Introduction
The success and popularity of David Eagleman’s newest book Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain is no secret. This humorous yet stimulating book explores the exciting world of our unconscious mind and all its contradictions. Eagleman is a prominent neuroscientist and director of the Laboratory for Perception and Action at Baylor College of Medicine, where he also directs the Initiative on Neuroscience and Law. Eagleman is best known for his publications on time perception, synesthesia, and neuroscience law.
Book Summary
Incognito can be divided into two main parts. The first half of the novel focuses on the workings of our unconscious brain. One of the most important points that Eagleman emphasizes throughout the entire novel is that the majority of our thoughts and behaviors are the result of unconscious processes that are either inaccessible to our conscious mind or function more efficiently when our conscious mind does not interfere. These unconscious processes are largely the result of evolution, learned experiences, genetics, and the influences of our environment.
Our unconscious mind also plays a huge role in our perception of reality. Our perception of reality is often an illusion because we see with our brain and not our eyes. This means that we see only because our brain is able to interpret the information about the light waves detected by our eyes. Our unconscious brain modifies our perception of reality based on past experiences and often fills in missing information.
The role of the conscious mind is to learn how to solve new problems. Through practice the conscious mind teaches the unconscious brain how to solve the problem so well that it rewires the brain; as a result, that solution or behavior is more efficiently produced by the unconscious mind. The conscious mind controls our unconscious subprograms by distributing control and resources and allowing communication between different areas of the brain. Our conscious mind is active when the something goes wrong with these subprograms or events violate our expectations. It also serves as a mediator between many of the rival teams that make up our unconscious including the left versus right hemisphere and the rational versus emotional systems. While the role of the conscious mind is an important one, its role seems small in comparison to all the behaviors our unconscious brain is responsible for.
In the second half of Incognito, Eagleman explains the implications of the revelations about the unconscious that were the focus of previous chapters. The main implication according to Eagleman is that what we have learned about the unconscious brain conflicts with the way our justice system judges and sentences criminals. Currently, our legal system is based on the assumption that as humans we have free will and thus, are fully responsible for our actions. We are judged based on this assumption; unless it is proven that something impaired our mind’s control over our body while performing the criminal action. This presents a problem when we consider the way our brain works. Since, the majority of our thoughts and behaviors are the result of unconscious processes in the brain; this leaves very little room, if any, for the concept of free will. Additionally, not all brains are created equal because we cannot choose our genetics or the environment where we are raised, both of which are involved in shaping our unconscious brain.
Eagleman argues that the question of free will should not matter in legal sentencing because research has shown that we are not as in control of our actions as we would like to think. He further argues the question of blameworthiness--the extent to which the criminal is to blame and the extent to which his biology is to blame--no longer makes sense either. This is because scientists now realize there is no distinction between our biology and decision-making. Additionally, as technology improves and we become better able to detect how behavior is caused by the microscopic details of our brain, more and more lawyers and criminals will appeal to the defense of biological mitigators, and more criminals will be judged not blameworthy. Consequently, the defense that the criminal’s actions were due to biological processes over which the criminal had no control is no longer valid. It is safe to assume that all criminals have something anomalous about their brain even though our current technology is not always sophisticated enough to detect anything.
The solution Eagleman proposes is not to stop punishing criminals, but to change the way we punish them. He supports personalized sentences based on the likelihood of re-offense with those more likely of re-offense serving longer sentences. He further argues more emphasis should be on rehabilitation. Eagleman explains a new rehabilitation strategy called the prefrontal workout. The goal is to improve impulse control and through practice strengthen the neural circuits involved in long-term decision-making. Eagleman states that criminals should only be punished when their behavior is capable of being changed, or modified. If their behavior is not capable of being changed, then they should not be punished, but instead be taken into the care of the government. Overall, Eagleman suggests a legal system based our knowledge of the neural system that focuses on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
Eagleman concludes by stating that while the revelation that our conscious mind is not at the center of who we are may seem like a dethronement of ourselves, this is not a something to be viewed negatively. Dethronement opens up the possibility of new discoveries, a better understanding of mankind and ourselves as individuals, as well as improved social policy.
Evaluation
I would strongly recommend Incognito to anyone who is interested in neuroscience, both novices and experts. While I have only started studying neuroscience this year, I was familiar with a fair amount of the topics discussed in Incognito such as how easily our perception can be tricked. At the same time, I learned about a great deal of interesting things that were new to me. For example, I had no idea about the extent to which our brains will go to provide a coherent narrative or seek patterns and explanations where none exist.
