We like to think that we are responsible for our decisions, thoughts, and emotions. We aspire to be influential entities that impact the world around us. However, new research reveals that we are more affected by internal and external factors that are not under our control. Today, many neuroscientists and philosophers believe that free will is an illusion.
In his 2012 book Free Will, neuroscientist Sam Harris argues that we do not have free will in our choices. He argued that our actions and decisions are determined by causes beyond our control, including our biology and environment. He believed that the absence of free will does not negate moral responsibility and ethical obligations in societies [1].
Robert Sapolsky, also, in his 2023 book Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will, discusses that our choices are determined by past experiences, environmental influences, and genetic factors, as supported by neurological evidence. Sapolsky explains that humans do not have free will, and our actions are determined by previous causes, forming a seamless chain of causality that stretches back in time. He presents also a new ethical model to address concerns regarding the consequences of a lack of free will and responsibility. He argues that the lack of free will does not cause anarchy, make life meaningless, or lead to chaos. Instead, it can foster a more compassionate and empathetic society [2].
This wave of determinism is caused by the achievements of modern physics, which indicate that the world operates as a large machine based on a chain of causes and effects. According to the principle of causality, every phenomenon should appear after its cause.
All external factors and previous experiences that unconsciously influence our choices should impact the expression of genes, neural connections, and circuits. According to this model, we are captured by our genes inherited by parents and environmental factors that shape our neural connections and brain circuits.
All characteristics of living beings are the result of a complex interplay between genes and environmental factors. Moreover, genes determine the shape and function of cells and tissues through their differential expression during differentiation from undifferentiated cells. Humans have almost 23,000 genes in their cells, producing a vast array of phenotypes, which is unbelievable with this limited number of genes. Several theories have been proposed to explain the problem of limited genes and the wide range of human phenotypes.
Eukaryotic genes are regulated at several levels, from packing long DNA into small nuclei, unwinding sections of DNA to expose them for gene expression machinery, to translating gene expression products into proteins that determine traits in cells and entire organisms. A limited number of expressed proteins are responsible for controlling the expression of most other genes in each cell. Cells regulate gene expression according to possessing specific regulatory proteins that express a set of genes among all the genes in the genome. Differential gene expression in each cell and tissue is the secret of differentiation that causes each cell to become specific in shape and function. Therefore, the interplay of genes with each other and the influence of environmental factors on gene expression machinery play a crucial role in determining the characteristics of cells, tissues, and, ultimately, organisms.
The field of epigenetics, which studies the changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence, has shed light on the complex interplay between genes and the environment. Epigenetic changes can be influenced by various factors, including early life experiences, social environments, and even an individual's thoughts and emotions. These changes can have lasting effects on gene expression, impacting brain function and behavior.
The main trait of neurons in the nervous system is their specific shape, which enables them to connect to each other, serving as the primary function of nerve cells. Each neuron is capable of connecting with up to 10,000 other neurons through a specific structure called the synapse. The neuronal circuits and neural connections drive the fundamental brain functions, including sensory perception, response to stimulation, memory formation, thoughts, and decision-making. Neural circuits connecting different brain regions are involved in making decisions, storing choices in memory, and determining future actions based on past experiences. Therefore, gene expression patterns in neurons cause them to form a huge neural network based on sensory perception, emotions, and past experiences. These tremendous neural networks, called connectomes, shape our personality and identity. However, each alteration in gene expression patterns throughout life, even before birth, can influence present-day decisions and choices by affecting neural connections in the brain's decision-making centers.
Interestingly, our mind, as a product of the genome and connectome, may affect gene expression patterns. Recently, researchers have discovered a network of 4,000 genes that adapt their expression based on individuals' personality traits, impacting health and well-being. This network is expressed in specific brain regions related to the inheritance of human personality. It is controlled by six regulatory genes that play an essential role in regulating emotions and meaning. These findings highlight a significant interaction between mental status and main biological pathways. These findings suggest that a person's self, personality, and outlook on life have a profound influence on gene expression [3].
Personality is defined as a set of enduring characteristics that shape an individual's thoughts, feelings, decisions, and behaviors. Personality characteristics can impact decision-making styles and behaviors. For example, individuals who are best at conscientiousness may be more likely to make deliberate and thoughtful decisions. At the same time, those who are stronger in extraversion may tend to make decisions quickly [4]. Personality is ultimately an outcome of genetics, environment, and experiences, shaped by the interplay of the genome and the brain's connectome. When personality is a product of genes, the mutual influence on gene expression patterns contradicts the priority of cause over effect based on the causality rule. This is like the time travel paradox. If someone were to travel back in time, could they potentially kill their own grandfather?
Although most of our choices in life are captured by factors beyond our will, recent findings suggest that adopting a creative and self-transcendent attitude can alter gene expression patterns and have a positive impact on our well-being and health.
References
1. Harris, S. (2012). Free Will, Free Press.
2. Sapolsky, R. M. (2023). Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will, Penguin Press.
3. Del Val C, Díaz de la Guardia-Bolívar E, Zwir I, Mishra PP, Mesa A, Salas R, Poblete GF, de Erausquin G, Raitoharju E, Kähönen M, Raitakari O, Keltikangas-Järvinen L, Lehtimäki T, Cloninger CR. Gene expression networks regulated by human personality. Mol Psychiatry. 2024 Mar 4.
4. Erjavec, J., Popovič, A., & Trkman, P. (2019). The effect of personality traits and knowledge on the quality of decisions in supply chains. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 32(1), 2269–2292.
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