What do you think?
Rate this book
Antropología del cerebro. La conciencia y los sistemas simbólicos
Roger Bartra se adentra en los rincones del cerebro humano con el fin de hallar explicaciones sobre la conciencia y el libre albedrío. En este ensayo Bartra postula que la relación de los individuos con el entorno genera y modifica las características de la conciencia, con lo cual abre una nueva arena de discusión e investigación sobre los enigmas del cerebro.
236 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
36 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 23, 2025
Un libro imprescindible para la neurociencias y la antropología
March 16, 2025
Anthropology of the brain
This is my first trial for a book dealing with such an abstract idea as what is known as the mind. Here the author has extracted himself out from the traditional idea which has occupied my mind since a long period of time, which is that a mind is a faculty of the brain. Mind (consciousness) can not be pinpointed to a single area in the brain. Rather it is the entire mass of the brain with all its highly lucid connectivity which yields the mind as we know it. This what have been engraved in my mind for a long period of time.
Here the author submits a different idea. He proposes that mind can not be confined to that bony container (skull). The mind is a rather abstract concept which represents an amalgamation between our brain and the surrounding environment. The so called umwelt.
During our early embryonic maturation, our neural circuits were conducting its haphazardly sprouts yielding a group of incomplete redundant circuits. These circuits became superfluous or as he called it like spandrels. These spandrels are like the decorating protrusions present on the outlines of buildings. They are considered as an embroideries meaning that we can do without.
However, in neurophysiology, we are confronted with two options, either these neurones undergo a massive process of pruning (controlled degeneration), or a slow and evolving process of maturation and extending out to connect with the environment making what the author kept saying, an exocerebrum.
Hence, exocerebrum is the combined union between the brain and the environment. Here the environment became another complementary aspect of our consciousness. The mechanism through which our brain achieves this kind of connection is not fully understood, however the author project his idea of the presence of prosthesis (langagues, culture, symbols, signs, art, music e.t.c) all of which serves as a metaphorically speaking an extension – a cultural extension – from the brain to reach out and connect with the environment.
In other words, the concept of consciousness is established through the conceiving of the consciousness as a product of the union between the neural network inside our skulls, and that present in the environment.
The mechanism by which we became cogniziant of ourselves and the external world may be involving a quantum mechanism. This needs to be further investigated and studied. Hereby I dare to quote Michael Gazzaniga query “ if we concur that cognition is nothing but neural cells firing, how can we become conscious?! Is there a higher level of cognition?! Is there another ether from which we drive our cognition? Is there a role for a quantum field?
The Cartesian dualism is becoming discarded as the days go off by the community of neurologists. Those same neurologists are apprehensive of considering consciousness outside the boundaries of the skull. By adopting such nonnegotiable stance, they are more obliged to embrace the concept of determinism.
Roger Bartra on the contrary presents another aurgument in favor of the presence of free will, however such a free will is acting through a very limited margin. This exercise of free will wouldn’t be possibile if there haven’t been a connection between the brain and the external world in other words, if there hasn’t been an exocerebrum.
Another tool to justify the presence of free will, is the presence of play. Playing is considered a florid evidence for the presence of free will. Why animals, including humans engage in such a resource consuming activity despite the fact that it yields no direct benefits on the players. However, deterministic neurologists retort back that playing is an evolutionary mechanism that has been developed to serve as an enhancer of the survival skills of the animals. Through playing the animal learns how to navigate in his environment, how to hunt for his prey, and how to defend himself, while incurring no harm on his kins.
The debate can go on and on for decades to come, however, such enlightening books serves a higher aim, which is in my opinion to sharpen our minds and make it more tolerant to inspiring ideas.
Our crusade against this dilemma will only serve in my opinion to set the human race free.
Knowledge is not only power as per Francis Beacon, but it can set us free as per Voltaire.
Or as Bertrand Russel once said; a good life is one that is inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
This is my first trial for a book dealing with such an abstract idea as what is known as the mind. Here the author has extracted himself out from the traditional idea which has occupied my mind since a long period of time, which is that a mind is a faculty of the brain. Mind (consciousness) can not be pinpointed to a single area in the brain. Rather it is the entire mass of the brain with all its highly lucid connectivity which yields the mind as we know it. This what have been engraved in my mind for a long period of time.
