Book Review: Incognito

Incognito by David Eagleman is a book about the secret lives of the human brain.  Eagleman, a neuroscientist, explores what we do not know, and do not appreciate, about our own brains.

He discusses how it is possible that we can talk to ourselves, and even disagree with ourselves.  Dr. Eagleman also describes how our senses work within our brains, and how what we perceive is based more in how our brains process information than in what is actually happening in the world.  His model of our brains is not linear; our brains function more as a “team of rivals,” with many different ways of processing information and reaching conclusions.  He also talks about what a small percentage of our brain activity is actually under our control, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of that lack of control.

Dr. Eagleman directs the Laboratory for Perception and Action, as well as the Initiative on Neuroscience and Law, at Baylor College of Medicine.  In part because of my own experience, I found the sections of Incognito that focus on the relationship between what we are learning through neuroscience and the way we approach our legal process most interesting.

Using dramatic, thought provoking examples, Dr. Eagleman describes our understanding of neuroscience and how our brain structure and activity affects our behavior.  Our scientific knowledge has developed, particularly since the principles on which our legal processes are based were articulated.  Incorporating our current understanding, Dr. Eagleman anticipates a time in the not-too-distant future when new insights and information about neuroscience and bran function will enable us to look back on our current approaches as fairly naive.

Incognito is engaging and presents interesting ideas in an accessible way.  It is a good introduction to aspects of neuroscience, and provides a great deal of food for thought about justice and other social policy questions.

What is the last really satisfying argument you had with yourself?