2011-03-11
Explanation
This comic personifies the frontal lobe of the brain as a small brain-shaped creature standing on what appears to be a barren landscape (representing the surface of the brain). The frontal lobe asserts its authority, reminding the rest of the brain that it took 3.7 billion years of evolution to develop this level of intelligence and that the body must obey it.
However, panel by panel, the frontal lobe is literally overwhelmed and buried by larger, more primitive brain structures -- representing the limbic system and other primal drives. The frontal lobe cries out in protest ("No! Dammit! I'm the only rational part of you!") as it's submerged. The final panel reveals the consequence: a man telling a woman "It's okay. You can't get pregnant -- I'm drunk!" while both cheer "Hooray!" The joke illustrates how easily our rational, evolved frontal cortex is overridden by primitive impulses, especially under the influence of alcohol. Despite billions of years of evolution producing higher reasoning, it takes only a few drinks for the ancient lizard brain to take the wheel.