Pleasure and reward are not the same thing. For humans, pleasure almost always leads to reward, but reward doesn’t only happen with pleasure. For the most extreme examples of what you’re describing, ascetics and monks and the like, I’d guess that some combination of sensory deprivation and rhythmic breathing cause the brain to short circuit a bit and release some reward juice.
How is this refuted by Buddhism?
People lead fulfilling lives guided by a spiritualism that reject seeking pleasure. Aka reward.
Pleasure and reward are not the same thing. For humans, pleasure almost always leads to reward, but reward doesn’t only happen with pleasure. For the most extreme examples of what you’re describing, ascetics and monks and the like, I’d guess that some combination of sensory deprivation and rhythmic breathing cause the brain to short circuit a bit and release some reward juice.