The limbic system is located just beneath the cerebral cortex. This set of brain structures regulates autonomic or endocrine function in response to emotional stimuli. Part of this system is the hypothalamus, a small almond-shaped organ, located directly above the brainstem.
The job of the hypothalamus is to keep the body balanced. It regulates body temperature, controls the appetite, manages sexual behavior, and regulates emotional response. This is accomplished by releasing hormones that allow people to deal with new situations and experiences, whether threatening or pleasurable.
The hypothalamus is thus responsible for our most instinctive and basic responses to stimuli. In Neurobiology, these responses are known as the four F’s: FIGHT, FLEE, FEED, and F**K. Because of the frequency and significance of these four behaviors, the hypothalamus is extremely important in everyday life.
The sudden arrival of the coronavirus on the radar screen of our brains was a surprise. It was a bit like prehistoric man`s first encounter with the saber-tooth tiger. At their respective times of appearance, both Covid-19 and the saber-tooth tiger were entirely new entities. They thus could not be comfortably assigned to any previous conceptual category in the cerebral cortex.
So, when the intelligent part of our brain throws in the towel, that is when evolutionary biology kicks in, and our hypothalamus dons its cape and flies in to save the day. Rescue comes in the form of releasing the right hormones that will trigger one of the 4 F’s.
Evidently, the hypothalamus of prehistoric man told him to FIGHT (i.e. find a weapon and kill the tiger). That is why he did not become extinct like the dinosaurs. However, for whatever reason, instinctive responses to the coronavirus have not been so uniform. This post analyzes the hypothalamic reactions of four world leaders, each of whom reacted in a different way:
FEED
In Spain, the initial reaction of the government was to FEED (quasi-synonym for ‘celebrate’). When the coronavirus began to spread, Pedro Sánchez was occupied with other more important matters such as celebrating International Woman’s Day. In fact, when the idea of quarantine was first envisaged, it was very unpopular because more people were worried about the economic consequences of cancelling the Fallas of Valencia or the religious processions at Easter. Only when the intensive care wards began spilling over with coronavirus patients, was the decision finally taken. This was four days before the celebration was to be held in Valencia.
After the Fallas were cancelled, other fiestas and national celebrations began to collapse like a house of cards. Spain was left bereft of celebrations, which doubtlessly caused a certain sector of the population to sink into deep depression. Oddly enough, the FEED response lingered and was still not perceived as a failed reaction until a significant number of people had begun to die.
The FEED response was then followed by a FLEE response in the form of a negation of reality. The government still maintained that things weren’t going so badly. This tune remained unchanged until suddenly, we began to compete with Italy for first prize in the coronavirus death count. It was then when it finally dawned on the government that we would have to FIGHT. And at long last, that is what they have begun to do.
FIGHT
The reaction of Donald Trump was also atypical. Initially, he had no perception that Covid-19 was a threat. Since there was no threat, there was no reaction. He did not FIGHT, FLEE, FEED, or F**K. (PLAY GOLF is not relevant because it begins with a ‘P’.) Everything was business as usual. The coronavirus was only a threat to a few Californians who had been dumb enough to go on a cruise. However, a few problems arose when bodies started to pile up in other states like New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Louisiana, etc. Something had to be done because the elections were in November.
The hypothalamus of President Trump then sprang into action and told him to FIGHT. It was probably a knee-jerk reaction because he fights a lot. In fact, fighting is something that he is particularly good at. For example, he fights with news reporters. He fights with China. He fights with Democrats. He fights with Republicans. He also fights with his own scientific and medical experts, especially when they reject his medical insights. He fights with members of his own staff, whose employment turnover is comparable to that of unprotected healthcare workers in a coronavirus ward.
It is a mystery whether one day he will ever decide to fight the real enemy (Covid-19). Perhaps he will consider it before he reaches the cut-off point of 100,000 deaths.
FLEE
When the coronavirus arrived, the initial response of the presidents of Brazil and Mexico was to FLEE. Both have repeatedly downplayed the seriousness of Covid-19 and have claimed that it is not significantly affecting their respective countries. This flight from reality is a strategy that has not gone well for either nation. In Brazil, aerial photographers have taken photos of mass graves, and experts estimate nearly one million cases. On paper, Mexico is doing slightly better than Brazil. However, neither country has realistic statistics because they are using New Math to count the bodies. Neither president has woken up to the fact that FLEE is not working, and that they should perhaps consider one of the other three responses.
F**K
The reaction of the United Kingdom was somewhat different. As we all know, Covid-19 began in Wuhan in December 2019, but this was a trivial event because China is so far away. (Look how long it took Marco Polo to get there and return.) So, as this storm was brewing, Boris Johnson and his partner took the opportunity to go on a luxury Caribbean vacation to the island of Mustique. Soon after their return, as Brexit was being celebrated on 31 January, the first two cases of Covid-19 were detected in the UK.
Since there is little else to do in a Caribbean paradise, it is possible (though still undocumented) that the initial hypothalamic reaction of Boris Johnson was F**K. This is further corroborated by the fact that the prime minister has recently become a father, which is the natural and logical result of said activity.
Since this initial reaction to the virus was not sustainable long-term, when Covid-19 began to spread throughout the UK, the prime minister changed his strategy to FLEE. He maintained that things would eventually take a turn for the better when herd immunity finally kicked in. As we know, that never happened. In fact, his abysmally poor evaluation of the coronavirus threat almost ended his hypothalamus entirely.
However, he eventually got it right, and is now in the FIGHT mode. Unlike Donald Trump, he is following the grand British tradition of fighting the real enemy on the beaches, landing grounds, streets, fields, and laboratories. As history has shown, England begins by taking a beating, but finally emerges triumphant.
