Michael Gazzaniga

By: Josh Graham

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Pioneers of Human Behaviour: Michael Gazzaniga
A Gateway to His Life, Theories, and Legacy

What happens when the brain is literally divided in two? Michael S. Gazzaniga’s split-brain experiments revealed that the mind is not a single voice but a chorus — and that our sense of unity is the product of the brain’s storytelling machinery. His discoveries reshaped psychology, philosophy, and even the law, earning him recognition as a founding figure of cognitive neuroscience.

This concise yet powerful volume distils Gazzaniga’s life and ideas into clear, engaging chapters. From his upbringing in California and his mentorship under Roger Sperry, to his breakthrough studies of hemispheric specialisation and the interpreter theory, this book offers both biography and theory in an accessible form. It is a portrait of the man who showed us that coherence itself is a story the brain insists on telling.

Alongside an accessible exploration of Gazzaniga’s theories, you’ll discover:
• How the “chicken claw and snow scene” experiment redefined our understanding of consciousness.
• Why the interpreter matters for free will, law, and moral responsibility.
• The myths and realities of left-brain vs. right-brain thinking.
• The coalition model of consciousness and its modern echoes.
• How his work resonates with pioneers from Freud to Bessel van der Kolk.
• Why his insights are urgently relevant in the age of AI and digital storytelling.

Part biography, part theory guide, and part reflection on legacy, this book offers a gateway into one of neuroscience’s most surprising discoveries: that our most treasured sense of self is woven together from fragments. Written with clarity and depth, it will appeal to students, professionals, and anyone curious about how the brain makes the mind.

The Pioneers of Human Behaviour series celebrates the lives and legacies of psychology’s greatest minds, presenting timeless insights in a format designed to inspire, inform, and endure.