come in various forms and could even be food if you figured out how to send specific messages to the various nanobots based on food consumed.
Maybe you could just find some set of neutral compounds that don't exist in food/other ingestables and have a different set of nanobots in the digestive tract that detect the presence of those and their relative proportions, interpret those proportions as a specific emotional response, then send the correct message to the nanobots in the brain.
Some kind of wireless mesh network between the nanobots might be able to simplify this whole system enormously, but I'm not sure how capable those wireless systems would actually be. Range in particular would be an issue between the stomach/intestines and the brain. This might be solvable with some kind of relay network across that distance.
answered Nov 23 at 0:36
Ajacmac
11
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
8
down vote
This is a big area of research at the moment. (I'll add some pointers to research as and when I'm online)
The answer is almost certainly yes but there is a long way to go. However it will rely on drugs that can be accurately targeted.
EDIT - to clarify
If you could isolate the chemicals in a human brain and inject those same chemicals into the brain of another person, but precisely into the same brain structures then I assert that the second person would experience the same emotions. Once we know what all these chemicals are and where to send them then with sufficient (very advanced) technology, we could replicate the same.
We couldn't replicate the other person's thoughts - just the emotions.
This might require nano-machines (also currently being worked on) to make sure the drugs were accurately delivered.
At present if someone takes an antidepressant or an amphetamine it floods the whole system and not just the brain (there may be some preferential uptake). There are centres in the brain (still not fully understood) which when stimulated by an electrode can cause changes in emotion.
It's complicated because a drug that causes excitation in one sort of synapse in one organ can suppress it in another.
Once the technology to precisely target small brain centres is achieved then your scenario is possible.
Notes
You didn't give a hard-science tag (thank goodness!) so I am relying on remembered facts from studies some time ago.
If someone paid me I could probably back my answer up with the relevant research but it would perhaps take hours. Maybe I'll find some pointers that I can add on here for you to read up on.
Provisos
Some emotions can be very close to each other in physiological terms - for example mild fear and excitement (both involve adrenaline). It may be necessary for the subject to prepare mentally or hypnotically to avoid a 'bad trip'. However there are different brain structures that could be stimulated in addition to merely giving adrenaline. The combination could distinguish between fear and excitement. So a complex targeted drug could work.
Pleasant emotions could be very addictive.
The pills may have undesirable long-term effects.
Added To get perfect results it might be necessary to tailor the proportions of drugs to each individual to get the right balance. This could be achieved by a DNA analysis together with a brief personality test.
List of references (in progress) Note that typing these terms into YouTube will usually give a layperson's guide.
Cognitive and emotional influences in anterior cingulate cortex http://www.georgebushmd.com/GBMD-Website/Research_&_Publications_files/Bush_2000_TICS_CingReview.pdf
Vagal tone and the physiological regulation of emotion. [This refers to the Vagus Nerve] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7984159
How the Brain Processes Emotions
When it comes to emotions, it turns out that there are regions in the
brain, specifically in the limbic system, that are associated with
each of the 6 main emotions. Emotions are actually experiences that
are associated with activation of certain regions in the brain.
http://www.neurologytimes.com/blog/how-brain-processes-emotions
The gut-brain connection https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection
Chemosignals Communicate Human Emotions
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797612445317
Biochemical Variables in the Study of Temperament https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4899-0643-4_10
answered Nov 22 at 19:08
chasly from UK
8,43934085
Then you should delete your comments, and add any important parts to your answer. Comments are ephemeral, make sure the important points get added to the permanent record of your answer.
– kingledion
Nov 23 at 2:39
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
This is a big area of research at the moment. (I'll add some pointers to research as and when I'm online)
The answer is almost certainly yes but there is a long way to go. However it will rely on drugs that can be accurately targeted.
EDIT - to clarify
If you could isolate the chemicals in a human brain and inject those same chemicals into the brain of another person, but precisely into the same brain structures then I assert that the second person would experience the same emotions. Once we know what all these chemicals are and where to send them then with sufficient (very advanced) technology, we could replicate the same.
We couldn't replicate the other person's thoughts - just the emotions.
