Bi-cameral brains in depth

Mon Jan 25 15:00:18 CST 2016

In Eastern meditation/spiritual schools there is a concept of Kundalini
energy that is the life-source of all animated flesh.  This model is part
of the ages-old Chakra system that illustrates the pathways of something
called the "subtle body."  In that model chakras are nodes of energy
passage, crossings along the vertical main highways of the three main
energy channels: the Right side (Bingala Nadi), the Left side (Ida Nali),
and the Central channel (Sushumna Nadi).  In some ways it might be said
that the goal of meditation when it come to the workings of the Chakra
system, is to achieve a balanced blending of the right and left energy
channels into the central channel, achieving a synthesis greater then the
sum of the two sides, because the central channel has no power of its own,
only that supplied from the two sides.  But when the two sides unify into
the center, that is when transcendence happens.

I expect the bicameral structure of the brain might be also mapped to this
ancient system.

http://www.freemeditationnz.com/our-three-energy-channels.html

David Morris

On Monday, January 25, 2016, Ian Livingston <igrlivingston at gmail.com> wrote:

> My neuropsych profs were eager to caution that we have now reached such a
> deep understanding of the brain and its functions that we can at last say
> with confidence that we know almost nothing about it.
>
> On Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 8:47 AM, Joseph Tracy <brook7 at sover.net> wrote:
>
>> Yes I read those reviews. What I am finding so far is that the book is
>> very careful to build its picture of how the hemispheres work from data.
>> Every step of the way, he draws on research and is very careful so far not
>> to overreach and to include differing takes on that data. One of the things
>> he points out is that brain science is with current technology and perhaps
>> will always be a matter of intelligent interpretation since it deals with
>> qualities and actions for which quantification makes little sense, like
>> empathy, unjustified self confidence, manual grasping behaviors etc. Also
>> it is almost impossible to really track the mechanisms involved( if they
>> really are of a mechanistic nature) because they take place in a living
>> organism. So brain scans give correspondences between activities and brain
>> metabolism but not clearly detailed causal relationships. Also many mental
>> processes draw on both sides of the brain which he frequently reminds the
>> reader.
>>
>> Stlll, I  think any reader will be surprised and amazed at the wealth and
>> specificity of the data and how much can be meaningfully and confidently
>> understood about the hemispheric differences. I know I am.
>>
>> It is true that he is trying to say something philosophically profound
>> and that is always dangerous terrain, though I have not gotten to the heart
>> of that part of the text. The question is whether there is enough data to
>> support it. So far the data base is so rich that the book cannot fail to
>> leave a powerful imprint and sense of enriched understanding for me.
>>
>>
>> > On Jan 25, 2016, at 10:22 AM, Paul Mackin <mackin.paul at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > One of a number of favorable reviews, this one glowing. However a
>> couple of reviewers according to Wikipedia cautioned against culture and
>> psychology conclusions getting too far ahead of hard brain science.
>> >
>> > http://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/jan/02/1
>> >
>> > On Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 6:39 AM, Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> > "You're gonna want your cause and effect, eh?"
>> > Since his first book is entitled Against Criticism, I hope he isn't IN
>> GR--
>> >  but I'll mic drop in advance. ......
>> > Just a little metajoke there, heh, heh.
>> >
>> > On Sun, Jan 24, 2016 at 8:10 PM, Joseph Tracy <brook7 at sover.net> wrote:
>> > I am currently reading Iain McGilchrist’s The Master and his Emissary
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > One of the most scientifically, psychologically and philosophically
>> profound books I have ever read. It really has me reeling with information
>> and insight and makes sense of so much that seems inscrutable in human
>> history and personal behavior. I came across the title and a description
>> with a brief quote while doing research on another book. It seemed the more
>> intriguing book so I got it from the library. Will be looking for a used
>> copy.
>> >   The topic is the roles of the 2 hemispheres of the brain and he
>> brings together an unexpected wealth of medical/scientific research, both
>> contemprary and historic to build a very powerful picture of the nature of
>> each hemisphere, as well as the evolutionary logic of their
>> differentiation. Both from the introduction and from some peeks ahead I
>> know he has a philosophic intention that argues for a greater balance  in
>> our cultural biases,  and greater awareness of the brain-structure origins
>> of those biases.
>> >   From a Pynchon reader POV McGilchrist takes on the brain structure
>> basis of major themes and historic tendencies that appear throughout the
>> body of P’s work. Essentially it is about the division in the brain between
>> left hemisphere’s tendency to seek and produce control achieved through
>> manipulable units of thought, communication, structure, manufacture  and
>> the right brain’s holistic, individualistic and socially empathic style. (
>> there is no way to adequadetly summarize this or the pages of precise
>> information derived from scientific research). This struggle appers in all
>> P books and with profound starkness in Pynchon’s essay on CP Snow, and the
>> GR theme of mechanistic control vs nature/pursuit of bliss/personal
>> freedom, humane solidarity.
>> >
>> > The writer’s background for this book is about as good as possible.
>> Professional Psychiatrist specializing in physiological brain issues, a
>> researcher in neuro-imaging and an  Oxford English teacher 3 times elected
>> Fellow at All Souls College. Of equal or greater importance is the
>> originality of his brilliance and the humane depth of his quest to
>> understand how our brain structure fits into our historic development, and
>> his sense that understanding these things might free us to find a better
>> way forward.
>> >
>> > Has anyone else read it?
>> >
>> > 462 pgs of text and over 100 of end notes etc.-
>> > Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?listpynchon-l
>> >
>> >
>>
>> -
>> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?listpynchon-l
>>
>
>
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