Scepticism and Anosognosia
I've often referred to the different
thinking processes by the left and right hemispheres of the brain. The left
hemisphere deals with logic and reasoning and the right brain with ‘holistic’
functions. A further view of this difference in function is proposed by Dr.
V. S. Ramachandran, a neuropsychologist. The doctor was examining a condition
called anosognosia, which typically results from damage to the right parietal
lobe of the brain. A patient with this syndrome is convinced that although they
are paralysed on one half of their body, they are actually normal. So a patient
asked to clap their hands together will wave their right hand in the air or
clap it against their chest and will be convinced that it is functioning normally.
When asked to tie their shoelaces (a task that is impossible to perform with
one hand without considerable practice), they will persist at the task indefinitely.
This syndrome only occurs where the damage is to the right parietal lobe, which led Dr Ramachandran to develop a theory as to its cause. He theorised that the left hemisphere of the brain is concerned with logic and working out causes and effects. For example, when you see a door you understand what it does and how it opens even if you have never seen that particular door before. You can deduce this from your experience with other, similar, doors. This is the function of the left hemisphere. On the other hand, the right hemisphere acts as a ‘devil’s advocate’ and questions the relevance of the deductions of the left hemisphere. This allows you to adapt to changed situations.
In the case of the patient with anosognosia, the right hemisphere is damaged so even though the situation has changed (that is, the patient is paralysed in one half of their body) the inactive right hemisphere is unable to question the deductions of the left hemisphere, which has previously worked out that the body is able to function normally.
Dr Ramachandran tried a strange experiment. He poured water into the left ear of the patient with anosognosia, which, for unknown reasons, stimulates the right hemisphere. For a short period of time the patient is able to act normally and is aware of their paralysis. When this wears off the patient reverts to the condition, even denying that they could ever have admitted to being paralysed.
One thing that is not well understood in the West is the importance of game playing in young children. This stimulates the right hemisphere of the brain. Many parents push their children into sequential learning from an early age, which stimulates the left hemisphere. Children who have been taught in this way tend to be very intelligent, in the sense that they score well in IQ tests, but lack the ability to think laterally. Such people often become sceptics because having worked out (or had explained to them) a logical explanation of how something works, they are closed off to situations that are exceptions to these rules. The ‘devil’s advocate’ is not performing properly as it was never developed in childhood.
Of course this is not confined to sceptics. Blind adherents of political parties (such as the Communists who I mentioned previously), religious fundamentalists or creationists also fall into this category. Talking to these people can be as frustrating as talking to a person with anosognosia would be.
