Pulling a “The Cage/The Menagerie” play, John and Ken cut the first episode they ever recorded into the 30th episode of Mission Log. Spock’s gotta have it, though what it is, he will not say. But he’s gotta get to Vulcan as soon as he can in “Amok Time.”
Have you guys seen this? You guys should see this. .)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYDQqMaYsQY
Here’s the thing: The regenerated, rapidly aging Spock on the Genesis Planet went through Pon Farr without having any memories whatsoever. That pretty much belies any idea of it being psychosomatic. You can’t convince yourself a thing is real when you have no idea what is happening to you. Of course, then there’s the rather squicky/rapey notion of Saavik2 having sex with an amnesiac, but there you have it.
Occam’s razor: They say it’s a holdover from their savage past, so it’s probably a holdover from their savage past.