Here the author submits a different idea. He proposes that mind can not be confined to that bony container (skull). The mind is a rather abstract concept which represents an amalgamation between our brain and the surrounding environment. The so called umwelt.
During our early embryonic maturation, our neural circuits were conducting its haphazardly sprouts yielding a group of incomplete redundant circuits. These circuits became superfluous or as he called it like spandrels. These spandrels are like the decorating protrusions present on the outlines of buildings. They are considered as an embroideries meaning that we can do without.
However, in neurophysiology, we are confronted with two options, either these neurones undergo a massive process of pruning (controlled degeneration), or a slow and evolving process of maturation and extending out to connect with the environment making what the author kept saying, an exocerebrum.
Hence, exocerebrum is the combined union between the brain and the environment. Here the environment became another complementary aspect of our consciousness. The mechanism through which our brain achieves this kind of connection is not fully understood, however the author project his idea of the presence of prosthesis (langagues, culture, symbols, signs, art, music e.t.c) all of which serves as a metaphorically speaking an extension – a cultural extension – from the brain to reach out and connect with the environment.
In other words, the concept of consciousness is established through the conceiving of the consciousness as a product of the union between the neural network inside our skulls, and that present in the environment.
The mechanism by which we became cogniziant of ourselves and the external world may be involving a quantum mechanism. This needs to be further investigated and studied. Hereby I dare to quote Michael Gazzaniga query “ if we concur that cognition is nothing but neural cells firing, how can we become conscious?! Is there a higher level of cognition?! Is there another ether from which we drive our cognition? Is there a role for a quantum field?
The Cartesian dualism is becoming discarded as the days go off by the community of neurologists. Those same neurologists are apprehensive of considering consciousness outside the boundaries of the skull. By adopting such nonnegotiable stance, they are more obliged to embrace the concept of determinism.
Roger Bartra on the contrary presents another aurgument in favor of the presence of free will, however such a free will is acting through a very limited margin. This exercise of free will wouldn’t be possibile if there haven’t been a connection between the brain and the external world in other words, if there hasn’t been an exocerebrum.
Another tool to justify the presence of free will, is the presence of play. Playing is considered a florid evidence for the presence of free will. Why animals, including humans engage in such a resource consuming activity despite the fact that it yields no direct benefits on the players. However, deterministic neurologists retort back that playing is an evolutionary mechanism that has been developed to serve as an enhancer of the survival skills of the animals. Through playing the animal learns how to navigate in his environment, how to hunt for his prey, and how to defend himself, while incurring no harm on his kins.
The debate can go on and on for decades to come, however, such enlightening books serves a higher aim, which is in my opinion to sharpen our minds and make it more tolerant to inspiring ideas.
Our crusade against this dilemma will only serve in my opinion to set the human race free.
Knowledge is not only power as per Francis Beacon, but it can set us free as per Voltaire.
Or as Bertrand Russel once said; a good life is one that is inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
May 6, 2024
Como dice el autor: este es un viaje antropológico al interior del craneo en busca de la conciencia o, al menos, de las huellas que deja impresas en las redes neuronales.
Iniciando con una hipótesis en donde estipula que ciertas regiones del cerebro humano adquieren genéticamente una dependencia neurofisiológica del sistema simbólico de sustitución, Bartra propone y estimula la discusión en torno a la conciencia y al libre albedrío de una forma espectacular.
Contrapone el pensamiento determinista biológico y libertario cultural al momento de establecer y desarrollar cualquier concepto, sin llegar a una conclusión rotunda. Esto me parece muy válido, pues a uno, nos da la oportunidad de profunda reflexión y nos invita a seguir indagando en los temas.
La propuesta de un exocerebro sería el puente entre ese interior (procesos neuronales y fisiológicos respaldados por la ciencia) y el exterior (la cultura, la prótesis, a través del lenguaje y otras expresiones) que aparentan ser contrarios.
Me ha encantado el capituló de la música - y en general sus aportaciones con respecto al arte - “la armonía de los sonidos contiene movimientos similares a los del alma” y la paradoja acerca de la percepción de nuestra individualidad a través del mundo externo.
