Even artificially-induced feelings determine our thoughts
Our conscious thoughts are entirely determined by how we are feeling.
Direct stimulation of certain brain circuits in a non-depressed patient by the French neurologist Yves Agid created episodes of full-blown suicidal depression that could be reversed with the flick of a switch. This patient had no traits, tendencies, or thoughts that should elicit sad feelings before his sadness was electrically and artificially stimulated. Out of the blue, from a generally sunny emotional baseline, he abruptly exhibited a state of severe depression and suicidality: “I no longer wish to live, I’m hopeless, I’ve had enough, I don’t want to live anymore…”
No sooner had the electrical stimulus been turned off, the dark thoughts instantly disappeared.
In another experiment, electrical stimulation of the supplemental motor area of the left frontal lobe generated spontaneous outbursts of laughter accompanied by feelings of elation for which the patient struggled to find a rational cause (“you guys are just so funny…standing around”).
Conclusion: Emotion-congruent thoughts were artificially manufactured in response to the neural activation of emotional “programs.” Brain-based motivational-emotional programs are triggered first and our conscious minds then become inspired to try to make sense of what they are feeling.