Latch‑Bridge Mechanism
Smooth muscle can enter a low‑energy 'latched' state that maintains tension with little ATP.
ELI5 — simple story
Smooth muscles have a 'sticky gear' that lets them hold tension without spending much energy.
Building on previous concepts
When taṇhā holds too long, this is the mechanism that engages. It's the physical basis for sticky predictions.
Concepts you've learned so far:
Felt experience
What does this concept feel like in the body and behavior? Read, notice, then try.
In smooth muscle, myosin cross-bridges can enter a 'latch' state where they remain attached to actin with very slow detachment rates. This allows sustained force generation with minimal ongoing ATP consumption—a highly energy-efficient way to maintain tension over long periods.
Vascular smooth muscle cells throughout the body can utilize latch-bridge mechanics to maintain vessel constriction with minimal metabolic cost. This provides a plausible physical substrate for 'holding' predictions or biases over extended timeframes.
Mechanism
What the animation teaches: The moving marker shows time progression. Notice how force maintains with low ATP cost (the gradient band) - this is why latched patterns can persist for minutes to years with minimal energy.
If predictions are held as vascular tensions, the latch-bridge mechanism offers a way for these 'hyperpriors' to persist with minimal energy expenditure. This could explain how certain cognitive or emotional patterns become 'sticky' and resistant to change.
Try it
Reflection: Think of a persistent emotional or mental pattern you have. Does it feel like it 'holds itself' with minimal effort?
This analogy helps understand how latched patterns might feel subjectively.
Try it: Try holding physical tension (like clenching your jaw) and then consciously releasing it. Notice the 'letting go' sensation.
This gives a bodily sense of what unlatching might feel like.
Interactive Exploration
Explore how the latch-bridge creates energy-efficient holding:
Stage 2: Latch-Bridge Efficiency
Hold tension long enough to engage the latch. Notice how ATP cost drops while force maintains.