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Thank you for posting the article about “false pregnancies.”  It was not only fascinating, but also relevant to our exploration of the mind/brain/behavior.  The entry on “How the brain rewires itself” stated: it’s the brain that is affecting the behavior more so than the mind.  On the contrary, I believe it is the mind that has conjured up these desires, which then affects the brain and the body (much like psychosomatic diseases that are caused by a chaotic mind.) The doctor in this article explained the unusual phenomena with the mind-body feedback loop: “an emotional state inducing abnormal hormone secretion, which in turn has its own physical and psychological effects”.  I’m very interested in seeing more studies take this approach psychological/neurobiological diseases.  If we can further prove the effects the mind has the brain, maybe there’ll be a better argument that these conditions are caused by the mind, and not just creations of the brain.  

I believe that certain chronic diseases can be alleviated and cured by changing one’s thinking.  For example, optimism isn’t an automatic response of the brain.  It’s something you learn, develop, or choose to do.  This in term helps your overall physical and psychological well-being.  Not believing that we can take control over our brain is shaky grounds.  It lets us off the hook from being responsible for our behavior.  Blame a bad brain, and what options do you have left?  Meds?  An insanity plea?  Taking responsibility of how our mind/brain/behavior operates is a way of being free from harm to yourself and others.