The neurologist I had in mind was Sherrington, who pointed to the biologic fact that during the hunting, grasping, and eating of nourish- ment, awareness is intense; but once satisfaction is attained, the organism tends towards a state of well being, relaxation, stupor, and sleep, unless some disorder of digestion still serves to stimulate aware- ness. Thus, the very equipment that serves to bring about the benign sluggishness and relaxation of satiety is in itself the essence of turbu- lence and sruggle. This could be interpreted as meaning that without the intense exercise of its "militant" powers, the organism would fall into decay.
From COMMUNICATION AND THE HUMAN CONDITION edited by Lee Thayer
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