Book Description

Consciousness is at the very core of the human condition. Yet only in recent decades has it become a major focus in the brain and behavioral sciences. Scientists now know that consciousness involves many levels of brain functioning, from brainstem to cortex. The almost seventy articles in this book reflect the breadth and depth of this burgeoning field. The many topics covered include consciousness in vision and inner speech, immediate memory and attention, waking, dreaming, coma, the effects of brain damage, fringe consciousness, hypnosis, and dissociation.

Underlying all the selections are the questions, What difference does consciousness make? What are its properties? What role does it play in the nervous system? How do conscious brain functions differ from unconscious ones? The focus of the book is on scientific evidence and theory. The editors have also chosen introductory articles by leading scientists to allow a wide variety of new readers to gain insight into the field. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A fascinating collection of articles
If thought about in retrospect, it is perhaps flabbergasting that the study of consciousness was not considered, and could not be considered, part of science. The impact of the behavioral school of psychology was no doubt both a symptom and a cause of this exclusion. The reasons though for excluding the study of consciousness from science are now properly given to historians, for, as this book is an indication of, extensive scientific research is now being done in this area, and this research is a fascinating story. Once thought to be the domain of mysticism and philosophy, research into consciousness has, finally, entered the domain of the laboratory. The arm-chair speculations of Edmund Husserll are now replaced by the fMRI scan and careful observations. In the words of Francis Crick and Christof Koch, who have written an article for this book, "the time to start the scientific attack is now."

The book is a collection of articles written by active researchers in the field. The preface and the introductory article are excellent and not only introduce the reasons for the book but also put the articles in historical perspective. The author addresses the skepticism of some scientists on whether there is any evidence of conscious experience as such. The articles in the book were selected according to their approach as treating "consciousness as a variable", similar to any other topic of scientific inquiry. He is aware of the problems associated with such a view though, since consciousness, he says, cannot be varied "from the inside". Decreasing it will cause us to lose the ability to observe anything, and the consciousness of others is not accessible directly. The author stresses though that contrary to the assertions of some philosophers, consciousness is not beyond scientific study. We need not depend on "plausible intuitions, thought experiments, or rhetorical brilliance", but can instead rely on experiments and testable hypotheses. He calls this a "verifiable phenomenology" in contrast with the philosophical movement of the last century.

The article by George Mandler also expresses this attitude, asserting that the study of consciousness has been plagued with "philosophical, theological, and pedestrian semantic debris". For Mandler, the "mind" refers to the "totality of theoretical processes ascribed to the individual", and this viewpoint, he believes, will avoid the collapse into solipsism and sophistry that so often accompanies the philosophical view of the mind. Mandler gives an excellent overview of some of the approaches taken in the scientific study of consciousness. He also outlines his personal views on the subject, asserting that for him, consciousness is tied to a system of limited capacity, this limitation referring to the number of "functional units" that can be kept in consciousness at a particular point in time. Mandler does believe though that psychologists and philosophers are correct in their assertion that the content of consciousness is not directly available, and so other strategies must be invented to deal with this content. Most interesting though is that the author does not view consciousness as primary, but instead views it merely as one particular mode of processing. Conscious processing of information cannot therefore be said to have more status than processing that does not.

There are many interesting articles in this book, and space constraints do not permit a detailed review here. Some of articles that this reviewer found interesting or exceptionally well written are: 1. "Consciousness and Isomorphism" by Stephen E. Palmer, which addresses the "inverted spectrum argument". This has been a source of philosophical argumentation ever since John Locke first proposed it in 1690, and asks for a demonstration that the visual experience of colors between two individuals are the same, or whether they are spectrally inverted. The author discusses his reasons for rejecting Locke's assertion that there is no way to tell whether the spectrums are indeed inverted without the two persons "getting into each others heads." 2. "Strategies and Models of Selective Attention" by Anne M. Treisman. The author outlines her strategies for classifying attention tasks and experimental procedures to study them. She restricts herself to tasks that require immediate perception and response, wherein the experimental subjects are subjected to information overload. Her goal is to find out to what extent the mechanisms of selective attention can be encapsulated into a single mechanism. 3. "Aspects of the Theory of Comprehension, Memory, and Attention" by Donald G. MacKay, which attempts to provide evidence for a "modern" version of Wundt's theory, the latter of which asserted that the processing of sentences takes place at two distinct levels, one involving preattentive processes and the other attentive ones. The "modern" version asserts that the perceptual mechanism consists of two distinct and interrelated levels of components, with the first involving limited capacity short-term memory, and the second a large long-term memory. 4. The article "Conscioussness and Complexity" by Giulio Tononi and Gerald M. Edelman. This article, like all the rest in the last part of the book, called "Theory" is fascinating, again because of its attempt to respect the role of experiments. The authors attempt to identify the types of neural processes that account for the key properties of conscious experience, emphasizing that conscious experience is integrated but simultaneously also highly differentiated in that one can experience a large number of different conscious states within a short time. The authors discuss tools for measuring integration, which they call 'functional clustering' and for measuring differentiation, which they call 'neural complexity'. Then they give criteria for determining whether in fact a group of active neurons can contribute to conscious experience. These criteria are encapsulated into the 'dynamic core hypothesis', which they claim is a testable hypothesis on neural contributions to conscious experience. Recent experimental findings are discussed that, in the author's view, show that this hypothesis is viable. These measurements of neural activity shed light on what kind of neural circuits are needed to perform different types of tasks, these tasks sometimes needing conscious control, and sometimes not.

it is finally here
What can somebody who is a science of consicousness freak say about a 1000 pages book about the psychological, cognitive, theorethical, neurological, and historical bases of consciousness? ......well, maybe "finally". This is THE definitive collection of papers on the science of consicousness, something that could only be said before about all three volumes of Towards a Science of Consicousness, edited by Hameroff.

Everything one needs to know to START an inquiry into this interesting field is here. Represented are those papers that started the whole cognitive revolution, all the way to the most recent theoretical investigations on consicousness. The only thing one who is familiar with the literature can disagree with is witht he inclusion and omission of certain key papers, but I am sure the editors had their hands full in making the books size acceptable and at the same time representative of the field. That said, it is impossible to ignore that Baars seems to have chosen some contributions on the basis of how much they are supportive of his global workspace model. I doubt this was made on purpose, however. Another objection could come from the absence of a neurochemistry of consicousness chapter, or a consicousness in quantum physics chapter. The former seems to me impardonable to have been left out, and the latter probably should have been there simply because of the popular attention paid to it, if not because of its shaky scientific foundations.

