Serotonergic and tryptaminergic overstimulation on refeeding implicated in "enlightenment" experiences

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biochemistry
• Religious Studies

Background:

• The "enlightenment" experience of Siddhārtha Gautama is a classic example of profound spiritual attainment.
• Gautama's enlightenment followed prolonged fasting and intense meditation, culminating in eating rice pudding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To hypothesize a neurochemical mechanism for Gautama's enlightenment experience.
• To explore the role of refeeding syndrome in altered mental states.

Main Methods:

• Analyzing the biochemical effects of prolonged fasting on monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity.
• Investigating the impact of tryptophan and carbohydrate intake on brain chemistry post-fasting.

Main Results:

• Prolonged fasting may inhibit MAO, while subsequent carbohydrate and tryptophan intake increases brain serotonin and endogenous psychoactive tryptamines.
• These neurochemical changes, particularly elevated serotonin and tryptamines without MAO degradation, are hypothesized to cause altered mental states.

Conclusions:

• The "enlightenment" experience may be a symptom of refeeding syndrome, a neurochemical response to nutrient intake after starvation.
• This mechanism offers a scientific framework for studying such altered states in individuals not undergoing spiritual training.