THE ‘BRIGHT EYES’ SYNDROME

Monique Craig, EponaMind

 

On Thinking, Bias, and the Brain: Lessons from a Cartoon Devil

Some time ago, I watched an episode of Taz-Mania, a cartoon centered around Taz—the wild, disheveled, and chaotic Tasmanian devil—and his remarkably composed family. Taz grunts and spins like a whirlwind, embodying pure, unfiltered energy. In contrast, his father is calm, articulate, and fond of golf. His mother is impeccably organized and domestic, while his siblings, Molly and Jake, are precociously accomplished. In this particular episode, human researchers arrive to study Tasmanian devils. Despite the evident functionality of the family, they inexplicably select Taz as the representative specimen, affectionately naming him “Bright Eyes,” while completely overlooking the rest of the family.

This episode, while humorous, also serves as a striking example of flawed reasoning and anthropocentric bias. It reflects the tendency of humans to misinterpret data through a narrow lens, often confirming preconceived notions rather than engaging in critical evaluation.

The Complexity of Human Thought

The human brain is arguably the most complex organ in the body, responsible for perception, reasoning, emotion, and behavior. Despite its small size—just about 2% of total body weight—it consumes roughly 20% of the body’s glucose. This high energy demand underscores the importance of maintaining glucose homeostasis for optimal cognitive function.

Modern lifestyles—characterized by poor diets, stress, obesity, and inactivity—can disrupt this balance, leading to cognitive decline. Diets rich in saturated fats and refined carbohydrates have been linked to impaired brain health. Furthermore, chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, often stemming from lifestyle factors, are associated with accelerated cognitive deterioration. Even Type 1 diabetes, though autoimmune in nature, can impact brain function if not properly managed.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a common occurrence in aging populations, can be an early indicator of more serious conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. Additional contributors to neurodegeneration include head trauma, epilepsy, encephalitis, and other neurological illnesses. A brief perusal of resources like WebMD can reveal a daunting list of potential threats to brain health—an unsettling reminder of the brain’s vulnerability despite its power.

Structure and Function: A Delicate Balance

Anatomically, the brain consists of 85 to 100 billion neurons interconnected by trillions of synapses. It is divided into two hemispheres, which are not symmetrical and are twisted slightly due to a structural phenomenon known as Yakovlevian torque, where the right hemisphere shifts slightly forward. While each hemisphere specializes in certain functions—such as language processing in the left and contextual interpretation in the right—they do not operate independently. The corpus callosum, a central structure connecting the hemispheres, facilitates continuous exchange of sensory, motor, and cognitive data, even contributing to depth perception.

Despite common myths, left-brain vs. right-brain dominance is largely overstated. In reality, healthy cognition depends on balanced coordination between both hemispheres. The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex governs advanced cognitive processes like moral reasoning and decision-making, while the amygdala regulates primal responses like fear and aggression. This collaboration between ancient and modern structures is essential to human adaptability.

Why We Still Think Wrong

Even with a healthy brain, human thinking is frequently flawed. Why? Our thought processes are influenced by cultural norms, educational backgrounds, emotional states, and historical context. These variables introduce biases—systematic deviations from objective reasoning.

There are multiple types of thinking, each with its place:

• Linear thinking: Sequential and logical; useful for solving structured problems.
• Heuristic thinking: Shortcut-based decision-making; efficient but prone to error.
• Abstract thinking: The capacity to conceptualize ideas beyond the concrete.
• Critical thinking: Analytical, evidence-based evaluation of claims and beliefs.

Ideally, individuals should be able to shift fluidly between these modes. However, many people show strong preferences—often shaped by early education and cultural conditioning. These preferences, combined with cognitive lateralization, can limit flexibility in how we process information.

Compounding this is the brain’s filtering mechanism, which serves to reduce cognitive overload. Historically, this filter was well-suited to the modest information flow of earlier eras. For example, 500 years ago, an educated person might be exposed to about 74 gigabytes of information in an entire lifetime. Today, the average individual processes approximately that amount every single day—thanks to digital media, the internet, and now AI.