It is a custom of mine to declare a book on consicousness a must-have, but this one has the most merits to deserve such title. No one who has pronounced the word consicousness in a scientific context can do without this volume...it could also work quite well as a textbook for graduate level consicousness courses. One only hopes that many more editions are published, and that it can be someday extended to various volumes. ... Read more

Book Description

In this book, G. Lynn Stephens and George Graham examine verbal hallucinations and thought insertion as examples of what they call "alienated self-consciousness." In such cases, a subject is directly or introspectively aware of an episode in her mental life but experiences it as alien, as somehow attributable to another person.

Stephens and Graham explore two sorts of questions about verbal hallucinations and thought insertion. The first is their phenomenology--what the experience is like for the subject. The second concerns the implications of alien episodes for our general understanding of self-consciousness. Psychopathologists look at alien episodes for what they reveal about the underlying pathology of mental illness. As philosophers, the authors ask what they reveal about the underlying psychological structure and processes of human self-consciousness.

The authors suggest that alien episodes are caused by a disturbed sense of agency, a condition in which the subject no longer has the sense of being the agent who thinks or carries out the thought. Distinguishing the sense of subjectivity from that of agency, they make the case that the sense of agency is a key element in self-consciousness. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

inserting rigorous thought into psychiatry
Stephens and Graham here continue the much-needed insertion of philosophically rigorous thought into psychiatry and clinical psychology that has been begun by philosophical psychopatholoy.For some of us who work within these fields, the logical sloppiness of most of the theoretical positions on madness available is quite infuriating, and it is satisfying to see these two philosophers come in and "clean house."However, in some respects, these authors' command of the literature on madness is a little disappointing.For example, they suggest that the alien quality of alien voices and inserted thoughts may be due to the subject's inability to integrate these experiences into her picture of herself as agent- a theory that is probably right but not exactly original.Post-Freudian psychoanalysts have been saying almost identical things for years, and it is too bad Stephens and Graham were not aware enough of psychoanalytic literature to make real use of it; if they did so they might have found themselves in possession of a more comprehensive phenomenology of agency and a more highly differentiated account of its distortions.As it is, to be sure,their theory is nevertheless pretty good, and of course one can't expect those doing this kind of interdisciplinary work to be completely versed in every single theory available.Perhaps the best quality of the book is that it is capable of introducing psychologists and psychiatrists to the intellectual rigor of philosophical discourse. ... Read more

Book Description

An understandable, clear overview of the psychology of language, where studying the psychology of language doesn't have to be confusing. In David Carroll's text, a topic that can sometimes seem bewildering to students is presented in a clear, interesting, and engaging style. Using a cognitive approach, Carroll brings the current developments and controversies in psycholinguistics to students in an engaging style and sets them in historical context. The book fills the need for an up-to-date and clearly written treatment of the field. ... Read more

Book Description

Evidence-Based Educational Methods answers the challenge of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 by promoting evidence-based educational methods designed to improve student learning. Behavioral scientists have been refining these instructional methods for decades before the current call for evidence-based education.Precision Teaching, Direct Instruction, Computerized Teaching, Personalized System of Instruction, and other unique applications of behavior analysis are all informed by the scientific principles of learning, have been tested in the laboratory, and are often shown to have significant success in field applications. This book details each of these approaches to education based on the principles of behavior analysis. Individuals and agencies responsible for instruction that leaves no child behind will find this compendium an important resource for meeting that challenge, and young educators will greatly benefit from this text, as they will see a blueprint of the evidence-based education systems being planned for the future.

* The education literature is replete with fly-by-night ideas and unresearched opinions about how to teach children. This book has none of that.The reader is given researched educational methods. In fact, some methods draw on 3 or 4 decades of experimental data.The whole book is cohesive, not just a patchwork of different educators' opinions. All of the chapters are built on basic scientific principles of behavior, and all of the methods can be used with one another
* This is a book by scientist-practitioners, but not for scientists only.A parent can read many of these chapters, see the merit in the methods, and convey the need and the process for each of the methods
* No book stands alone, but is connected to a greater literature base.The reader is shown where other information can be found about these methods.
* The only thing better than scientific data is scientific data supported by consumer testimonial ... Read more

Book Description

John Ratey, bestselling author and clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, here lucidly explains the human brain’s workings, and paves the way for a better understanding of how the brain affects who we are. Ratey provides insight into the basic structure and chemistry of the brain, and demonstrates how its systems shape our perceptions, emotions, and behavior. By giving us a greater understanding of how the brain responds to the guidance of its user, he provides us with knowledge that can enable us to improve our lives.

In A User’s Guide to the Brain, Ratey clearly and succinctly surveys what scientists now know about the brain and how we use it. He looks at the brain as a malleable organ capable of improvement and change, like any muscle, and examines the way specific motor functions might be applied to overcome neural disorders ranging from everyday shyness to autism. Drawing on examples from his practice and from everyday life, Ratey illustrates that the most important lesson we can learn about our brains is how to use them to their maximum potential. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

It¿s YOUR brain! Use it or lose it!
Do yourself a favor and read this book. Even better, do your doctor a favor and give a copy of this book to her or him. It's your brain, and you want to know how to care for it, tune it, nurture it and protect it. This sophisticated book -- up to date in the year 2001 -- and in remarkably clear and plain English -- and in amazing detail -- will tell you much that you need to know. And provide you a framework within which you can integrate future knowledge. When the next edition comes out, within a few years, you will want to read that one too.

January 1, 2001 marked the end of 'The Decade of the Brain' -- ten years of brain-based research focusing upon neuroscience, neuroanatomy, neurophenomenology, psychopharmacology, psychiatry and neural functioning. While this massive undertaking has been somewhat overshadowed by even more massive investigations of the human genome, it is likely that advances from brain research will have a greater impact on your life and your health. Dr. John Ratey, a Harvard Medical School professor and author or co-author of other well received previous books on neuropsychiatric conditions (eg, 'Driven to Distraction'), explains why and how, and in language that you can read even if you didn't study biology in college. Yet he never speaks down to the reader -- I am a professional medical educator myself, and I am sufficiently impressed by the breadth and depth of this book that I will recommend it to my students and colleagues. Growing knowledge about the brain is transforming our understanding of ourselves and our world, and Dr. Ratey is able to convey this information to the reader through lively descriptions and stories and through enlightening clinical vignettes.