Me parece un libro hermoso e interesante acerca de la humanidad.
Iniciando con una hipótesis en donde estipula que ciertas regiones del cerebro humano adquieren genéticamente una dependencia neurofisiológica del sistema simbólico de sustitución, Bartra propone y estimula la discusión en torno a la conciencia y al libre albedrío de una forma espectacular.
Contrapone el pensamiento determinista biológico y libertario cultural al momento de establecer y desarrollar cualquier concepto, sin llegar a una conclusión rotunda. Esto me parece muy válido, pues a uno, nos da la oportunidad de profunda reflexión y nos invita a seguir indagando en los temas.
La propuesta de un exocerebro sería el puente entre ese interior (procesos neuronales y fisiológicos respaldados por la ciencia) y el exterior (la cultura, la prótesis, a través del lenguaje y otras expresiones) que aparentan ser contrarios.
Me ha encantado el capituló de la música - y en general sus aportaciones con respecto al arte - “la armonía de los sonidos contiene movimientos similares a los del alma” y la paradoja acerca de la percepción de nuestra individualidad a través del mundo externo.
Me parece un libro hermoso e interesante acerca de la humanidad.
September 27, 2018
He quedado casi anonadado con las implicaciónes de lo que muchas veces damos por sentado como seres humanos. Y es bien cierto que el profundizar en el concepto de conciencia desde el punto de vista "puramente" científico (de momento al menos) establece una serie de incognitas que se quedan en los temas llanamente filosóficos y metafísicos.
Bartra intenta ejemplificar y proponer el tipo de uniónes del cerebro con las ideas o los temas "no físicos". La propuesta que nos brinda es maravillosa y ciertamente excitante en un mundo donde los seres humanos estamos siendo arrasados por avances vertiginosos que fráncamente muy pocos entienden pero que, de alguna forma, el resto del mundo piensa ingenuamente que lo hace.
Bartra es grande.
Bartra intenta ejemplificar y proponer el tipo de uniónes del cerebro con las ideas o los temas "no físicos". La propuesta que nos brinda es maravillosa y ciertamente excitante en un mundo donde los seres humanos estamos siendo arrasados por avances vertiginosos que fráncamente muy pocos entienden pero que, de alguna forma, el resto del mundo piensa ingenuamente que lo hace.
Bartra es grande.
June 6, 2025
A rather interesting hypothesis, whose idea reverberates in the writings of 18th - and 19th-century philosophers as well as indigenous writings.
The author, to my analytical faculty, asserts not of an ether that resides outside the cranium — the ether that is often termed "consciousness"— but rather that the workings of consciousness are imprinted onto the external, just as the external leaves its imprint on the internal, in this case within the cranium. I did find authors take on 'play' and 'free will' a juxtaposition that made me ponder on few philosophical aspects, for that I am grateful.
There are some points within a few premises where further elaboration would help substantiate the hypothesis. However, I speculate that if the reader is serious enough, the missing pieces ought to be discovered by them.
As someone who is familiar with the hypothesis through other literary means, this book was a rather nice addition to the arsenal of argumentation and to the overall scientific stance that takes hold within cognitive science.
The author, to my analytical faculty, asserts not of an ether that resides outside the cranium — the ether that is often termed "consciousness"— but rather that the workings of consciousness are imprinted onto the external, just as the external leaves its imprint on the internal, in this case within the cranium. I did find authors take on 'play' and 'free will' a juxtaposition that made me ponder on few philosophical aspects, for that I am grateful.
There are some points within a few premises where further elaboration would help substantiate the hypothesis. However, I speculate that if the reader is serious enough, the missing pieces ought to be discovered by them.
As someone who is familiar with the hypothesis through other literary means, this book was a rather nice addition to the arsenal of argumentation and to the overall scientific stance that takes hold within cognitive science.
December 26, 2023
La idea de que el sistema simbólico-cultural funciona como una prótesis cerebral que nos ayuda a sobrevivir se me hace una de las más interesantes hipótesis por examinar en las ciencias cognitivas.
April 1, 2025
exocerebrum and its consequences...surprisingly light reading!
