Is the human brain designed to be honest about itself?

.

Doesn’t look like we’re sure, but there’s good reason to believe we’re not the logical machines some might like to believe:

The medial prefrontal cortex exhibits a higher resting metabolic rate than many other brain regions. This physiological default mode might support a psychological default state of chronic self-evaluation that helps people consider their strengths and weaknesses when planning future actions. However, a recent imaging study that relates medial prefrontal cortex activity to self-evaluation raises new questions about whether the psychological default mode of self-evaluation is best characterized by accurate self-evaluations or by feeling good about yourself.

Source: “The default self: feeling good or being right?” from Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Volume 11, Issue 5, May 2007, Pages 187-189

Join 25K+ readers. Get a free weekly update via email here.

Related posts:

Do the smartest people lack common sense?

Is the world getting stupider?

Is intelligence sexy?

Share

Subscribe to the newsletter