This might require nano-machines (also currently being worked on) to make sure the drugs were accurately delivered.
At present if someone takes an antidepressant or an amphetamine it floods the whole system and not just the brain (there may be some preferential uptake). There are centres in the brain (still not fully understood) which when stimulated by an electrode can cause changes in emotion.
It's complicated because a drug that causes excitation in one sort of synapse in one organ can suppress it in another.
Once the technology to precisely target small brain centres is achieved then your scenario is possible.
Notes
You didn't give a hard-science tag (thank goodness!) so I am relying on remembered facts from studies some time ago.
If someone paid me I could probably back my answer up with the relevant research but it would perhaps take hours. Maybe I'll find some pointers that I can add on here for you to read up on.
Provisos
Some emotions can be very close to each other in physiological terms - for example mild fear and excitement (both involve adrenaline). It may be necessary for the subject to prepare mentally or hypnotically to avoid a 'bad trip'. However there are different brain structures that could be stimulated in addition to merely giving adrenaline. The combination could distinguish between fear and excitement. So a complex targeted drug could work.
Pleasant emotions could be very addictive.
The pills may have undesirable long-term effects.
Added To get perfect results it might be necessary to tailor the proportions of drugs to each individual to get the right balance. This could be achieved by a DNA analysis together with a brief personality test.
List of references (in progress) Note that typing these terms into YouTube will usually give a layperson's guide.
Cognitive and emotional influences in anterior cingulate cortex http://www.georgebushmd.com/GBMD-Website/Research_&_Publications_files/Bush_2000_TICS_CingReview.pdf
Vagal tone and the physiological regulation of emotion. [This refers to the Vagus Nerve] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7984159
How the Brain Processes Emotions
When it comes to emotions, it turns out that there are regions in the
brain, specifically in the limbic system, that are associated with
each of the 6 main emotions. Emotions are actually experiences that
are associated with activation of certain regions in the brain.
http://www.neurologytimes.com/blog/how-brain-processes-emotions
The gut-brain connection https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection
Chemosignals Communicate Human Emotions
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797612445317
Biochemical Variables in the Study of Temperament https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4899-0643-4_10
answered Nov 22 at 19:08
chasly from UK
8,43934085
Then you should delete your comments, and add any important parts to your answer. Comments are ephemeral, make sure the important points get added to the permanent record of your answer.
– kingledion
Nov 23 at 2:39
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
up vote
8
down vote
This is a big area of research at the moment. (I'll add some pointers to research as and when I'm online)
The answer is almost certainly yes but there is a long way to go. However it will rely on drugs that can be accurately targeted.
EDIT - to clarify
If you could isolate the chemicals in a human brain and inject those same chemicals into the brain of another person, but precisely into the same brain structures then I assert that the second person would experience the same emotions. Once we know what all these chemicals are and where to send them then with sufficient (very advanced) technology, we could replicate the same.
We couldn't replicate the other person's thoughts - just the emotions.
This might require nano-machines (also currently being worked on) to make sure the drugs were accurately delivered.
At present if someone takes an antidepressant or an amphetamine it floods the whole system and not just the brain (there may be some preferential uptake). There are centres in the brain (still not fully understood) which when stimulated by an electrode can cause changes in emotion.
It's complicated because a drug that causes excitation in one sort of synapse in one organ can suppress it in another.
Once the technology to precisely target small brain centres is achieved then your scenario is possible.
Notes
You didn't give a hard-science tag (thank goodness!) so I am relying on remembered facts from studies some time ago.
If someone paid me I could probably back my answer up with the relevant research but it would perhaps take hours. Maybe I'll find some pointers that I can add on here for you to read up on.
Provisos
Some emotions can be very close to each other in physiological terms - for example mild fear and excitement (both involve adrenaline). It may be necessary for the subject to prepare mentally or hypnotically to avoid a 'bad trip'. However there are different brain structures that could be stimulated in addition to merely giving adrenaline. The combination could distinguish between fear and excitement. So a complex targeted drug could work.
Pleasant emotions could be very addictive.
The pills may have undesirable long-term effects.