June 13, 2016
En Antropología del cerebro, Bartra trata de explicar cómo se traducen los impulsos eléctricos del cerebro en las representaciones simbólicas de la conciencia. Para hacerlo nos dice que existen conexiones neuronales fuera del cerebro. Por ejemplo, un reloj ayuda a establecer nuevas conexiones que cambian la percepción del tiempo. El autor señala que estas conexiones externas se crean en la cultura, que el desarrollo de la conciencia radica en la exterioridad, en las interacciones sociales.
Me parece que Bartra está demasiado metido en la escuela anglosajona (cosa de la que yo mismo también he pecado) y lo que él propone ya ha sido sugerido (de manera diferente, pero con la misma conclusión) en otras corrientes de pensamiento. Incluso la teoría memética que él desdeña puede aportar a la perspectiva exocerebral (en otro momento tendré tiempo de refutar sus críticas sobre esta teoría). Al final del libro Bartra cita a Rimbaud: je est un autre. Yo soy un otro, dijo el poeta, pero también muchos más lo han dicho ya.
El comienzo del libro es muy estimulante. Los ejemplos más claros del exocerebro los da en la música y el desarrollo de la memoria; incluso hace una muy interesante reflexión sobre cómo las conexiones neuronales externas conectan los dos hemisferios del cerebro cuyo cuerpo calloso ha sido dividido. Pero a su explicación le quedan huecos, no termina de explicar cómo sucede la traducción a representaciones simbólicas. Nos dice que el temido homúnculo del cerebro realmente está afuera, que en la sociedad hay muchos homúnculos que hacen estas conexiones, pero nuevamente, ¿cómo? Sólo está moviendo el problema afuera del cráneo y no termina de dar una explicación coherente.
Creo que Bartra en este libro no pretende explicar todo sobre el exocerebro, sino estimular la discusión, que como bien dijo, se ha cerrado al tratar de buscar las respuestas de la conciencia enteramente en el interior.
Me parece que Bartra está demasiado metido en la escuela anglosajona (cosa de la que yo mismo también he pecado) y lo que él propone ya ha sido sugerido (de manera diferente, pero con la misma conclusión) en otras corrientes de pensamiento. Incluso la teoría memética que él desdeña puede aportar a la perspectiva exocerebral (en otro momento tendré tiempo de refutar sus críticas sobre esta teoría). Al final del libro Bartra cita a Rimbaud: je est un autre. Yo soy un otro, dijo el poeta, pero también muchos más lo han dicho ya.
El comienzo del libro es muy estimulante. Los ejemplos más claros del exocerebro los da en la música y el desarrollo de la memoria; incluso hace una muy interesante reflexión sobre cómo las conexiones neuronales externas conectan los dos hemisferios del cerebro cuyo cuerpo calloso ha sido dividido. Pero a su explicación le quedan huecos, no termina de explicar cómo sucede la traducción a representaciones simbólicas. Nos dice que el temido homúnculo del cerebro realmente está afuera, que en la sociedad hay muchos homúnculos que hacen estas conexiones, pero nuevamente, ¿cómo? Sólo está moviendo el problema afuera del cráneo y no termina de dar una explicación coherente.
Creo que Bartra en este libro no pretende explicar todo sobre el exocerebro, sino estimular la discusión, que como bien dijo, se ha cerrado al tratar de buscar las respuestas de la conciencia enteramente en el interior.
July 19, 2016
este libro contiene varios capítulos imprescindibles pero el dedicado al juego es impresionante.
creo que es el pensador mas grande de México, agudo y sencillo a la lectura, me encanto este libro de divulgación científica por que aprendí mucho, me intrigo para seguir buscando respuestas, y también me ayudo a no verme burra frente a mi gran profesor neuropsiquiatra en dos clases =)
creo que es el pensador mas grande de México, agudo y sencillo a la lectura, me encanto este libro de divulgación científica por que aprendí mucho, me intrigo para seguir buscando respuestas, y también me ayudo a no verme burra frente a mi gran profesor neuropsiquiatra en dos clases =)
February 12, 2015
One of the best books on consciousness, probably the best in a new approach.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews