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The Uniquely Human Brain
By Virginia Prescott on Wednesday, August 6, 2008.
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Maybe you’ve heard that human beings share 98.6 percent of our total DNA sequence with chimpanzees. Maybe you thought: huh? How can 1.4 percent of DNA make such a difference?
Well, that difference strikes at the heart of an argument raging in scientific circles for years. One camp sees the human animal on a continuum with other animals. Others see a split, with animals and humans falling in two distinct groups.
Dr. Michael Gazzaniga is considered to be the father of cognitive neuroscience. He’s puzzled by why so many people become agitated at the suggestion that the human brain might have distinctive features. His new book is "Human: The Science Behind What Makes Us Unique." It’s a witty, accessible exploration of what those differences are.
Dr. Gazzaniga joins Word of Mouth from Santa Barbara, where he is director of the SAGE Center for the Study of the Mind at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Read an excerpt from "Human: The Science Behind What Makes Us Unique"
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Word of Mouth is all about what's new. Online and on-air, the show looks at our fascinating and ever-changing world, and puts the latest ideas under a microscope. Word of Mouth investigates everything from science and technology, to health and the environment, to new trends in popular culture. The show airs Monday through Thursday at noon and is hosted by Virginia Prescott.
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Dear WoM,
The interview with Dr. Gazzaniga was fascinating (and by the way, kudos for getting him on the show). I did my undergraduate studies in psychology and neuroscience, and Dr. Gazzaniga's work in the ever-growing field always popped up in our lectures. Word of Mouth continues to be one of my favorites public radion programs. Keep up the good work!