The book is organized in a manner that is straightforward and incremental. Starting with 'perception', chapters go on to encompass 'attention and consciousness', 'movement', 'memory', 'emotion', 'language' and 'the social brain'. These are well written and informative and never boring or abstruse, with plenty of case examples taken from Dr. Ratey's practice or from autobiographical and biographical stories in the literature. For example, Temple Grandin is a middle-aged woman with an active professional and social life who overcame many limits of her well-diagnosed autism by self-observation, tenacity, and a disciplined, original, self-determined approach to her disorder. Another example, Rickie, is the daughter of an eminent psychiatrist who was frequently hospitalized for schizophrenia until it was discovered that this diagnosis was simply incorrect. Instead, Rickie suffered from an unusual perceptual problem which could be sufficiently remedied with special glasses so that she could begin a career as a rehabilitation counselor and also marry and raise children. Stories such as these are not only wonderful and humane, they are well told and instructive and the insights gleaned from them are used by Dr. Ratey to teach us about the brain, how it works, what can go wrong, what can be done about it, and most importantly, what we can do about it.

The brain, the reader learns, is certainly not a digital computer. It is an organ that provides us with access to a world and to other people as well as with the capacity to move through this world and to interact with it. The systems of the brain shape our emotions, our actions and reactions, and our identity. Furthermore, it is now very clear that our brain can be molded and cared for by us, its 'user', in a manner that can enrich our lives and expand our possibilities and potentialities. Or, with poor care, constrict these possibilities.

The book ends with a section on the four 'theaters' of the brain, a framework for understanding that encompasses traditional medical as well as more holistic approaches to healing. Finally, there is a section on the 'care and feeding' of the brain that is as practical as it is profound.

You will benefit from this book. Your brain will benefit as you --the user -- come to understand better how this miraculous organ works and what you can do to keep it going and to enhance its performance. Besides, you will enjoy a book that is a masterful and humane read.

It is an excellent book I read and re-read
Just shy of 400 pages this is a book I want the smart women to read. Yes, men should read it to, but I simply feel that as a woman some people, often other women are put off by women with great brains.

Ten Chapters that cover Development, Perception, Attention and Consciousness, Movement, Memory, Emotion, Language, The Social Brain, The Four Theatres, Care and Feeding.

And his notation beginning on page 114 about the Triage mind as medical professionals often say we (we who are in the circle of friends and colleagues) have, is about Arouse, Orient, Detect, Execute is utterly engrossing. And on page 251 where he speaks of the popular fad of Emotional intelligence as an attract concept because it can provide a convenient scapegoat for today's epidemics of violent crime, marital strife and teen age drug abuse as a start, is wise and telling.

On page 274 he gives a simple lateralization concept test that the reader can take to see how the right and left brain react differently to action combined with verbal work. Was happy to see that the suggestion of a trusted friend that I was equally righ-left brained was true (laughing) and that yes, I am linguistically ambidextrous as well.

In discussing the Four Theatres he also reminds the reader that it is regaining popularity amongst medical professionals. The First being Perception, the Second is Attention and Consciousness and issues involving Cognitive issues like survival skills. The Third is Brain Function and the Fourth is Identity and Behavior.

In Care and Feeding he speaks about the real importance of reading to children at an early age and continuing to read books etc that challenge the brain and not simply fill it with mush.

And exercise! On page 359 he gives some excellent insight into how important exercise is to a healthy min. And as he notes "Obviously, exercise improves the body, but some of the most exciting new findings point to the positive effect exercise can have on mental health. First of all, it increases the amount of blood that gets to the brain. And it has been shown that it can augment the number and density of the blood vessels in the areas that need them the most: the motor cortex and cerebellum. Thus, in addition to its well-known effect of increasing blood vessels and improving circulation in the heart, it seems that exercise or activity has a similar effect on the brain."

Better self-esteem he notes is also a known effect of exercise and that females of all ages who regularly take part in sports and exercise have a more positive self image and less depression as well.

He then notes there have been more than 1,000 studies on the effect on mental health. That short sessions of vigorous aerobic exercise, usually lasting for several weeks seem to have the most helpful effect on moderate to mild forms of depression. He notes a 1994 Harvard study that found men who burn 2500 calories a day in aerobic activity which can be running walking fast, etc., were 28% less likely to develop clinical depression than less active men.

He also notes that vigorous exercise also involves learning complex movements that also challenge the brain. And then on page 316 he speaks of the importance of movement in general, and how it effects motor skills. And that inactivity and stagnation can hasten the decline of mental abilities.

And lastly he speaks of mental work outs and how important it is to think outside the box and read things that are different and that will cause the neurons to work. That people who are doing new things and trying new things, constantly reading and not watching TV or staying in ones comfort zone are the ones who live the fullest and mentally healthiest lives.

For medical professionals...or anyone interested!
I found reading this book to go fairly slowly, yet every time I thought it would get boring so that I could skip a section, it became fascinating instead! This is a very dense book, yet it is not boring. The author, a Harvard psychiatry professor, states at the beginning that he is writing this book for everyone and that everyone will be able to understand it. He does a good job of explaining all of the complex concepts, of which there are many in connection with the study of the brain.

The book is an up-to-date explanation of the current knowledge and research about the brain. The new knowledge deepens our understanding and adds insights into brain function and its affect on our lives. The more we know about how the brain works, the better we can understand the problems caused by malfunctions in the brain. Numerous case studies are presented to show how new knowledge has helped us better understand specific brain problems that might have been previously categorized or "lumped" into some almost unrelated illness. In some cases, new knowledge helped the patient to solve debilitating problems and lead a much improved life.

Ratey goes into a lot of detail. In the chapter on perception, he explains that the nostrils are placed above and close to the mouth to help us avoid eating poisonous things, even if we don't realize the danger until the very last possible moment before putting the item into our mouth. He includes lots of similar little tidbits of information that seem like standard knowledge but are new; I know I never learned them! We should all know everything in this book! A new finding about learning can help everyone. Researchers at Johns Hopkins recently found that learning a new motor skill is solidified best if the skill is learned and then practiced again after 5 or 6 hours, with no further new skill learning in between. I sent this bit of news to my college daughter who is learning to play the piano!

Ratey seems to cover all the newest studies on a wide range of aspects of the brain. He goes into detail about the parts of the brain responsible for various functions. The major sections of the book are development, perception, attention and consciousness, movement, memory, emotion, language, and the social brain. There is a lot of discussion about the amygdala in the sections on emotions. I feel that I would need to reread some of this to understand it thoroughly, as parts of the brain are mentioned which I previously knew nothing about, ie, the anterior cingulate gyrus, which plays key roles in emotions. The neurotransmitters are given their due, too, though medications are not discussed in detail.

Ratey stops short of chemical terms with subscripts (those gamma chemicals), which is where I usually become overwhelmed. I can absorb the information in this book with effort. I think that a psychiatrist would find this book a useful way to glean a summary of the current status of the research on the brain. I think a psychiatrist should want to know everything in this book! Some sections and even some short passages might be of particular interest to some patients, too. For someone with a strong medical/psychiatric background and interest in the subject, this well-written book might be a worthwhile page-turner, with important new information and clarification of emerging concepts.

