A Skeptic's Guide to the Mind

February 4, 2013
In providing a critical overview of recent advances (and false starts) in neuroscience, the former chief of the Division of Neuroscience at the U.C.S.F. Medical Center at Mount Zion examines the inherent difficulties and flaws of the field, which attempts to unravel the workings of the mind. Much human behavior that seems willful is actually the result of unconscious brain states, Burton (On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You’re Not) argues, and those aspects that constitute the experience of the “self in action” are in fact components of “an involuntary mental sensory system.” On the other hand, the strictly physiological explanations, in vogue at the moment, for various aspects of the mind are doomed because the mind is both “felt experience” and an “abstract concept,” neither of which are “fully accessible to traditional scientific inquiry.” Written in a relatable style that balances hard science with philosophy and speculation, Burton’s project is not so much to criticize his peers in the neuroscientific community, but rather to emphasize that “a humble acknowledgement of the limits of inquiry should be the first step in the study of the mind.” It’s an important point, but readers may be disappointed by the lack of specific directives for further study. Agent: Andrew Stuart, the Stuart Agency.

Starred review from February 15, 2013
A neurologist criticizes the emerging new language that attaches the prefix "neuro" to economics, linguistics, marketing and attempts to explain market crashes by fMRI brain scans. Burton (On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You're Not, 2008, etc.) warns of a dangerous trend in which what once were considered to be "metaphysical musings" by neurologists, are now increasingly being "offered and seen as scientifically based facts." The author takes issue with those eminent neuroscientists and philosophers who suggest that "the explanation of consciousness is around the corner." Beginning with the early use of EEGs to explain mental functions by referencing brain waves, he traces the use of modern technology, such as fMRI, to bridge the mind-brain gap, which is an effort that is inherently flawed. Burton explains that using brain scans to observe which areas of the brain are activated is informative but limited. At the neuro-atomic level, scientists have yet to determine the number of cells in a typical brain or the relationship between neurons and the surrounding gray matter that has been thought to play a supporting role but may actually be involved in thought processes. While neuroscientists can observe mental activation, it is impossible for them to determine when (or whether) it is conscious without the subjects' own reports of their thought processes. People form intentions consciously, and they are then carried out in large measure by brain activities (sensations, beliefs, biases) of which we are only dimly aware. A brain scan shows areas of activation but cannot distinguish between conscious and unconscious thought processes. Burton makes clear that neuroscience is "improving both our daily lives and our self-understanding," but he takes issue with the role assumed by neuroscientists as "the preeminent narrators of the modern story of the mind." An informative, witty, provocative meditation on the mind-brain paradox.

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June 15, 2013

Neurologist Burton (neuroscience, Mt. Zion-University of California, San Francisco Hosp.; On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You're Not) focuses on new, key aspects of human behavior, specifically the control and lack of control humans have over their minds, treading a fine line of conscious and unconscious actions, thoughts, and decisions. One of Burton's main points centers on assumptions of consciousness for those in comas, vegetative states, and the like. Burton's consideration is tactful given such a sensitive topic, while his blend of science and philosophy provide readers with comprehensive examples. VERDICT Burton does an excellent job retracing the history of neuroscience studies and directing readers' attention to future discoveries. He takes an unbiased look at the fundamentals of the field, and posits that, no matter how much the field advances, slippery notions of consciousness and moral decision-making will always allow for some amount of speculation. Recommended for skeptics and enthusiasts alike.--Jill Morningstar, Michigan State Univ. Libs., East Lansing

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