Why is it that we think certain thoughts that are not under our conscious control? Or procrastinate, knowing we have an extensive amount of work due? David Eagleman, a neuroscientist at Baylor University, provided a captivating yet thought provoking bestseller titled, Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain. It focuses on unlocking the parts of the brain that work on autopilot; why our brain works on its own and the conscious mind plays a small role in what is occurring. We are unaware of decisions being made or information being processed. There is a barrier between the conscious and unconscious, and Eagleman questions why- why does the brain work incognito?
“It is the most wondrous thing we have discovered in the universe, and it is us.” …show more content…
It is not the experience that truly matters, but how we interpret it. Sadly, our automatic thoughts are given too much power. The problem is that we don't challenge or assess them, we let them determine our experiences for us. When we accept our thoughts as reality, we are limited to the way that we look at the world.
Eagleman delved into what experience is really like, by first reminding us that vision is more than looking. Our conscious mind isn't perceiving what's in the world; we are perceiving what our brain tells us. Based on our previous life experiences, our brain makes assumptions about the data to come to a conclusion. Just because you believe something is true, that does not make it true.
Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain, provided me insight on my own personal behaviors and other peoples as well. The book delved into the conscious mind and all the aspects we have no awareness to. From David Eagleman's quirky analogies to his passionate inquisitions, I was able to comprehend the information presented while being entertained simultaneously. You don't have to be a neuroscientist to follow his work, just a person who is open to introspection. I highly recommend this book, it was an excellent
“It is the most wondrous thing we have discovered in the universe, and it is us.” …show more content…
It is not the experience that truly matters, but how we interpret it. Sadly, our automatic thoughts are given too much power. The problem is that we don't challenge or assess them, we let them determine our experiences for us. When we accept our thoughts as reality, we are limited to the way that we look at the world.
Eagleman delved into what experience is really like, by first reminding us that vision is more than looking. Our conscious mind isn't perceiving what's in the world; we are perceiving what our brain tells us. Based on our previous life experiences, our brain makes assumptions about the data to come to a conclusion. Just because you believe something is true, that does not make it true.
Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain, provided me insight on my own personal behaviors and other peoples as well. The book delved into the conscious mind and all the aspects we have no awareness to. From David Eagleman's quirky analogies to his passionate inquisitions, I was able to comprehend the information presented while being entertained simultaneously. You don't have to be a neuroscientist to follow his work, just a person who is open to introspection. I highly recommend this book, it was an excellent