Added To get perfect results it might be necessary to tailor the proportions of drugs to each individual to get the right balance. This could be achieved by a DNA analysis together with a brief personality test.
List of references (in progress) Note that typing these terms into YouTube will usually give a layperson's guide.
Cognitive and emotional influences in anterior cingulate cortex http://www.georgebushmd.com/GBMD-Website/Research_&_Publications_files/Bush_2000_TICS_CingReview.pdf
Vagal tone and the physiological regulation of emotion. [This refers to the Vagus Nerve] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7984159
How the Brain Processes Emotions
When it comes to emotions, it turns out that there are regions in the
brain, specifically in the limbic system, that are associated with
each of the 6 main emotions. Emotions are actually experiences that
are associated with activation of certain regions in the brain.
http://www.neurologytimes.com/blog/how-brain-processes-emotions
The gut-brain connection https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection
Chemosignals Communicate Human Emotions
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797612445317
Biochemical Variables in the Study of Temperament https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4899-0643-4_10
answered Nov 22 at 19:08
chasly from UK
8,43934085
This is a big area of research at the moment. (I'll add some pointers to research as and when I'm online)
The answer is almost certainly yes but there is a long way to go. However it will rely on drugs that can be accurately targeted.
EDIT - to clarify
If you could isolate the chemicals in a human brain and inject those same chemicals into the brain of another person, but precisely into the same brain structures then I assert that the second person would experience the same emotions. Once we know what all these chemicals are and where to send them then with sufficient (very advanced) technology, we could replicate the same.
We couldn't replicate the other person's thoughts - just the emotions.
This might require nano-machines (also currently being worked on) to make sure the drugs were accurately delivered.
At present if someone takes an antidepressant or an amphetamine it floods the whole system and not just the brain (there may be some preferential uptake). There are centres in the brain (still not fully understood) which when stimulated by an electrode can cause changes in emotion.
It's complicated because a drug that causes excitation in one sort of synapse in one organ can suppress it in another.
Once the technology to precisely target small brain centres is achieved then your scenario is possible.
Notes
You didn't give a hard-science tag (thank goodness!) so I am relying on remembered facts from studies some time ago.
If someone paid me I could probably back my answer up with the relevant research but it would perhaps take hours. Maybe I'll find some pointers that I can add on here for you to read up on.
Provisos
Some emotions can be very close to each other in physiological terms - for example mild fear and excitement (both involve adrenaline). It may be necessary for the subject to prepare mentally or hypnotically to avoid a 'bad trip'. However there are different brain structures that could be stimulated in addition to merely giving adrenaline. The combination could distinguish between fear and excitement. So a complex targeted drug could work.
Pleasant emotions could be very addictive.
The pills may have undesirable long-term effects.
Added To get perfect results it might be necessary to tailor the proportions of drugs to each individual to get the right balance. This could be achieved by a DNA analysis together with a brief personality test.
List of references (in progress) Note that typing these terms into YouTube will usually give a layperson's guide.
Cognitive and emotional influences in anterior cingulate cortex http://www.georgebushmd.com/GBMD-Website/Research_&_Publications_files/Bush_2000_TICS_CingReview.pdf
Vagal tone and the physiological regulation of emotion. [This refers to the Vagus Nerve] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7984159
How the Brain Processes Emotions
When it comes to emotions, it turns out that there are regions in the
brain, specifically in the limbic system, that are associated with
each of the 6 main emotions. Emotions are actually experiences that
are associated with activation of certain regions in the brain.
http://www.neurologytimes.com/blog/how-brain-processes-emotions
The gut-brain connection https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection
Chemosignals Communicate Human Emotions
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797612445317
Biochemical Variables in the Study of Temperament https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4899-0643-4_10
answered Nov 22 at 19:08
chasly from UK
8,43934085
edited Nov 23 at 13:09
answered Nov 22 at 19:08
chasly from UK
8,43934085
answered Nov 22 at 19:08
chasly from UK
8,43934085
answered Nov 22 at 19:08
chasly from UK
8,43934085
8,43934085
Then you should delete your comments, and add any important parts to your answer. Comments are ephemeral, make sure the important points get added to the permanent record of your answer.
