Triune Brain - Continuing Interest

Continuing Interest

The triune model of the mammalian brain continues to hold interest because of its focus on the recognizable differences between most reptiles, early mammals, and late mammals. Reasons for this success are its simplicity; the theory in this form recognizes three major evolutionary periods in the development of the brain that are characterized by three recognizably distinct ways of solving adaptive challenges. Under this model, the "neocortex" represents that cluster of brain structures involved in advanced cognition, including planning, modeling and simulation; the "limbic brain" refers those brain structures, wherever located, associated with social and nurturing behaviors, mutual reciprocity, and other behaviors and affects that arose during the age of the mammals; and the "reptilian brain" refers to those brain structures related to territoriality, ritual behavior and other "reptile" behaviors. The three brains are said to act in coordination or competition in this variation of the model. While there is only general scientific consensus on the applicability of the model, some people find this to be a helpful model because of its broad explanatory value.

The triune brain (more properly, perhaps, the "triune mind") is seen as a highly simplified but powerful organizing theme.

Howard Bloom, in his book The Lucifer Principle, references the concept of the triune brain in his explanations of certain aspects of human behavior. Arthur Koestler made MacLean's concept of the triune brain the centerpiece of much of his later work, notably The Ghost in the Machine.