Can our brains adapt to this tsunami of information? It’s uncertain. As E.O. Wilson famously observed, “We are living with Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions, and God-like technology.”

The Power and Perils of Bias

The Taz-Mania cartoon episode offers a clear example of confirmation bias, wherein observers accept evidence that aligns with their expectations while ignoring contradictory information. This type of bias is just one among many—others include anchoring bias, availability bias, and groupthink—all of which distort our perception and judgment. When left unchecked, such biases contribute to widespread misconceptions, flawed science, and even justification of harmful behavior.

Yet, there are practical steps we can take:

• Acknowledge the fallibility of the brain.
• Develop and practice critical thinking skills.
• Engage with diverse perspectives and question your own assumptions.
• Cultivate mindfulness to remain aware of internal thoughts and emotional responses.
• Practice humility—a trait closely associated with wisdom and open-mindedness.
• Strive for heart-mind coherence—aligning emotional intelligence with rational thought for healthier decisions and well-being.

A Final Reflection

Thinking is not a simple or automatic process. It requires effort, awareness, and practice. Whether you’re navigating life, reading the news, or watching a cartoon about Tasmanian devils, challenge yourself to truly see and understand what’s going on. The brain may be fallible, but with conscious effort, we can sharpen its abilities and deepen our insight—both for ourselves and for the world we help shape.

 

REFERENCES

Brain and Glucose
Eleni Rebelos, Juha O. Rinne, Pirjo Nuutila , and Laura L. Ekblad, “Brain Glucose Metabolism in Health, Obesity, and Cognitive Decline—Does Insulin Have Anything to Do with It?”, J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10, 1532. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10071532

A Moheet, S Mangia, and ER Seaquist, “Impact of diabetes on cognitive function and brain structure”, Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2015 September; 1353: 60–71. doi:10.1111/nyas.12807

Anna Falkowska, Izabela Gutowska, Marta Goschorska, Przemysław Nowacki, Dariusz Chlubek, and Irena Baranowska-BosiackaEnergy, “Metabolism of the Brain, Including the Cooperation between Astrocytes and Neurons, Especially in the Context of Glycogen Metabolism”, Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2015, 16, 25959–25981; doi:10.3390/ijms161125939

Brain Structure
Christine Chiarello, David Vazquez, Adam Felton, and Alessandra McDowell, “Structural Asymmetry of the Human Cerebral Cortex: Regional and Between-Subject Variability of Surface Area, Cortical Thickness, and Local Gyrification”, Neuropsychologia. 2016 December; 93(Pt B): 365–379. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.01.012.

Biases
Christopher J. Pannucci, and Edwin G. Wilkins, “Identifying and Avoiding Bias in Research”, Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 August; 126(2): 619–625. doi:10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181de24bc.

Montserrat Martín, María Dolores Valiña, “Heuristics, Biases and the Psychology of Reasoning: State of the Art”, Psychology, 14, 264-294. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2023.142016

Rudiget Pohl, editor, “Cognitive Illusions: Intriguing Phenomena in Thinking, Judgement, and Memory”, 3rd Edition, Routledge, NY, NY, 2022.

Information Overload
“Your Brain is Processing More Data Than You Would Ever Imagine”, www.MineCheck.com

Francesco Marini, XElise Demeter, Kenneth C. Roberts, Leonardo Chelazzi, and Marty G. Woldorff, “Orchestrating Proactive and Reactive Mechanisms for Filtering Distracting Information: Brain-Behavior Relationships Revealed by a Mixed-Design MRI Study”, The Journal of Neuroscience, January 20, 2016 • 36(3):988–1000

Heart-Brain Connection
Bingxin Zhao, Tengfei Li, Zirui Fan, et al, “Heart-brain connections: Phenotypic and genetic insights from magnetic resonance images”, Science. 2023 June 02; 380(6648): abn6598. doi:10.1126/science.abn6598.

Rollin McCraty, “Heart-Brain Neurodynamics: The Making of Emotions”, The HeartMath Institute