– kingledion
Nov 23 at 2:39
add a comment |
Then you should delete your comments, and add any important parts to your answer. Comments are ephemeral, make sure the important points get added to the permanent record of your answer.
– kingledion
Nov 23 at 2:39
Then you should delete your comments, and add any important parts to your answer. Comments are ephemeral, make sure the important points get added to the permanent record of your answer.
– kingledion
Nov 23 at 2:39
Then you should delete your comments, and add any important parts to your answer. Comments are ephemeral, make sure the important points get added to the permanent record of your answer.
– kingledion
Nov 23 at 2:39
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Some psychiatric medication is used to change the affect of patients: anti-depressants diminish sadness, depressants diminish joy, anxyolitics reduce fear, anxiogenics increase fear, there are drugs that make aggressive and drugs that reduce aggression, and so on.
The problem with all of this is that every human brain is different, and that not everyone reacts to the same drug in the same way. Which is why there are so many different anti-depressants, for example, and why for some patients none of them work (or not in the expected way or not without adverse effects).
So while it is easily possible to create a drug that will induce a specific emotion in a single individual (given enough time to research that individual), it is impossible to create a drug that will have the same effect on everyone.
answered Nov 22 at 19:17
user57423
448110
1
This is true at the current state of technology and understanding. The problem is that current drugs are a hammer to crack a nut. All sorts of unwanted side-effects may be caused. - In the OP's dystopian future sufficiently selective, targeted and sophisticated drugs could do it. Right now in 2018 people are working on tailoring drugs to a patient's DNA. This taken to its extreme could give very precise results. Take a blood sample, stuff it in the analyser and the specific cocktail of drugs for you pops out.
– chasly from UK
Nov 22 at 19:36
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Some psychiatric medication is used to change the affect of patients: anti-depressants diminish sadness, depressants diminish joy, anxyolitics reduce fear, anxiogenics increase fear, there are drugs that make aggressive and drugs that reduce aggression, and so on.
The problem with all of this is that every human brain is different, and that not everyone reacts to the same drug in the same way. Which is why there are so many different anti-depressants, for example, and why for some patients none of them work (or not in the expected way or not without adverse effects).
So while it is easily possible to create a drug that will induce a specific emotion in a single individual (given enough time to research that individual), it is impossible to create a drug that will have the same effect on everyone.
answered Nov 22 at 19:17
user57423
448110
1
This is true at the current state of technology and understanding. The problem is that current drugs are a hammer to crack a nut. All sorts of unwanted side-effects may be caused. - In the OP's dystopian future sufficiently selective, targeted and sophisticated drugs could do it. Right now in 2018 people are working on tailoring drugs to a patient's DNA. This taken to its extreme could give very precise results. Take a blood sample, stuff it in the analyser and the specific cocktail of drugs for you pops out.
– chasly from UK
Nov 22 at 19:36
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
Some psychiatric medication is used to change the affect of patients: anti-depressants diminish sadness, depressants diminish joy, anxyolitics reduce fear, anxiogenics increase fear, there are drugs that make aggressive and drugs that reduce aggression, and so on.
The problem with all of this is that every human brain is different, and that not everyone reacts to the same drug in the same way. Which is why there are so many different anti-depressants, for example, and why for some patients none of them work (or not in the expected way or not without adverse effects).
So while it is easily possible to create a drug that will induce a specific emotion in a single individual (given enough time to research that individual), it is impossible to create a drug that will have the same effect on everyone.
answered Nov 22 at 19:17
user57423
448110
Some psychiatric medication is used to change the affect of patients: anti-depressants diminish sadness, depressants diminish joy, anxyolitics reduce fear, anxiogenics increase fear, there are drugs that make aggressive and drugs that reduce aggression, and so on.
The problem with all of this is that every human brain is different, and that not everyone reacts to the same drug in the same way. Which is why there are so many different anti-depressants, for example, and why for some patients none of them work (or not in the expected way or not without adverse effects).
