What is the Triune Brain?

The most common introductory lesson about the brain is the concept of the Triune Brain. The idea is that human beings have three separate layers in the brain that communicate together as one. That these layers formed throughout our evolution. The brain is described as having a reptilian base or R-Complex, Mammalian Brain or Limbic System, and Neo-Cortex. The R-Complex of the brain primarily describes behavior that is ritualistic and aggressive much like a reptile. Next, the mammalian brain, as mammals have emotions which allow mammals to bond with there young and create groups. Finally, the neocortex, which represents the addition to the human brain which allows for higher thought processes.

The model generalizes different areas of the brain, and applies them to other species who have similar behavioral tendencies. The R-Complex is primarily made up of the hind-brain region. This region includes the brain stem. The mammalian brain is made up of limbic system. The Neo-cortex is 90% of the Cerebrum, which means most of brain is highly unique for us.

Proven False?

Wikipedia states that the triune brain “was a once popular, now proven false, model of the evolution of the vertebrate forebrain and behavior”. It seems that this model has now been disproven. The main reason for this? Evolution. Scientists disagree that we evolved from a reptilian brain and mammalian brain, on the basis that some mammals existed before other reptiles. Also, that the brain has three different distinct regions. Scientists now say the brain is more complex than that. This stems from the fac some of the limbic brain functions could also be in the neocortex. That the limbic brain functions could be in the r-complex.

Arguments Shouldn’t Devalue The Model.

While discussing this model, we have to separate the research that leans on the side of the evolutionary aspect, and the aspect that discusses behavior. If a behavior mimics certain animals behavior that primarily happens through certain brain areas, than we can use the model to describe those processes.

While parts of the model are in fact outdated, like evolutionary aspect, that does not make the concept of the triune brain concept valueless. In fact, it can been seen as “throwing the baby out with the bathwater” so to speak. Separating the brain into three sections allow the layperson to understand the brain at a simple level. Obviously the brain is far more complex. Debunking the triune brain on these regards isn’t fair, and detracts from a big point of the model.

At some level, the debunking of the model creates a paradiagm where one set of people who have deeply studied the brain understand how it works, and now a set of people who are “no nothings” because they haven’t. People are going to understand the brain at different levels, and this is a great introductory lesson.

Learning what different parts exist in the brain, the different names used within the brain, the function of those parts contextualizes what the triune brain model was trying to tell us. While the evolutionary perspective, may be untrue, that shouldn’t debunk the whole model.

Think, Feel, Act

An abstract of the model can be seen with the phrase “Think, Feel, Act”. The statement promotes the idea that as one thinks, a feeling will arise, and than an action will take place. In fact, this is how we control ourselves. If we feel and act, without thinking, we could end up doing something dangerous for our health, or to other people.

Examples include but are not limited to: over-eating, getting into fights, or throwing fits. One could be out of balance because they may only think and act, without the ability to feel, a trait seen in psychopaths. Once we are able to focus our attention at the command center of the ship (our neocortex) we will be in control of proper decision making.

The Triune Brain Existed In Allegory

The knowledge of a human being having a threefold aspect has been known throughout history. The argument made is that the knowledge had to be placed into allegory due to the perceuction of having this knowledge. There is much power that comes from understanding how the brain works. It describes how we work. It describes how we may learn and grow, how we can control our emotions and actions. It can guide us to make proper decisions. It can allow us to learn from our mistakes. Improve our thinking.

The idea is that throughout history, our ancestors knew at some level that we had a threefold aspect to our consciousness. We can see this in different religious traditions. Let’s take a gander at Christianity.

Christianity

In Christianity, we hear of the “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” representing what God is. The Father could be describing the R-Complex. In the bible, we hear of the story of Mary giving birth to Jesus. “The Father” is the one who communicates with Mary and Mary gives birth to Jesus. The “Holy Spirit” represents the father communing with Mary.

Mary then gives birth to “higher consciousness” in the form of Jesus Christ.

This may or not be true. So far, I see it as the closer version of the truth than what any religion wants to describe it as. It makes a whole lot more sense than the abstract concept of the “Father, Son and Holy Spirit”. I remember the impossibility of wrapping my head around the threefold aspect of god. I know that the threefold aspect is actually within the self, through how the brain works, it makes more sense than what the christian tradition states.

Threefold Aspect In Culture

Boy Scouts: “Duty To God and Country”, “Duty to Others”, and “Duty to Self”

We could say that “Duty To God and Country” represents our higher level thought. Duty to “God” would duty to creation itself, which would also provide for the country. Think, Edison and the lightbulb. “Duty to Others” would totally be emotional side of our consciousness. We could say caring for others only exists when we activate this part in our brain. “Duty To Self” representing the R-Complex. While it is important to take care of the self, I would argue this aspect of our consciousness has “run a muck” so to speak in our current age.

The Hunger Games: Holding up three fingers is seen as an act of defiance. This is because the control system does not like it when people are thinking, feeling, and acting. If people did this, they would be in control of themselves and wouldn’t allow a panem police state.

Spongebob Squarepants: Patrick Star as R-Complex, Spongebob Squarepants as Paleo-Mammalian, and Sandy Cheeks as neo-cortex.

If anyone has watched Spongebob, they will know that Patrick Star is quite “dumb” and doesn’t care much at all. Only through Spongebob is he able to express how he feels. Spongebob represents emotion, he is a character full of emotions and very expressive. Sandy is highly intellectual.

Another thing to point out. Patrick is best friends with Spongebob, and Sandy is best friends with Spongebob. While Sandy and Patrick are friends, the bond with the central character spongebob ties a nice knot on the concept.

Harry Potter: Harry represents the R-Complex, Ron represents the mammalian brain, and Hermione represents the neo-cortex.

While Harry isn’t dumb per-say like Patrick Star, he expresses Action. Throughout the books and films he is always the one to finally lay down the line and fight, especially in the first few novels. Ron’s whole family is built upon emotion and feeling, caring for others, especially Harry.

Again, Harry is best friends with Ron, and Ron ends up marrying Hermione.

In Harry Potter, I see this concept to hold even more true when we look at the Malfoys. Slytherin is based upon individuals who are disconnected from there emotions as they are smart and cunning but lack emotion, like psychopaths.

These conceptual ideas help one to understand what the triune brain truly is, and explain how writers throughout time attempted to shine light through their allegory.

Why is this important?

In the world today, people don’t care for one another. People just don’t care! They may care about themselves or the family members around them. They may care about artifical dialectics designed by the control system to keep them in a thought prison (see: Dialectics Explained). Overall though, we lack global care in our world today. We deny the fact that the earth is one big family, that somehow we are vicious animals who lack the ability think, feel, and act to make the proper moral changes required for humanity to furish.

Thank You For Reading,

Aidan Hellrigel