It’s true that “you” is a complex combination of physical, emotional and spiritual aspects, but it's a leap to suggest that neurons have nothing to do with it. Neurons aren’t just the basis of thought, they’re the basis of emotion, too. As my original essay pointed out, neurons are present in the body parts we use to describe our feelings, moods and emotions – the brain, heart, spine and gut.
But it goes deeper than that. Neurotransmitters - chemical messengers released by neurons to send signals to other cells - help regulate our moods and emotions. Neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine impact how we feel, how we think and how we behave. It's wrong to suggest they are unimportant to our emotional experience of “you”.
The same is true of physical sensations. Pain relief hormones and Cortisol released by neurons can reduce pain and help us cope with stress. It's wrong to say that neurons play no role in physical sensation.
In conclusion, “you” may be a combination of physical, emotional and spiritual aspects, but neurons are a major player in all of them. Sorry to burst the bubble of anyone hoping to find the secret to understanding “you”, but it’s complicated! Neurons may not be the answer we were all looking for, but without them, understanding “you” would be impossible!