Sunday, October 18, 2009

reasonable men and the limbic system

From "The Brain Has a Mind of Its Own" by Richard Restak M.D. (Neurologist).

Chapter 5 had the interesting argument of what defines a "reasonable, everyday man."  In 1986 Bernhard Goetz was tried for murdering 5 men on the subway who witnesses said tried to attack him.  The issue of "reasonable" behavior is one of great concern in the court room in order to figure out if the alleged victim's behavior was rational with every bullet or stap used (in this case bullets) or if one's behavior was unreasonable therefore making the man guilty of murder.

The arguement of reasonable and rational behavior comes up because Restak, the author states his beleif and arguement that the limbic system, that part of the brain which creates intense emotions of aggression when combined with many other parts of the brain near it, can over power anyone when they feel so very threatened for their lives from something or someone.  

Bernhard Goetz, the alleged didn't remember his actions or committing the shooting.  This was no surprise to Restak bc when the limbic system takes over, given such an extreme and drastic situation, it takes over with full force and it's not uncommon for those in such a predicament as Goetz, a life or death situation, to forget or more specifically, have no recall of his actions due to his fight or flight situation and the immense power of the limbic system within our minds.

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