David Eagleman on The Secret Lives of the Brain (BSP 75)

David Eagleman, PhD

In his new book, Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain, neuroscientist, David Eagleman, describes consciousness as "the smallest player in the operations of the brain" (page 5) because most of what the brain does is outside conscious awareness (and control).  In a recent interview (BSP 75), Dr. Eagleman reviews some of the evidence for this startling position, as well as the implications both for the average person and for social policy.

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References:

• Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain, by David Eagleman.

• Eagleman, D. "The Brain on Trial," the Atlantic Monthy; July/Aug 2011 ONLINE.

Related Episodes of BSP:

• BSP 13: Our first discussion of unconscious decisions.

• BSP 15: Interview with Read Montague, PhD, author of Why Choose This Book?: How We Make Decisions.

• BSP 19: Review of Gut Feelings: The Intelligence of the Unconscious, by Gerd Gigerenzer.

• BSP 42: Review of On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You're Not, by Robert Burton.

• BSP 43: Interview with Robert Burton, MD.

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