Good in parts but flawed
Summary:

1. Tedious writing style - too verbose.

2. Hard to distinguish opinions of the author from what has been established scientifically.

3. Repeats - obviously without checking - the feminist lie that there was a "Rule of Thumb" which permitted men to beat their wives with a stick no thicker than their thumb. This casts doubt on his credibility.

4. I stuck it out to the end because there was enough useful information to keep me going. Next time I would advise the author to get a ghost writer and have someone check the facts for him.

Who'd expect a scientist to be such a great writer?
Honestly, I expected a dry, but informative book. John J. Ratey takes on neuropsychology with stories and examples that anyone can understand. Diversity, folks, includes more than just race, gender, and age. It's also about creating dynamic, effective groups by bringing together people that perceive and process information differently. Don't skip over this one if you're in HR, management, or lead teams. ... Read more

Book Description

The Oxford Companion to the Mind is a classic. Published in 1987, to huge acclaim, it immediately took its place as the indispensable guide to the mysteries - and idiosyncracies - of the human mind. In no other book can the reader find discussions of concepts such as language, memory, and intelligence, side by side with witty definitions of common human experiences such as the 'cocktail-party'and 'halo' effects, and the least effort principle.Richard Gregory again brings his wit, wisdom, and expertise to bear on this most elusive of subjects. Research into the mind and brain has moved on in bounds in recent years, and interest in the subject has never been so high. There has been a shift in focus away from Freud's concept of the unconscious onto consciousness itself. The new edition of the Companion includes three 'mini symposia' - on consciousness, brain scanning, and artificial intelligence - with contributions from a number of specialists, and encompassing a range of approaches.Cultural as well as scientific in approach, this accessible book offers authoritative descriptions and analysis. With new entries on controversial topics such as artificial life, attachment theory, caffeine, cruetly, drama, extra-terrestrial intelligence, genetics of mental illness, imagination, lying, puzzles, and twins, this highly-anticipated second edition explores the most intriguing of subjects. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

some entries good some bad
The whole discussion of psychiatric concepts like depression, autism, or schizofrenia is limited to listing of symptoms and research results on whether they are purely physiologically determined etc..if this is the state of psychiatric understanding of human mind and its illnesses today, then its probably true that were living in very oppressive societies.. otherwise entries on psychological issues like intelligence or visual perception give good introductions to the state of current research.. can be of some help as a general referance work but dont expect any serious illuminations..

Very thorough and still timely
This one-volume reference book deals, after all, with a subject that is constantly subject to change. Who knows how many new neurological discoveries may make some statement or another within these pages moot tomorrow, or may have done so already in the decade and more since its publication?

Despite such concerns, this book holds up well. I'd like to praise in particular a brief but pointed discussion of the work of the French philosopher Maine de Biran (1766-1824), written by F.C.T. Moore. De Biran explained that my intention to raise my arm is never an "object" to be grasped by an "inner sense" -- it is, rather, a fact or a relation, the connection of the active self with the arm.

This was an important break with earlier thought, and a step toward Jamesian pragmatism on the one hand, continental phenomenology on the other.

http://www.infidels.org/infidels/products/books/
_The Oxford Companion to the Mind_ is an excellent reference source of information on various mental phenomena. It was relevant to my essays because several entries dealt with the current state of the parapsychological evidence and how that related to the question of survival of bodily death ... Read more

Book Description

Human beings have the ability to be self reflective, or to think consciously about themselves, which allows them, among other things, to imagine themselves in the future, anticipate the consequences of their behavior, plan ahead, and take steps to improve themselves. Despite these obvious advantages, self reflection comes at a high price. Most people occasionally realize that it causes problems, such as when they cannot stop dwelling on some past failure or future worry, when their ego fuels conflicts with other people, or when their mental chatter keeps them awake at night. Yet few people realize neither how profoundly their lives are affected by their self reflection, nor how frequently this inner chatter interferes with their success, pollutes their relationships with others, and undermines their happiness.The mental apparatus that enables us to be self reflective is the same one responsible for most of the personal and social difficulties we face as individuals and as a species. The egocentric, egotistical self blinds people to their own shortcomings, undermines their relationships with others, and leads to social conflict. Self-reflection distorts peoples perceptions of the world, leading them to make bad decisions based on faulty information. By allowing people to ruminate about the past or imagine what might happen in the future, it also conjures up a great deal of personal suffering in the form of depression, anxiety, anger, jealousy, and other negative emotions. A great deal of unhappiness, in the form of addictions, overeating, and domestic violence, is due to peoples inability to exert control over their thoughts and behavior. This lack of control has led visionaries throughout history to proclaim that the egoic self stymies our quest for spiritual fulfillment and leads to immoral behavior. Is it possible to direct our self reflection in a way that will minimize the disadvantages and maximize the advantages? Is there a way to affect the egotistical self through self-reflection? In this volume Mark Leary explores the personal and social problems that are created by the capacity for self-reflection, and by drawing upon psychology and other behavioral sciences, offers insights into how these problems can be minimized. ... Read more

Book Description

foreword by James L. McClelland

The goal of computational cognitive neuroscience is to understand how the brain embodies the mind by using biologically based computational models comprising networks of neuronlike units. This text, based on a course taught by Randall O'Reilly and Yuko Munakata over the past several years, provides an in-depth introduction to the main ideas in the field. The neural units in the simulations use equations based directly on the ion channels that govern the behavior of real neurons, and the neural networks incorporate anatomical and physiological properties of the neocortex. Thus the text provides the student with knowledge of the basic biology of the brain as well as the computational skills needed to simulate large-scale cognitive phenomena.

The text consists of two parts. The first part covers basic neural computation mechanisms: individual neurons, neural networks, and learning mechanisms. The second part covers large-scale brain area organization and cognitive phenomena: perception and attention, memory, language, and higher-level cognition. The second part is relatively self-contained and can be used separately for mechanistically oriented cognitive neuroscience courses. Integrated throughout the text are more than forty different simulation models, many of them full-scale research-grade models, with friendly interfaces and accompanying exercises. The simulation software (PDP++, available for all major platforms) and simulations can be downloaded free of charge from the Web. Exercise solutions are available, and the text includes full information on the software.

