PMID: 8951799Nov 1, 1996Paper

The evolutionary biology of self-deception, laughter, dreaming and depression: some clues from anosognosia

Medical Hypotheses
V S Ramachandran

Abstract

Patients with right hemisphere strokes sometimes vehemently deny their paralysis. I describe three new experiments that were designed to determine the extent and depth of this denial. Curiously, when asked to perform an action with their paralyzed arm, they often employ a whole arsenal of grossly exaggerated 'Freudian defense mechanisms' to account for their failure (e.g. 'I have arthritis' or 'I don't feel like moving it right now'). To explain this, I propose that, in normal individuals, the left hemisphere ordinarily deals with small, local 'anomalies' or discrepancies by trying to impose consistency in order to preserve the status quo. But when the anomaly exceeds threshold, a 'devil's advocate' in the right hemisphere intervenes and generates a paradigm shift, i.e. it results in the construction of a new model using the same data. A failure of this process in right hemisphere stroke would partially explain anosognosia. Also, our model provides a new theory for the evolutionary origin of self-deception that is different from one proposed by Trivers. And, finally, I use anosognosia as a launching-off point to speculate on a number of other aspects of human nature such as Freudian defense mechanisms, laughter, dreams and the ...Continue Reading

References

Jul 1, 1990·Brain and Cognition·D N Levine
Mar 1, 1989·Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology·S M McGlynn, D L Schacter

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 25, 2008·Experimental Brain Research·Giuseppe Vallar, Roberta Ronchi
Jun 25, 2013·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·James A R MarshallJohn M McNamara
Jan 29, 2010·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Ryan T McKay, Daniel C Dennett
Mar 31, 2006·Cognitive Neuropsychiatry·Ryan McKayMax Coltheart
Mar 4, 2010·Cognitive Neuropsychiatry·Claude M J Braun, Sabrina Suffren
Sep 11, 2008·Neurocase·Ilaria B NardoneOliver H Turnbull
Oct 2, 2015·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Benjamin O TurnerMichael B Miller
Jul 31, 2002·Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior·Jordan B Peterson, Joseph L Flanders
Dec 3, 2014·Consciousness and Cognition·Lisa Bortolotti
Dec 4, 2014·Consciousness and Cognition·Ema Sullivan-Bissett
Sep 24, 2009·Consciousness and Cognition·Lisa Bortolotti, Rochelle E Cox
Nov 28, 2013·Cerebral Cortex·Flavia MengarelliGiuseppe di Pellegrino
Nov 7, 2014·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Nicole MarinsekMichael B Miller
Oct 13, 2001·Journal of Theoretical Biology·C C Byrne, J A Kurland
Dec 7, 2007·The Neuroscientist : a Review Journal Bringing Neurobiology, Neurology and Psychiatry·Maria D OrfeiGianfranco Spalletta
May 6, 2019·Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science·Eugenia Lancellotta, Lisa Bortolotti
Dec 23, 2009·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Danica Mijović-Prelec, Drazen Prelec
May 20, 2000·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·R Trivers
Jul 28, 2006·CNS Spectrums·Dan J SteinJack van Honk
Jun 15, 2010·Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Revue Canadienne De Psychiatrie·Sergio E StarksteinRobert G Robinson
Mar 8, 2016·Journal of Biosciences·Anjali Bhat

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior
Anthony J MarcelIan Nimmo-Smith
Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior
H Branch Coslett
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved