A spellbinding journey to the frontiers of neuroscience In The Genius Engine, acclaimed science editor and writer Kathleen Stein takes an enthralling in–depth look at the PFC, the site of our working memory, impulse control, reason, perception, decision making, and emotional processing—all the things that comprise our human genius. The PFC differs widely among individuals, as much as fingerprints. At its best, the PFC determines how you?ll respond to an off–color joke and what makes you grouchy. It?s what guides you to comfort a friend in need and discern between sarcasm and irony. It enables you to act today in light of actions that occurred in the past, and predict how to act tomorrow. But an improperly functioning PFC can trigger personality changes, murderous rage, lapses in judgment, and inability to plan or perceive the consequences of one?s acts—in sum, the myriad problems facing our society today. The Genius Engine delves deep into the human mind to...
