This book brings us up to date on the science of the human brain. That we can govern our thinking, to some extent, is good news. The three-pound organ in our skull has four sections...
This book brings us up to date on the science of the human brain. That we can govern our thinking, to some extent, is good news.
The three-pound organ in our skull has four sections: a top, bottom, left and right side that work in systems, interacting without a conscious prompt.
While we use all these parts, each of us defaults to one of four “cognitive modes” — labeled in the book as “The Mover,” “The Perceiver,” “The Stimulator,” or “The Adaptor.”
Authors Stephen M. Kosslyn, formerly of Harvard and Stanford, who is considered one of the leading cognitive neuroscientists, and G. Wayne Miller, author of numerous books and a Providence Journal reporter, use celebrities to illustrate defining characteristics for each mode — including Alex Rodriguez, Sarah Palin, Liz Taylor, Mike Bloomberg, and Mickey Mantle, among others.
At book's end, the authors include a self-test for the reader to learn where one’s own default mode lies. Both strengths and weaknesses accompany each category. All four cognitive modes claim high achievers.
A leap in brain knowledge occurred in the 19th century when Phineas Gage had an accident. A farm boy with ambition, he had taken a job with the railroad. By Sept. 18, 1848, he was a foreman. On that day, a spark ignited an explosion that caused a piece of iron to pass through his cheek and head. It destroyed an eye and blew off a significant hunk of his brain on the left side. Gage was knocked down. But amazingly, he got up and was speaking coherently, and able to walk. The doctor who treated him noted that the “the pulsations of the brain were distinctly seen and felt.” Gage recovered but was not the same man. Previously he had been a strategic, careful, planner. Now he was impulsive and unstable. His case was a fascination.
Scientists began tests on monkeys and human beings to learn where brain functions are located. One test proved that the recognition of shape used a different area of the brain than the recognition of location. In what drawer we keep the scissors requires two different parts of the brain to interact. And whereas one can choose what area, with its particular function to develop, that choice is largely determined by temperament. And temperament is a factor of one’s DNA. It is encouraging to note, “The genetic contribution toward IQ actually goes up as people advance into old age.”
This book offers a beguiling sweep of brain science for those, like this reviewer, who approach the field with a tabula rasa. It’s a fun excursion through the mind, shedding light on one’s own way of thinking. Perhaps our species needs these separate ways of seeing things to collectively grasp the complex world that we share.
“TOP BRAIN BOTTOM BRAIN: Surprising Insights into How You Think,” by Stephen M. Kosslyn, Ph.D. and G. Wayne Miller. Simon & Schuster. 185 pages. $25.
Mandy Twaddell, of Providence, can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.