So while it is easily possible to create a drug that will induce a specific emotion in a single individual (given enough time to research that individual), it is impossible to create a drug that will have the same effect on everyone.
answered Nov 22 at 19:17
user57423
448110
answered Nov 22 at 19:17
user57423
448110
answered Nov 22 at 19:17
user57423
448110
answered Nov 22 at 19:17
user57423
448110
448110
1
This is true at the current state of technology and understanding. The problem is that current drugs are a hammer to crack a nut. All sorts of unwanted side-effects may be caused. - In the OP's dystopian future sufficiently selective, targeted and sophisticated drugs could do it. Right now in 2018 people are working on tailoring drugs to a patient's DNA. This taken to its extreme could give very precise results. Take a blood sample, stuff it in the analyser and the specific cocktail of drugs for you pops out.
– chasly from UK
Nov 22 at 19:36
add a comment |
1
This is true at the current state of technology and understanding. The problem is that current drugs are a hammer to crack a nut. All sorts of unwanted side-effects may be caused. - In the OP's dystopian future sufficiently selective, targeted and sophisticated drugs could do it. Right now in 2018 people are working on tailoring drugs to a patient's DNA. This taken to its extreme could give very precise results. Take a blood sample, stuff it in the analyser and the specific cocktail of drugs for you pops out.
– chasly from UK
Nov 22 at 19:36
1
1
This is true at the current state of technology and understanding. The problem is that current drugs are a hammer to crack a nut. All sorts of unwanted side-effects may be caused. - In the OP's dystopian future sufficiently selective, targeted and sophisticated drugs could do it. Right now in 2018 people are working on tailoring drugs to a patient's DNA. This taken to its extreme could give very precise results. Take a blood sample, stuff it in the analyser and the specific cocktail of drugs for you pops out.
– chasly from UK
Nov 22 at 19:36
This is true at the current state of technology and understanding. The problem is that current drugs are a hammer to crack a nut. All sorts of unwanted side-effects may be caused. - In the OP's dystopian future sufficiently selective, targeted and sophisticated drugs could do it. Right now in 2018 people are working on tailoring drugs to a patient's DNA. This taken to its extreme could give very precise results. Take a blood sample, stuff it in the analyser and the specific cocktail of drugs for you pops out.
– chasly from UK
Nov 22 at 19:36
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
Not really, since there's a mental component to feelings. Basically, you need something to be sad*, jealous, or mad about to get the full emotional effects. If you've ever had allergy testing, you might actually have experienced something like this. When the tests are finished, the doctor gives you a shot of adrenaline https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenaline to counteract any lingering effects. This of course is the same hormone evoked in "fight or flight" situations, so you experience the physical component of the emotional response, without there being anything to fight or run away from.
*Though see depression and the use of antidepressants.
answered Nov 22 at 19:09
jamesqf
9,43011735
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
Not really, since there's a mental component to feelings. Basically, you need something to be sad*, jealous, or mad about to get the full emotional effects. If you've ever had allergy testing, you might actually have experienced something like this. When the tests are finished, the doctor gives you a shot of adrenaline https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenaline to counteract any lingering effects. This of course is the same hormone evoked in "fight or flight" situations, so you experience the physical component of the emotional response, without there being anything to fight or run away from.
*Though see depression and the use of antidepressants.
answered Nov 22 at 19:09
jamesqf
9,43011735
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
Not really, since there's a mental component to feelings. Basically, you need something to be sad*, jealous, or mad about to get the full emotional effects. If you've ever had allergy testing, you might actually have experienced something like this. When the tests are finished, the doctor gives you a shot of adrenaline https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenaline to counteract any lingering effects. This of course is the same hormone evoked in "fight or flight" situations, so you experience the physical component of the emotional response, without there being anything to fight or run away from.
*Though see depression and the use of antidepressants.
answered Nov 22 at 19:09
jamesqf
9,43011735
Not really, since there's a mental component to feelings. Basically, you need something to be sad*, jealous, or mad about to get the full emotional effects. If you've ever had allergy testing, you might actually have experienced something like this. When the tests are finished, the doctor gives you a shot of adrenaline https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenaline to counteract any lingering effects. This of course is the same hormone evoked in "fight or flight" situations, so you experience the physical component of the emotional response, without there being anything to fight or run away from.
