Blog : The Human Bug

Le bug humain (Sébastien Bohler) is a book that opens up the mind, that brings to light mechanisms, some of which are little aware of, while others observe them without really knowing what they're about. The approach is scientific, but the style is easy to read.

Against the backdrop of a massive ecological crisis generated by humanity, the analysis is done through neuroscience. Over the years, Man has made the planet his possession, to the point of exploiting its wealth more and more and plundering every element until it is exhausted. Even if everyone is perfectly aware that the resources necessary for life have a limit that is approaching irremediably, the race has become crazy, more and more ... forgetting that one day that is fast approaching the resources will all dry up.

Why is our brain telling us to destroy the planet ? According to him, it is due to processes based in large part on archaic cerebral mechanisms : the striatum (striated gland of the brain, hence its name) is the conductor and directs the frontal cortex (which manages actions, reflection and will) with large doses of dopamine that feeds the neural circuits of reward and pleasure. This part of the brain thus continuously and exponentially stimulates the five basic needs :
- eat,
- reproduce,
- gain power and social value,
- acquire information on its territory,
- and all with as little effort as possible.

The solution to this determinism is the rise in consciousness. Adjusting one's patterns and meditating can create an interesting counterbalance by restoring a role to the prefrontal cortex, which allows the brain to plan and take a step back from the basic injunctions. Educating by valuing, for example, social and ecological behaviors, those that go in the direction of Human Nature (vs. the ego) allow us to hijack the archaic system and use the reward circuits wisely.

Although the current situation is worrying, and everyone knows it, the responsibility is above all individual and the solution lies within each of us.

I recently read this book, and even if one is already awake and conscious, even if one has already made a lot of effort to change, everyone will find in the pages of the book behaviours and situations in which they will recognize themselves, making them even more aware of what remains to be done.