More about the book. Download software and simulations ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A new paradigm
In this book, research themes, which include perception, memory, language as well as high-level cognition, are explained in terms of computation. Their theory is based on brain science, computer science, and psychology. Though the authors speculate about the functions of each part of the brain and the relation among them to some extent, the authors propose a new paradigm to existing sciences. Their integrative approach and method are very simulative, and I've got a lot of hints from this book. But I don't need the usageof particular software, PDP++ in such a theoretical book. The authors explain and demonstrate their models and theories using PDP++ at the end of each chapter. If you want to study how to use PDP++ as well as their theories, this book will be extremely good one.

A new paradigm
In this book, research themes including perception, memory, and language as well as high-level cognition are explained in terms of computation. Their theories are based on brain science, computer science, and psychology. Though the authors speculate about the functions of the brain and the relation among them to some extent, the authors propose a new paradigm to existing sciences. Their integrative approach and method are very simulative, and I've got a lot of hints from this book. But I don't need the usage of particular software, PDP++ in such a theoretical book. The authors explain and demonstrate their models and theories using PDP++ at the end of each chapter. If you want to study how to use PDP++ as well as their theories, this book will be truly excellent. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

This popular book identifies thought, and the power of the mind, as the root cause of every behavior and the source of every achievement.It reveals, and teaches how to achieve, the results that are possible through mind management.You will learn how to manage your most crucial resource - your unlimited mind, and the power of thought! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Almost a dud... 'till you get to the end
I had to force myself to finish reading the book. The first 4/5 of the book talks in vague generalities like "focus is important," and "you've gotta believe in yourself." Lots of stories about achievers followed by, "And you can do it too with the right mental attitude," without any specific explanation of *how* to get that.

He keeps you in the dark until the very end, when his one idea grabs you by the throat. It's that whatever you focus on, your subconscious will bring into existence. If you think to yourself, "I won't hit the golf ball into the water," what you see in your mind is the ball going into the water. And of course, that's where the ball goes. He explains in better detail, of course....

The problem with this book is that I almost gave up on it, because so much of it was so useless. The book could have been written in thirty pages. The last few chapters, however, are very much worth reading. This would be a good library read. Other good books are anything by Steve Chandler, and "The Now Habit" by Neil Fiore.

Powerful and Fun to Read
I purchased this book five years ago and still to this day, I pull it off the shelf for motivation when needed. Dennis Deaton teaches in very simple terms how our thoughts are so powerful and how we need to be aware of the impact of negative thoughts in our minds. After reading this you will understand and believe that you can obtain or do anything that you put your mind to. I went from the bottom of the ranks in my company's sales team to the top of the class in less than a year! I want to thank Dennis Deaton for the time he put into this one.

A WINNER!!
THIS BOOK EXPLAINS THE POWER OF THE MIND AND HOW OUR THOUGHTS CREATE OUR REALITY AS BRILLIANTLY AS ANY BOOK EVER WRITTEN.READ IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO ABSORB ITS WONDERFUL PRINCIPLES.

This book has contributed to my success!
Since reading Dr. Deaton's book, I have recommended it to many friends and business associates. The techniques he describes really work! At the time I read the book, I was managing an extremely productive department in a large corporation; however, I was convinced that the productivity of this department would be even greater if all employees read this book and used the techniques it teaches. When I was recently given the responsibility of managing a larger department, this book became recommended reading for the managers who report to me. They would echo me when I say that I wish I would have known about and practiced dominant thought management sooner. What a difference it has made in my life!

I love this down-to-earth but direct look at my thoughts!
Once I began reading The Book on Mind Management, I could not put it down. The stories used to illustrate points are inspirational, powerful and motivational. I have given this book as a gift many times to those I love. ... Read more

Book Description

How reliable is our intuition? How much should we depend on gut-level instinct rather than rational analysis when we play the stock market, choose a mate, hire an employee, or assess our own abilities? In this engaging and accessible book, David G. Myers shows us that while intuition can provide us with useful-and often amazing-insights, it can also dangerously mislead us.Drawing on recent psychological research, Myers discusses the powers and perils of intuition when:

-- judges and jurors determine who is telling the truth;
-- mental health workers predict whether someone is at risk for suicide or crime;
-- coaches, players, and fans decide who has the hot hand or the hot bat;
-- personnel directors hire new employees;
-- psychics claim to be clairvoyant or to have premonitions;
-- and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Intuition: Friend or Foe?
A critical part of social intelligence is what psychologists Peter Salovey and John Mayer term emotional intelligence - the ability to perceive, express, understand, and manage emotions. Emotionally intelligent people are self-aware. ~David Myers

Intuition is often defined as "knowing something without rational thought." It can be your danger radar (an apprehensive feeling), help you create a new recipe or even help you play the piano. Creative types often tap into and trust intuition. Since women tend to use the right side of their brain more than men, this might explain why women tend to be especially intuitive.

Apparently Intuition also has a risky side. David Myers draws on classic and contemporary cognitive science to show us why intuition can provide us with creative insights or can be dangerously misleading. Apparently we fall prey to memory construction and we can misjudge our future feelings and behavior.

David delves into three main areas:

The Powers of Intuition
The Perils of Intuition
Practical Intuition

I love David Myer's intelligent writing style and how he makes the complex completely understandable. I was fascinated by his explanation of left vs. right brain and was amused by the C.S. Lewis quote about cats.

If you have any interest in experiments, you will be in science heaven in this book. I also enjoyed the little experiment you can try with words on page 58. I didn't agree with the experiment on page 70 because I truly believe women's moods do follow cycles although I'm quite willing to agree that passions can infiltrate our intuitions and that in general "we see things as we are." I also questioned the findings after the subliminal self-help experiment because I have found that they work for me.

David Myers presents practical examples from the real world all while appealing to your analytical self. He explains how we have two kinds of memory and two levels of attitudes. It seems to me that one is leading us in a moment-by-moment dance with life while the other is almost like music that subconsciously leads the dance steps. Parts of this memory explanation helped me to understand why I sometimes read a book, go to sleep and then awaken and my mind is already writing the review. Since the mind keeps working while we sleep it is helpful to remember dreams.

If you have any interest in healing, you might find chapter nine to be quite enlightening. This chapter includes information on EMDR, SAD and Therapeutic touch. I think it might work in some cases purely because it is calming and nurturing and we do heal faster when we feel that someone is concerned about our health. Experiments are interesting, but personal experience might convince us otherwise.

David also delves into psychic intuition, although he shows a lot of skepticism because he is working from a scientific premise. He discusses the issue of "evidence for the divine within us" but states that we are not exactly omniscient, omnipresent or omnipotent. I am not sure that the "god in me" is exactly "that type" of god. I think it means that I am able to create my world and have god-like powers in various areas of my existence.