The information presented is strongly grounded in massive amounts of neuroscience research that when synthesized provide an excellent overview of numerous aspects and views regarding the unconscious. It contains a great wealth of useful, innovative, and surprising information that is creatively presented in an easy to understand manner while still retaining its accuracy and thought provoking quality. Eagleman achieves this difficult feat of balancing simplicity with validity by using a variety of unique comparisons to our everyday world. Most importantly his style of writing is interactive and actively engages the reader by providing quick easy ways for the reader to experience firsthand what he is discussing while simultaneously demonstrating the truth of his claims.
Eagleman proposes alterations to our legal system that are more compatible with our new understanding of the unconscious. While I agree with Eagleman’s proposed shift of focus from punishment to rehabilitation, he fails to fully explain the specifics regarding how we would actually go about implementing these changes. For example, while Eagleman makes it clear that free will and blameworthiness should not matter, he is not clear whether anything other than evidence and the jury’s determination of whether the accused committed the act should matter.
Nor, does Eagleman clearly explain how we should or even could go about gaining popular approval from the people of America. He simply acknowledges that while it will be hard to make the shift from retribution to rehabilitation, that as a society we have been capable of changing social policy based on better understanding in the past. He compares his proposed to changes to the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. This comparison belittles the struggle and hard won victory of the African American people, while inflating the severity of the perceived problem with the setup of the legal system. I believe this is one of the poorest comparisons he could have made and it is most definitely the worst comparison in the entire book.
Additionally, the practicality of Eagleman’s proposed prefrontal workout is limited. First, the prefrontal workout is still in the early stages of research. It is not known how effective it is on improving impulse control or if it is effective for a wide range of people. Second, the technology required for the prefrontal workout is very expensive because it requires the use of real time feedback brain imaging. Many prisons will not be able to afford to buy such expensive brain imaging machines with their budgets. Also, this rehabilitation strategy would require prisons to be able to hire personnel who are trained to use brain imaging as well as properly lead the rehabilitation. The prefrontal workout as rehabilitation for criminal is not practical and would probably be better suited to the setting of a behavior health hospital.
There is a significant disconnect between Eagleman’s fascinating, humorous, and well explained exploration of the functions of the unconscious mind in the first half of Incognito and his well-meaning, but poorly proposed alterations to the legal system. In spite of Eagleman’s failure to explain how we would go about implementing his proposed alterations to the justice system, he does thoroughly explain and support his reasons for believing such changes are necessary. Overall, the first part of the book which explored the role of the unconscious mind was better explained, supported, and just more enjoyable in general than Eagleman’s proposal to make the legal system more compatible with neuroscience.
Even with Eagleman’s inadequate proposal in mind, I still urge anyone interested in neuroscience or psychology to read Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain. The brilliance of the first half of the book far outweighs the shortcomings of the second half. Incognito is the perfect balance of wit and intellect. You will be shocked and amazed when you learn how much your unconscious brain does without your knowledge.
Conclusion
I strongly believe even those who consider themselves experts in neuroscience will learn a thing or two from Incognito, especially since it talks about some of the most current research being done. Furthermore, the range of topics covered is so vast that it is hard to imagine anyone could already know everything mentioned. But, even if there is someone who knows it all, I still recommend reading Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain because David Eagleman relates neuroscience to some of very strange and humorous questions. After all who doesn’t want to know: How is it possible to get mad at yourself? Or why Topsy the elephant was electrocuted by Tomas Edison in 1916?
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Top reviews from other countries
Mayank Mishra
best book about most complex matter in universe
Reviewed in India on December 19, 2020
Mayank Mishra
Reviewed in India on December 19, 2020
The book is one of the best books I ever read about the brain. Starts with the chapter well captioned.
The brain is the most complex thing in the universe. The author explains in a simple way what the brain 🧠 does so it is easy to follow for everyone.
- it is amazing that it is running 24*7 in darkness to keep us alive.
-But I must say only people who love science will appreciate it as the book is very deep in meaning.
Thanks and all the best to the author
Mayank Mishra (Author Diary of a PhD student)
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Rodrigo
Una nueva y fascinante manera de ver el cerebro y la manera en que actuamos
Reviewed in Mexico on August 7, 2019Robin Ottawa
Fantastic book for amateurs who want to understand the ins and outs of having a brain
Reviewed in Canada on October 14, 2018