*Though see depression and the use of antidepressants.
answered Nov 22 at 19:09
jamesqf
9,43011735
answered Nov 22 at 19:09
jamesqf
9,43011735
answered Nov 22 at 19:09
jamesqf
9,43011735
answered Nov 22 at 19:09
jamesqf
9,43011735
9,43011735
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
I think there might be a way.
As other answers have mentioned, emotional responses are pretty complicated things.
Some emotions are more readily induced or modulated than others, and the more complex the emotion the more complex the means of effecting it needs to be.
Some real-world foods can make you happier some of the time simply because they're high in carbs. High-carb foods reduce stress hormone release in the brain.
As has been mentioned already, getting very precise at this point seems to require access to the inside of the brain itself and being able to distinguish between and selectively modify specific regions in specific ways.
The solution depends on how techy you want your story to be. If you're both going for a super high tech/robotic setting and want accuracy, you could use nanobots that migrate to specific regions of the brain on their own over time, then receive signals of some form or other in order to provide the necessary response.
ie:
acquire nanobots
nanobots migrate to their specified locations
nanobots recieve signal
appropriate nanobots release/trigger release of appropriate neurotransmitters
This signal could come in various forms and could even be food if you figured out how to send specific messages to the various nanobots based on food consumed.
Maybe you could just find some set of neutral compounds that don't exist in food/other ingestables and have a different set of nanobots in the digestive tract that detect the presence of those and their relative proportions, interpret those proportions as a specific emotional response, then send the correct message to the nanobots in the brain.
Some kind of wireless mesh network between the nanobots might be able to simplify this whole system enormously, but I'm not sure how capable those wireless systems would actually be. Range in particular would be an issue between the stomach/intestines and the brain. This might be solvable with some kind of relay network across that distance.
answered Nov 23 at 0:36
Ajacmac
11
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
I think there might be a way.
As other answers have mentioned, emotional responses are pretty complicated things.
Some emotions are more readily induced or modulated than others, and the more complex the emotion the more complex the means of effecting it needs to be.
Some real-world foods can make you happier some of the time simply because they're high in carbs. High-carb foods reduce stress hormone release in the brain.
As has been mentioned already, getting very precise at this point seems to require access to the inside of the brain itself and being able to distinguish between and selectively modify specific regions in specific ways.
The solution depends on how techy you want your story to be. If you're both going for a super high tech/robotic setting and want accuracy, you could use nanobots that migrate to specific regions of the brain on their own over time, then receive signals of some form or other in order to provide the necessary response.
ie:
acquire nanobots
nanobots migrate to their specified locations
nanobots recieve signal
appropriate nanobots release/trigger release of appropriate neurotransmitters
This signal could come in various forms and could even be food if you figured out how to send specific messages to the various nanobots based on food consumed.
Maybe you could just find some set of neutral compounds that don't exist in food/other ingestables and have a different set of nanobots in the digestive tract that detect the presence of those and their relative proportions, interpret those proportions as a specific emotional response, then send the correct message to the nanobots in the brain.
Some kind of wireless mesh network between the nanobots might be able to simplify this whole system enormously, but I'm not sure how capable those wireless systems would actually be. Range in particular would be an issue between the stomach/intestines and the brain. This might be solvable with some kind of relay network across that distance.
answered Nov 23 at 0:36
Ajacmac
11
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
I think there might be a way.
As other answers have mentioned, emotional responses are pretty complicated things.
Some emotions are more readily induced or modulated than others, and the more complex the emotion the more complex the means of effecting it needs to be.
Some real-world foods can make you happier some of the time simply because they're high in carbs. High-carb foods reduce stress hormone release in the brain.
As has been mentioned already, getting very precise at this point seems to require access to the inside of the brain itself and being able to distinguish between and selectively modify specific regions in specific ways.
