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the brain? 78 + THE BUILDING BLOCKS the fetal mouth. Why does it migrate in every one of us to the middle of From its unique perch, the pineal nearly touches visual and auditory sensory relay stations. The emotional centers of the limbic system sur- round it, and its position allows for instant delivery of its products directly into the cerebrospinal fluid. Traditionally, we believe that the placement of the pineal is such that it can respond best to lighting conditions. However, the route from the eyes to the pineal is curiously tortuous. Nerves from the eyes to the pineal actually exit the head and detour through the neck before return- ing to the pineal deep within the skull. It would be just as efficient for the gland to stay in the neck or upper spinal cord and release melatonin directly into the bloodstream as a way of notifying its host animal of lighting conditions. It may be the pineal's placement is necessary so that melatonin may best affect nearby important brain centers, such as the pituitary gland, which regulates reproductive function. But this requirement really does not demand a deep brain location for the pineal. Melatonin carried by the blood from somewhere else could do just as good ajob, as is the case with ovary and adrenal gland hormones. Perhaps melatonin needs immediate access to cerebrospinal fluid, and that's why it hangs from the roof of a fluid-containing ventricle. How- ever, the pineal gland releases melatonin in a steady stream lasting for many hours, and its effects develop over days and weeks. A hormone with melatonin's characteristics has no need for access to cerebrospinal fluid. Finally, melatonin's psychological properties are rather insignificant. These minor mind-altering effects do not justify immediate access to the colliculi and limbic system, the deep brain structures that regulate per- ceptions and emotions. Thus, the pineal does not need to be in the middle of the brain if this location were to support melatonin's role in our lives. If the pineal gland were producing DMT, however, that would cer- tainly warrant its strategic location. A DMT release directly onto the visual, auditory, and emotional centers the pineal nearly touches would profoundly