There have been times when I've guessed cash register receipts before the cashier told me the bill. How did that happen? I've had friends who completed my sentences and I've thought words that were then said by a friend just before I was going to say them. There is definitely another level of awareness that reaches beyond scientific explanation. Or is this explained by intuition itself? Was my mind secretly calculating all the prices while
I was shopping? This has intrigued me because you can't make those types of things happen. Why do they happen?

Recently a friend was looking at a number while on the phone and I said the number. So, we had a good laugh. I also hear/see words at the same time and sometimes they make up sentences and this particular friend has the ability to analyze and make sense of things I don't yet understand. They are living on a higher level and I'm acting more like a receiver, while they are able to comprehend the meanings. It is fascinating to me. It is always intriguing to watch invisible forces at work.

It is interesting that in this particular book you will find some images from The Art of Optical Illusions. When I reviewed the book back in October, 2000 I had a feeling that David Myers and Al Seckel might have some similar interests and did a bit of networking. Al Seckel is one of the world's leading authorities on illusions and designs interactive illusion and perception galleries for science museums. I had a feeling that a drawing from Al Seckel's book was going to appear in this book on intuition. How is that for being intuitive? ;)

You may also be interested in reading: The Intuitive Way: A guide to Living from Inner Wisdom by Penney Peirce. Deepak Chopra also has some interesting ideas on this subject in his book: The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success because he encourages you to pay attention to how your body is processing information when making decisions.

I love the part of intuition that gives you shivers. It seems you can almost figure out who is going to win on American Idol by who gives you the most shivers. LaToya's voice really gave me quite a few shivers so I'll keep paying attention. Maybe that is intuition or maybe it is just an appreciation for beauty. Still there does seem to be some correlation.

Ironically, the more intuitive you are, the more you might disagree with some of the scientific data in this book. Overall it is an excellent read, but not much is left to chance and the unexplained is after all, mostly unexplainable.

Why do all the books I'm reading one after the other mention "Luke Skywalker?"

~TheRebeccaReview.com

One has to wonder....
One has to wonder just how much "intuition" this author has... There is more to intuition than rationality and "intuition" as a word has become like the word "love". A lot of people use it, but how many really understand it?
In my opinion... a simple example... Gambling is not based on true intuition, indeed is a gross misuse and "understanding" of the true ability of intuition. A "wishful thinking" scenario if I may. A "gee I wish I could do that" kind of thing. There are just some things some people cannot do. Or cannot do well. That's what makes us all important.
Careful of an analytical author debunking intuitiveness.... a cat cannot understand fully what it is like to be a dog.... the same holds with people who write analytically about a subject that is not analytical in true form.

Simpy fascinating
This is a book that will make you think and will challenge many of your perceptions. It's written in a clear, concise and entertaining style; Myers makes certain difficult concepts very understandable by using examples, logic and humor. Highly recommended!

Excellent overview of intuition, decision making and risk
Myers brings together a lot of research into a very readable book about "knowing."

Myers explains to some degree how we know...and why we are likely to be correct. This is well documented although perhaps not as thorough as Sources of Power or Strangers Unto Ourselves by Wilson. Nevertheless there is plenty of meat here.

Then he talks in much greater detail about how and when our intuition is likely to fail us. This is much more enjoyable reading and thorough in scope.

Myers gives a significant amount of attention to ESP, psychic intuition and gambling, all of which are evenly presented and well thought out.

If you have an interest in decision making, intuition, risk, and how we "think" this is a brilliant introduction.

Long on data, short on theory
In Intuition: Its Powers and Perils, author David Myers provides an overview of the unconscious operations of the human mind.

He begins by arguing that we have two parallel systems operating in our day to day lives, the conscious/rational system and the unconscious/intuitive system. The former is slow and deliberate, the latter is fast and sometimes inaccurate. He then details may of the ways in which our intuition proves incorrect in areas like geography, personal memories, individual competence, and foly physics. Myers ends the book with a long chapter about our intuition in medicine, job interviews, risk, and gambling.

Throughout the book, Myers repeats a theme popular since Tversky and Khanneman's papers in the 1970s: the human mind has predictable biases and innaccuracies on a host of logical puzzles and laboratory tests. As such, the book is basically a 249 page review article of the evidence against human rationality. While many of his examples are fascinating, there is no overall theory or mechanism given to account for this irrationality.

To take one example he uses, imagine a ball dropped from a plane. Most people intuitively feel that the ball should fall straight down, rather than along the correct parabolic path to the earth. Myers takes this as evidence of a faulted folk-physics. Unfortunately, despite this fault, people have no problem catching balls falling from great heights. Is it possible that our intuition is in fact robust and accurate within the domains where it is used, and only incorrect in the unusual situations of the laboratory? Myers only casually addresses this, but his evidence on competence developing at certain tasks and jobs indicates that this might be the case.

I would recommend this book to anyone trying to access the primary literature on human rationality and its shortcomings. It is a nice overview. Those attempting to understand how intuition is used by humans in everyday situations, that is, a theory of intuition, will have to keep looking. I recommend Gerd Gigerenzer's book, Adaptive Thinking, as an excellent starting point. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Insights and Padding
This book is a strange hybrid: part informal discussion of flaws in intelligence testing, part autobiography, part self-help manual. Many of Professor Sternberg's criticisms of IQ testing are right on target, but his argument is diffuse and interlarded with the same personal anecdotes told over and over. We hear a great deal about his own poor IQ scores in elementary school, how his son Seth exhibits creative intelligence, how his talented grad students' careers were hobbled by poor test scores. It concludes with his definition of true intelligence (what he calls "successful intelligence"), which is basically a catch-all category for common sense or street smarts (what Howard Gardner calls "interpersonal intelligence") and self-discipline. The traits of successful intelligence turn out to be rather obvious: Successfully intelligent people know when to perservere; successfully intelligent people seek to surmount personal difficulties; successfully intelligent people are self-confident but not cocky and can delay gratification in order to achieve long-term goals; etc., etc. All very true, and all very old.

Still, the book has enough interesting remarks on the history and errors of intelligence testing to make it worth reading. If Professor Sternberg had organized the book a little better and eliminated some of the redundancies, I would have given it four or five stars. As it is, I give it three.

Excellent discussion of the issues
First, I should mention something of my own background. My academic background is in psychometrics and also neurobiology, where I did my master's and doctoral work. Sternberg is mostly preaching to the choir with me, as I agree with many of his criticisms about the deficiencies of current and past I.Q. tests.

That having been said, I am mostly okay current psychometric, statistical, and mathematical theory and practice here, as long as one understands the strengths and limitations of the various approaches. I understand those very well, but most people don't and tend to get hung up on one or another aspect of it without having a systematic grasp of all the psychometric issues. If it weren't for that, books like Sternberg's wouldn't be necessary.

