The eyes are the window of the soul…it was such a well-worn adage, a cliché by now, but Isabel had read that neuroscience, which was validating so many intuitive, ancient beliefs about who we were and how we lived our lives, now confirmed this insight too. The part of the brain that was most closely associated with self-awareness, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, lay directly behind the eyes. So that was where we were located-that was where the soul was to be found, if it were to be found anywhere.
Isabel reflects on the saying that "the eyes are the window to the soul," which has become a cliché over time. She finds it fascinating that neuroscience is beginning to support such ancient beliefs. This shows a link between our perception of the soul and the biology of our brain, particularly in the realm of self-awareness.
Specifically, she learns that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, a brain area linked to self-awareness, is situated behind the eyes. This suggests that our sense of identity and perhaps even the essence of our soul is closely tied to this part of the brain, reinforcing the idea that our inner selves can be understood through the way we perceive and communicate through our eyes.
