John M. Coates Quotes
hubris syndrome. This syndrome is characterized by recklessness, an inattention to detail, overwhelming self-confidence and contempt for others; all of which, he observes, “can result in disastrous leadership and cause damage on a large scale.” The syndrome, he continues, “is a . . . Read more

-John M. Coates
Yet of this massive flow of information no more than about 40 bits per second actually reaches consciousness. We are, in other words, conscious of only a trivial slice of all the information coming into the brain for processing.

-John M. Coates
Download
good judgment may require the ability to listen carefully to feedback from the body.

-John M. Coates
Download
the true miracle of human evolution was the development of advanced control systems for synchronizing body and brain.

-John M. Coates
Download
thought itself is best understood as planning; even higher forms of thought, such as philosophy, the epitome of disembodied speculation, proceed, they argue, by hijacking algorithms originally developed to help us plan movements.

-John M. Coates
Download
As George Loewenstein, an economist at Carnegie Mellon, points out, “There is little evidence beyond fallible introspection supporting the standard assumption of complete volitional control of behavior.

-John M. Coates
Download
Consciousness, these experiments suggested, is merely a bystander observing a decision already taken, almost like watching ourselves on video.

-John M. Coates
Download
The brain stem, often called the reptile brain, controls automatic processes such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, etc. The cerebellum stores physical skills and fast behavioral reactions; it also contributes to dexterity, balance and coordination. The hypothalamus controls h . . . Read more

-John M. Coates