The Frontal Brain’s First Thoughts

A short scientific study

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Cartoonist’s commentary

I’m not entirely sure where this comic came from or what it means.

Our brains are so many things, including deeply fascinated with themselves. Mine was playing with consciousness and feelings as two characters in a scene. Then I was messing with consciousness and the observing mind (who both thought they were the same person), and that was trickier and more subtle. Then this came out.

Whatever it’s made of, the one thing we know for sure about consciousness is that it is a trip to experience. Though we’re all busy with our own versions, it appears to be the same trip in many ways. One key common feature of the consciousness journey is sensing ourselves and regulating our behavior to secure our place in our tribes.

Yet, a prehistoric hunter-gatherer wouldn’t really get this comic since they didn’t need to think much about finding connection and inclusion. Their normally functioning brief impulses for shame and regret were plenty to drive them to quickly do more for others and make repairs as needed. A constant, anxious feeling of impending, lethal exclusion wasn’t their jam. They either did their share and earned their place, or they didn’t survive. Everyone was visibly needed, and inclusion was the norm.

But today, in our profit-crazed, anonymous, isolating world, things are backwards. It’s now nearly impossible to ever feel like we’re doing enough or being enough, no matter how hard we work or how rich or famous we are. We work and work to be seen and noticed for whatever fleeting, ultimately under-satisfying, but very costly, moments we can muster. We’ve mistaken status for belonging and pay the price with endless insecurity. Plagued and preoccupied by self-doubt, we don’t have much chance to ponder the wonders. That makes me sad.

Maybe this comic, then, is an exploration of the nature of our selves. This seems like the kind of thing a newly added prefrontal cortex might think. At least in our estranged, modern world.

Or maybe it’s just a dog in a funny hat.

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