An Anatomy of Thought: The Origin and Machinery of the MindDrawing on a dazzling array of disciplines--physiology, neurology, psychology, anthropology, linguistics, and philosophy--Ian Glynn explains virtually every aspect of the workings of the brain, unlocking the mysteries of the mind. Glynn writes with exceptional clarity as he illuminates the mechanics of nerve messages; the functioning of sensory receptors; the processes by which the brain sees, tastes, and smells; the seats of language, memory, and emotions. The breadth of Glynn's erudition is astonishing, as he ranges from parallel processing in computers to the specialization of different regions of the brain (illustrated with fascinating instances of the bizarre effects of localized brain damage). He explains the different types of memory, traces the path of information that leads to emotional responses, and engages in a discussion of language that ranges from Noam Chomsky to Hawaiian pidgin. No other single volume has captured the full expanse of our knowledge of consciousness and the brain. A work of unequaled authority and eloquence, this book promises to be a new landmark of scientific writing. "Monumental."--The Observer "Glynn's erudition is astonishing...a hugely enjoyable intellectual journey."--Nature |
Contents
What this book is about | 3 |
The Failure of the CommonSense View | 7 |
Evolution by Natural Selection | 17 |
The Descent of Man | 40 |
The Origin of Life | 62 |
Introduction | 83 |
The Nature of Nerves | 85 |
The Nerve Impulse | 106 |
Indroduction | 259 |
In the Steps of the DiagramMakers | 261 |
Chomsky and After | 288 |
Monkey Puzzles | 296 |
Introduction | 313 |
Memory | 315 |
The Emotions | 334 |
Planning and Attention | 351 |
Encoding the Message | 119 |
Interactions Between Nerve Cells | 123 |
The Doors of Perception | 138 |
A Cooks Tour of the Brain | 164 |
Introduction | 191 |
Illusions | 193 |
Disordered Seeing with Normal Eyes | 201 |
Opening the Black Box | 223 |
Natural Computers and Artificial Brains | 242 |
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ability action potential activity amino-acids amygdala animals aphasia areas associated australopithecines behaviour brain Cambridge caused cerebral cortex changes channels colleagues colour cones connections consciousness damage Darwin difficulty effect electrical evolution example experiments explain faces Figure fossils ganglion cells genes hemisphere hippocampus Homo erectus human hypothesis identity impulses individual involved ions kind language later layer lexigrams light lobe London look machine machinery membrane memory mental mind molecules monkeys motion movement muscle natural selection Neanderthals nerve cells nerve fibres nervous system neural neurons Neurosci normal nucleotides objects occipital lobe occur organs Oxford particular patients pattern physical Physiol potential difference prefrontal cortex primary visual cortex problem proteins qualia receptive fields receptors recognize response result retina seems sensation sensory showed sodium sound species speech stimulation suggested synapses thalamus theory thought tion University Press vervets vision visual field wavelengths words