How We Recover from Possession: A Reflection on the Reversibility of Biological and Cultural Possession
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This paper explores the critical question of reversibility in "possession", a phenomenon where an external agent (biological, chemical, cultural, or algorithmic) redefines a host’s behavioral output by exploiting neural vulnerabilities. Building on the "Principle of Plasticity Asymmetry," the author examines why it is significantly harder to break free from possession than it is to be infected. By synthesizing evidence from evolutionary biology (e.g., Toxoplasma gondii, Sacculina), neurobiology (LTP/LTD mechanisms), and social psychology (radicalization and addiction), the study identifies three primary barriers to recovery: functional vs. structural damage, the corruption of reward systems, and the degradation of the "trusted-source" signal. The paper concludes by proposing a framework for recovery based on neuroplasticity, suggesting that while biological possession is often a "one-way street," cultural and algorithmic possession may offer a window for intervention through cognitive restructuring and environmental shifts. Key Features: Introduces the Principle of Plasticity Asymmetry in the context of behavioral manipulation. Cross-disciplinary analysis spanning from parasite-host interactions to digital radicalization. Examination of the roles of the prefrontal cortex and mesolimbic reward system in maintaining and breaking "possession."
Author: Saadat, Ramin
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7161120232
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