The solution depends on how techy you want your story to be. If you're both going for a super high tech/robotic setting and want accuracy, you could use nanobots that migrate to specific regions of the brain on their own over time, then receive signals of some form or other in order to provide the necessary response.
ie:
acquire nanobots
nanobots migrate to their specified locations
nanobots recieve signal
appropriate nanobots release/trigger release of appropriate neurotransmitters
This signal could come in various forms and could even be food if you figured out how to send specific messages to the various nanobots based on food consumed.
Maybe you could just find some set of neutral compounds that don't exist in food/other ingestables and have a different set of nanobots in the digestive tract that detect the presence of those and their relative proportions, interpret those proportions as a specific emotional response, then send the correct message to the nanobots in the brain.
Some kind of wireless mesh network between the nanobots might be able to simplify this whole system enormously, but I'm not sure how capable those wireless systems would actually be. Range in particular would be an issue between the stomach/intestines and the brain. This might be solvable with some kind of relay network across that distance.
answered Nov 23 at 0:36
Ajacmac
11
I think there might be a way.
As other answers have mentioned, emotional responses are pretty complicated things.
Some emotions are more readily induced or modulated than others, and the more complex the emotion the more complex the means of effecting it needs to be.
Some real-world foods can make you happier some of the time simply because they're high in carbs. High-carb foods reduce stress hormone release in the brain.
As has been mentioned already, getting very precise at this point seems to require access to the inside of the brain itself and being able to distinguish between and selectively modify specific regions in specific ways.
The solution depends on how techy you want your story to be. If you're both going for a super high tech/robotic setting and want accuracy, you could use nanobots that migrate to specific regions of the brain on their own over time, then receive signals of some form or other in order to provide the necessary response.
ie:
acquire nanobots
nanobots migrate to their specified locations
nanobots recieve signal
appropriate nanobots release/trigger release of appropriate neurotransmitters
This signal could come in various forms and could even be food if you figured out how to send specific messages to the various nanobots based on food consumed.
Maybe you could just find some set of neutral compounds that don't exist in food/other ingestables and have a different set of nanobots in the digestive tract that detect the presence of those and their relative proportions, interpret those proportions as a specific emotional response, then send the correct message to the nanobots in the brain.
Some kind of wireless mesh network between the nanobots might be able to simplify this whole system enormously, but I'm not sure how capable those wireless systems would actually be. Range in particular would be an issue between the stomach/intestines and the brain. This might be solvable with some kind of relay network across that distance.
answered Nov 23 at 0:36
Ajacmac
11
answered Nov 23 at 0:36
Ajacmac
11
answered Nov 23 at 0:36
Ajacmac
11
answered Nov 23 at 0:36
Ajacmac
11
11
add a comment |
add a comment |
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A few years ago I would have written an answer around Lovheim's Cube of Emotions which linked our 8 base emotions to the three mono-amine neuotransmitters. However, it was drawn to my attention that the journal he published in is less than reputable, and little further research had been published. It might still be good eough for worldbuilding though.
– Cort Ammon
Nov 22 at 19:29
Here's a suggestion. As I mention in my answer, there's a lot of current research on this. All you need to do is drop in the right buzz-words from this research and it will make even professionals pause to think. As I say, I'll try to help with some of those terms in my answer when I have time.
– chasly from UK
Nov 22 at 19:56
Would a smokeable, vapeable, or snortable drug be acceptable? Would a lozenge that you suck on be acceptable? Or a blob that you chew but don't swallow? Drugs that are eaten need to pass through the stomach and duodenum, and then be processed by the liver. This tends to delay the effect, destroy about ninety percent of the drug, and damage the liver. Whereas if the drug can be absorbed by the nose, lungs, or mouth, you get a faster, purer, more intense effect.
– Jasper
Nov 22 at 20:34
Even with the
near-futuretag, your question "are there specific chemicals" seems to be asking for specific chemicals that exist now. If they existed now, someone would be using them, either therapeutically in trials or illegally.– RonJohn
Nov 22 at 21:15
Yeah.. glenlivet do it regularly. If you're male try getting drunk on whisky and see what emotion they bottled. Gin if you're a woman.
– Richard
Nov 23 at 0:23