Highlights from Incognito

Here are some insights from neuroscience: based on David Eagleman’s wonderful book Incognito

Our experience of the world is a construction of our brains. The brain produces a useful and coherent narrative of the world at our level of interaction. It doesn’t reflect the full reality of the world but only the small spectrum of the world that is accessible to us.

The Team of Rivals structure of our brain
Our brain systems and networks behave as competing teams of rivals. Our brains’ multiple parallel systems conflict and compete to construct a view of reality. Our mind negotiates with the different parties to create a coherent experience, narrative, and explanation for that experience.

Multiple world reality
Our brain experiences the world through the lenses of multiple parallel systems and hubs of neuronal networks (e.g. emotional, rational systems, right/left brain). The various hubs include parallel simultaneous realities of for example being a racist and not a racist. We share many of the possible experiences with the world.  Over time some of the experiences get marginalized or suppressed. They might reappear under the influence of alcohol or in our dreams.

Awareness/consciousness
Consciousness is the CEO of our brain functions that steps in when automated processes, systems, and routines fail, when something new and unpredictable appears that requires adjustment and adaptation.

Cognitive flexibility
By processing multiple representations of the world that is accessible to us our brains develop the neural pathways necessary for considering novel applications. This allows us to learn, develop new strategies, and adapt to changing demands.

Identity
Is a construct of the mind to create a unified coherent view of the multiple parallel experiences. An ongoing process of creating a coherent narrative that explains the various perceptual, cognitive, and emotional experiences.

Jakob von Uexküll’s Umwelt and Umgebung
Umwelt is our perceived reality based on our own sensory functions and limited perceptual capacity. Umgebung is the bigger reality or field that escapes our normal senses and ability to make sense of. We perceive only a small spectrum of the larger electromagnetic field and construct our own reality. We have a many blind spots or very limited ways of perceiving reality.

Cognitive reserve
Brain systems are built with redundancy, when one fails other parts and systems can step in. If e keep training and using our brains we develop more reserve and plasticity and can prevent ourselves from developing symptoms such as dementia.

Dreams
Dreams are subconscious constructions of a narrative plot from a collection of experiential threads and memories. The dream narrative is less controlled and/or censored by the forebrain and thus shows a different reality or parallel world.

Brain and Mind
Brains are the hub of the mind. Brains have the densest concentration of youness. But the you expands beyond the boundaries of the brain into the social field and realm.

The greater nervous system that includes endocrine and immune system interacts with and is shaped by the social environment. We are part of a social or non-local filed: the social nervous system.

Prefrontal Workout
Real time neuro-feedback to recruit frontal lobe networks as a way to help control and suppress lower brain cravings and impulsive processes. It enhances one’s capacity for long-term decision making.

One Example is the Ulysses Contract

Ulysses ordered his men to securely lash him to the mast of his ship to prevent him from succumbing to the devastating lure of the beautiful Siren’s song.  We make behavioral contracts to counter the detrimental actions of our future selves we assume will engage in detrimental actions such as succumbing to cravings and other impulses.