[ExI] atrophy or hypertrophy

[Anders Sandberg]

On 2015-10-02 18:43, spike wrote:
>
> On 2015-10-02 10:41, Rafal Smigrodzki wrote:
>
> >//
>
> >>…/So, I would expect a mild loss of adrenal mass in response to the 
> completely laid-back lifestyle... Rafal/
>
> I thought it would go that direction too Rafal.  We hear a lot about 
> our immune systems getting lazy because we modern people enjoy a 
> sterile clean environment.  It stands to reason the adrenal system 
> would do likewise.
>

The body adapts, but across evolutionary history the rate of adaptation 
has likely been set by how nonstationary environments tend to be. If you 
adapt to ease too quickly you become vulnerable to sudden threats, while 
slow adaptation to ease might miss out some fitness opportunities 
(stress and reproduction tend to be anticorrelated) but likely less - 
not having as many offspring as would have been possible is usually 
better than being dead. So I would expect a bias towards rather slow 
adaptation.

> >…Anders wrote:  >…Stressed people find ways to be stressed even in total retirement, laid-back 
> people relax while working… Anders
>
> This comment brought me a smile. Anders, the biggest adrenaline surge 
> I have had in the six years since retirement is last year when you and 
> I were attempting to drive in San Francisco.  {8-]  That gave the old 
> adrenal system a good workout.  {8^D
>
Hahaha! Yeah, that was some trip. I felt bad for you. Maybe next time we 
should try a slightly more calming environment (or not, to keep the 
adrenal glands working).


-- 
Anders Sandberg
Future of Humanity Institute
Oxford Martin School
Oxford University

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