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The Emotional Gyri & Sulci

The surface of the cortex of the human brain (and many other mammals as well) appears as a series of folds. The hill-like peaks of the coretx that is visible is refered to as the gyri (gyrus for a singluar "hill"). Each valley (seen on the surface as a gulley) is called a sulcus (sulci when speaking in the plural). So, my title for this essay is my neuroscience spin on the old adage "The Emotional Hills and Valleys".

As I sit here in my back office, very early this morning, I have decided to place a mirror in front of me (actually just to the side of my monitor) so that I can gaze at my old, furry visage as I type and perhaps glean some new insight into who I am and what my purpose is in life. I have already gone walking, having decided to see if a night without sleep will reset my emotional clock (there is evidence that working through the night on an OCCASIONAL basis may reset circadian rhythms and perhaps mood). Now I am smoking my pipe, filled with a robust burley tinctured with just a hint of raspberry. As I slowly exhale a lungful of the smoke and watch as the curls of the smoke cascade through my mustache hairs, I see a tired, yet hopeful face. I have felt rather rough and out of sorts emotionally for the last two days, but am hoping that things will improve. The beard on my chin is so grey. Perhaps I should color it to see if that improves my outlook? Nah. I think the grey suits me.

Well, let us see what the day brings.

PipeTobacco