History of the pineal gland

Excerpt

There is a long and culturally diverse history regarding the pineal gland [9, 10, 14, 20, 21]; most of which have been highly mystical. Famously, Descartes (1594–1650) regarded the pineal gland as the point of contact between the soul, body, and the place where our thoughts are formed [5, 7, 17, 22] (Fig. 1 and cover figure). This conjecture has present-day counterparts such as Strassman’s claim that the gland produces N,N-dimethyltryptamine, an intermediate in melatonin synthesis, which Strassman describes as “the spirit molecule” and believes to be involved in dreaming [19]. Other extraordinary speculations include those of pharaonic Egypt, where the pineal was equated with the eye of Horus [13]. Additionally, the “third eye” of Hindu spiritual enlightenment is described as originally being a third eyeball that atrophied into the pineal gland [4].

…