Sternberg's definition of successful intelligence is pretty common-sensical, although more difficult to quantify than the abilities typical I.Q. tests measure, but I'm okay with that.

However, the bottom line is that the real answers about intelligence are eventually going to come from the brain research areas, which was my main field. The neurobiology doesn't contradict the psychometric approach but does complement it and provides a more rigorous basis for the idea of intelligence and what it consists of. To give you just a brief example of the neurological picture, the human brain contains 60 trillion nerve cells organized into 14,000 major and minor brain centers and pathways, and each nerve cell is connected to between 3,000 and 100,000 other neurons, producing a neural network and web of almost unbelievable compexity. And in the past 50 years, neuroscientists have made considerable progress in understanding the neural basis of intelligence and of higher cognitive abilities, such as language processing and spatial ability, which have been found to be located in the temporal lobe in the case of language processing, and in the right hemisphere in the case of left-hemispheric dominant people (which is most of us).

But getting back to Sternberg's concerns, the most egregious and widespread problem with I.Q. testing, of course, is that people hung up on a single I.Q. high or low test score, which might not mean much in isolation, and the system doesn't help that situation since it attaches too much credence to them without understanding the other factors, qualifications, and exceptions to a single I.Q. score that must be taken into account.

Sternberg also spends a lot of time discussing examples of people (such as himself), who don't do very well on standard I.Q. tests and about the baleful effect such scores had on their lives. Appropos of that, I can give two much more glaring examples than Sternberg himself, notwithstanding his being a Yale professor, which I am perfectly willing to concede is pretty impressive.

In the late teens and 1920s an important Stanford psychologist, Lewis Terman, tested thousands of California schoolchildren to identify those with high I.Q.'s and then to follow them throughout their lives, to see of the early promise of their intelligence was fulfilled. Terman ended up with a group of 1300 children, who he followed from their early years until their deaths. I would suspect many if not all would be dead by now. Until they had passed away, their files remained sealed, and only Terman and his group knew their actual identities.

Anyway, many did have impressive careers as writers, scientists, lawyers, teachers, and other professionals. Despite most of them growing up during the depression in the last century, many more of them went to college and onto professional and graduate school than the overall population. That having been said, the test had two major faults or oversights in terms of the selection process: the test, which was the Stanford-Binet, an important and widely used I.Q. test, missed the two Nobel Laureates in physics, Luis Alvarez, and William Shockley. Shockley is familiar to many as the famous inventor of the transistor. Both were tested but fell below the minimum of 140 or a score of 135 for a sibling to be included. And none of the other 1300 children won a Nobel Prize. Hence, the test missed the only two Nobel Laureates in the entire group.

Also, James Watson, of Watson and Crick fame, only has an I.Q. of 115, if I remember right, and is the co-discoverer of DNA, for which they shared a Nobel Prize back in the 50's.

So obviously, I.Q isn't the whole story. I have many stories myself of people who had much lower test scores than I on any of the standardized tests, whether I.Q., the SAT, the GRE, or whatever, who did just fine in college and grad school and who often got higher grades than I, and who went on to become more successful in real life too. So as I said, Sternberg is sort of preaching to the choir in my case, and overall, I tend to agree with him that I.Q. should not be the overriding determinant in the selection and educational process that it often is, at least not without taking into consideration other factors such as special aptitudes and talents, creative abilities, grades, work and real world experience, self-discipline and willingness to work hard, and so on.

An Holistic Approach to Intelligence
Successful Intelligence purports to be a self-help book, but is actually a polemic on public policy in education and employment. This book explains much about the weaknesses of psychological tests and thus can dispel the conditioned esteem problems of those who have done poorly on such tests. It also provides advice on methods of developing effective techniques for solving various vocational and personal problems. However, this book is primarily aimed at the pernicious influence of psychological testing in our society.

The author outlines the development of psychological testing from the time of Sir Francis Galton, one of the first to attempt to measure a wide variety of human characteristics. Although the field of Astronomy had a well established tradition of measuring reaction times to improve the accuracy of observations, Galton began measuring just about anything measurable in human beings. He used the tools developed by the astronomers to calculate group statistics and begin comparing these results between different groups. While these statistics generated a great deal of interest in human differences, they also led to a number of spurious pseudoscientific ideas.

Later, Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon were asked to develop a means of distinguishing between truly mental deficient children and children who had other problems within the Parisian school system. They produced a set of tests that could be administered by trained personnel to provide a measure of mental age. This Binet-Simon test set was used by Lewis Terman at Stanford University to design an American version, the Stanford-Binet. Later, a number of other similar tests were developed to measure intelligence and other psychological characteristics.

Such tests were individually administered and so were more useful as diagnostic tools than for screening. However, during World War I, the Army Alpha, a paper and pencil test, was developed to check mental capabilities. Afterwards, the Otis tests, civilian versions of the Army Alpha, and other group tests gained widespread usage for pre-acceptance screening in education and employment.

While some tests are labeled "intelligence" tests and others are called "aptitude" test, all of them are highly correlated with each other and have similar strengths and weaknesses. All these test are useful predictors of success in the academic environment up through the first year of graduate school. They also are fairly good predictors of certain types of vocations that are very similar to the academic environment.

However, the basic weakness of such tests is, strangely enough, the relatively low correlation between these tests and other independent measures of "intelligence". Another is the dependence of these tests on prior learning; all such tests are basically achievement tests for skills that are presumed to have been learned much earlier and thus are very inaccurate for persons from other cultures and environments. Even the so-called "culture fair" tests are not totally culture free and may have hidden problems that strongly impact the results.

The author points out that successful living requires more than the narrow mental abilities measured by most selection tests. He calls the abilities measured by such tests "analytical intelligence", but also makes a case for "creative intelligence" and "practical intelligence". These terms are his own and not necessarily used by anyone else other that his students; normally, these terms would be called "abilities" rather than "intelligence".

Intelligence tests mostly test analytical abilities -- associated with deduction or convergent production -- but the author has shown that creative abilities -- associated with induction or divergent production -- can also be measured. Moreover, he has also found ways to evaluate practical abilities -- i.e., wisdom or common sense -- to some degree.

My only problem with this book is the semantics of the title. The author is misusing the word intelligence. This mental attribute has been studied for millennia and has been a subject of experimental investigation for over a century. However, I believe his misuse of this term is a matter of "practical intelligence", for such usage attracts more popular attention than an unfamiliar term which happens to be more technically correct.

