The Divided Brain

[Roger]

Iain McGilchrist is a psychiatrist and a writer. In this presentation, he discusses the two hemispheres of the brain and how they affect human behaviour, culture and society. Even though the right hemisphere connects us to the world via our sensory systems, we have been conditioned to function in "left hemisphere mode" in order to fit into society.

Before Dr McGilchrist came to medicine, he was a literary scholar -- and his work on the brain is shaped by deep questioning of the role of art and culture. He is committed to the idea that the mind and brain can be understood only by seeing them in the broadest possible context, that of the whole of our physical and spiritual existence, and of the wider human culture in which they arise -- the culture which helps to mould, and in turn is moulded by, our minds and brains.

Dr McGilchrist's recent book, "The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World" explores the nature of the brain's two hemispheres in depth. In this book, he discusses how the two hemispheres have evolved to relate -- and how their relationship creates our consciousness, our culture, and our ability to understand our own brains.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/pun...

[Virginia]

Roger wrote: "Iain McGilchrist is a psychiatrist and a writer. In this presentation, he discusses the two hemispheres of the brain and how they affect human behaviour, culture and society. Even though the right ..."

I have heard McGilchrist on the All in the Mind podcast. I am unsure whether is divided brain hypothesis will stand up to current research, but to be honest I have not felt drawn to read his book.