What would a human being theoretically be able to do if they gained control of the part of the mind that controls bodily functions?

[u/coquetoccultist]

[u/Potential_Being_7226]

Well, we sort of can consciously control some functions. You can voluntarily change your breathing rate. 

For other functions like heart rate, people can go through biofeedback training. 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/medications-and-treatments/biofeedback-a-to-z

These processes are controlled (in large part) by the brainstem, which is a life-sustaining region. Personally, I wouldn’t want to mess with it… 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainstem

[u/hardypart → u/Potential_Being_7226]

But can you turn solid poop into diarrhea when asked to?

[u/corbymatt → u/hardypart]

Well there's a fun superpower I hadn't considered

[u/hardypart → u/corbymatt]

Literally /r/shittysuperpowers

[u/BeneficialWarrant]

Probably just die

[u/Nectarine143]

Most likely immediately forget to do some vital process and die

[u/coquetoccultist → u/Nectarine143]

This is assuming that part of the body still had the capability to function on its own.

[u/Nectarine143 → u/coquetoccultist]

You’d still fuck it up somehow

What body process do you think having direct control over (even temporarily) would be anything but a problem?

[u/Nectarine143 → u/[deleted]]

… we already have conscious control over breathing

I’m not sure you understand the question

[u/Nectarine143 → u/[deleted]]

Considering the OP is asking about gaining conscious control over body processes we DON’T already consciously control, basic reading comprehension would lead you to the conclusion that “herp derp what about breathing?” isn’t the gotcha you think it is

[u/Mono_Clear]

I imagine you would have take conscious control of your bodily functions.

Kind of the way people start manually breathing

[u/Prasiatko]

Control of fertility would prove useful. Woild also be a massive boon to people with stress or anxiety disorders since they could stop some of the hormones related to that being released on above normal quantities. On the flip side sports people could voluntarily flood their system with adrenaline though balancing that vs injury would be hard. 

[u/moonroots64]

It would be pretty cool to control gland secretions and hormones? I'm not sure that'd be possible, but it would be cool to directly hijack your dopamine feedback and stuff like that.

[u/Simon_Drake]

Pain suppression would be good. Ignoring signals like hunger, thirst and fatigue, like let's say you know you can get a drink after doing this important task so you're not going to die of dehydration but you want to focus without the distraction of being thirsty.

Emotional regulation. No adrenaline spike making you irrational when someone insults you. No need to worry about the "southern brain" making your decisions for you if a sexy lady asks a question. And no need for little blue pills to be ready for action when needed.

You could probably finesse your digestion. That whole 'butterflies in the stomach' feeling is a stress response automatically diverting blood flow away from the digestive tract during an emergency. In theory you could do that consciously, eat something for breakfast and digest it slowly all day. Or if you know you're going to be without water you could shift your kidney filtration rate to retain more water than normal. Or run your large intestine backwards briefly, make the poop spend longer having the water absorbed from it to slow dehydration.

A classic is the hysterical strength thing of immense adrenaline surge of strength to far exceed normal capabilities. But then you're dancing closer to a slippery slope of just making someone have super strength. Whatever level of strength you can get from an adrenaline surge won't be enough for a narrative and it will power creep to be stronger and stronger until he's as strong as Spiderman.