The author also defines success in very narrow terms, much like the Hollywood or Madison Avenue stereotype. While addressing the importance of cultural influences and social criteria, he fails to mention examples that do not meet the popular criterion of success. He also assumes success is the result of high achievement. Maybe not so strange a viewpoint from a Yale academic.

The author provides an extensive explanation of the problems caused by the widespread usage of such tests. Anyone who has children or aspires to higher education or certain types of jobs should read this book. It will open your eyes to the political effects of such dependency on an incomplete and flawed approach to educational and employment testing.

Highly recommended to anyone who is interested in intelligence, psychological testing, and the effects of testing on education and business. This book can also be an eye-opener for anyone who has had difficulties on standardized tests and may have problems in gaining admission to schools or obtaining jobs.

Hardly successful intelligence
From such a much-publicized expert as Prof. Sternberg, this is quite a disappointment. Not representative of a doctoral candidate at all. As if suffering from attention-deficit-disorder, the novel-length assertions could have been pared-down to half its length with a more-deserved focus on the claims of the last 10 pages. Instead, you wade through tedious defects of tests and personal family events that reveal a very ordinary insight. Early on, (probably his underclass research assistant) we are tipped off to its underwhelming conclusion when we come upon "some of the studies(this one too) showing that IQ tells you little of what you want to know about what makes for success, regardless of life pursuit." When finally heading down to the crux of the book, Prof. Sternberg digresses once again about one of his own "love theories" that has little to say about the persistence of successful intelligence. This tome should be placed several libraries away from the erudition of William James or John Locke, who both reveal at every sentence the working of an intellect. Ted Kaczynski has more thoughts on why successful intellects struggle in today's society than the professor could uncover. Compares to the topical fare of Dr. David Reuben.

Truthful book about real life
This book should be a obligatory reading anytime before one is 21 years old. You can find proof in everyday life that the work of Sternberg is not only true and informative, but also very useful. I find it helpful that the author places himself in his work (only a couple of times its just a little bit too much). It's a excellent read for those trying to find and understand the key to succes in life. Your grades in school have nothing to do with it, by the way. As a teacher, a parent and a communicator, I appreciate this book very much. Also read The Millionare Mind, by Thomas Stanley, as adittional and very well sustained proof that the theories of Sternberg are accurate. It's a highly recommended reading accesible for anyone. ... Read more

Book Description

At the age of 36, Caroline Knapp, author of the acclaimed bestseller Drinking:A Love Story, found herself confronted with a monumental task: redefining her world.She had faced the loss of both her parents, given up a twenty-year relationship with alcohol, and, as she writes, "I was wandering around in a haze of uncertainty, blinking up at the biggest questions: Who am I without parents and without alcohol? How to form attachments, and where to find comfort, in the face of such daunting vulnerability?"An answer materialized in the most unlikely form: that of a dog.Eighteen months to the day after she quit drinking, Knapp stumbled upon an eight-week-old puppy at a local animal shelter, took her home, and named her Lucille.Now two years old, Lucille has become a central force in Knapp's life: "In her," she writes,"I have found solace, joy, a bridge to the world."

Caroline Knapp has been celebrated as much for her fresh insight into emotional and psychological issues as she has been for her gifts as a writer.In Pack of Two, she brings the same perception and talent to bear on the rich, complicated terrain of human-animal relationships.In addition to mining her own experience with Lucille, Knapp speaks to a wide variety of dog people--from animal behaviorists and psychologists to other owners whose dogs have deeply affected their lives--about this emotionally complex, sometimes daunting, often profoundly healing alliance.Throughout, she explores the shift in canine roles from working partners to intimate companions and looks, too, at how this new kinship, this wordless bond, becomes a template for what we most desire ourselves. ... Read more

Reviews (64)

True dog lovers will enjoy this book!
Since I have a bond with my dogs which is similar to the relationship Ms. Knapp enjoys with Lucille, I could relate to this book. From the toy-strewn living room, to the romps in the woods, to the wonderful feelings of companionship, I nodded with recognition at every chapter. Anyone who has a strong, close bond with their dog should enjoy this book.

Excellent - kept my interest throughout
Caroline Knapp puts into words so many of the feelings I have about my relationship with my dogs. I think you probably have to be a "dog" person to thoroughly enjoy this book.

She keeps it very interesting by interjecting other peoples experiences with their dogs and analyzing what this might mean.

The bond of unconditional love is forever
Heartwarming story of the loving bond between a woman and her beloved pet dog. The consistency and strength of the bond is a true testimony to the value of unconditional love, the fact it lasts forever, and the potential for inherent pain. Saw myself in every page, and the loving bond I have shared with my pets. Most recently: the sharing of life and love with my Boston Terrier, Boomerang,,,, then the shattering pain of loss and grief. And finally, a spiritual resolution, loving acceptance and ultimate joy. Arlene Millman, author of BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGYJ (The tale of a remarkable Boston Terrier).

A beautiful book representing the canine-human relationship
Knapp is a very gifted writer: engaging, humorous, insightful, and original. I didn't want to stop reading this book--it was simply delightful. Being a devoted dog lover, I was touched by the unique ways in which Knapp described why we love dogs and how they are so important to our well-being. I truly would recommend this book to anyone who has had a special relationship with a dog and cares about understanding and deepening their relationships with animals.

Dogs is dogs, but we love them
Pack of Two lives up to its subtitle--it is an intricate and subtle exploration of the relationships between people (mostly single) and their dogs (often plural). Knapp appears in the book to be working through her reservations about the strength of her attachment to her dog Lucille. There is some pretty convoluted introspection, but she eventually comes out with a very life- and dog-affirming position--in the best cases, we love our dogs for themselves, not as replacements for kids, partners, etc. Well, no kidding. I think she approaches, but does not look straight at, the possibility that the affirmation we receive from our dogs makes us stronger--because we have dogs, we don't need people as much, and may be happier to be without partner or kids--although she makes the point that dog people tend to be more sociable and have more friends (often other dog people)... Alone (if you call hanging with the mutts alone) more, but less needy. Not a bad way to be.

One footnote. Knapp unfortunately confuses operant conditioning/positive reinforcement with no training/no discipline. In fact, operant conditioning/positive reinforcement training requires a great deal of discipline--it's just the discipline doesn't take the form of strangling your dog, pinching his/her ears, etc. People who don't train their dogs are really irresponsible. People who believe you have to hurt your dog to train it are either misguided or sadistic. Jean Donaldson's "The Culture Clash" makes these points clearly and forcefully. ... Read more

Book Description

Only recently that enough knowledge has been gathered to establish computational neuroscience as a scientific discipline in its own right. Given the complexity of the topic, and its increasing importance in progressing our understanding of how the brain works, there has long been a need for an introductory text on this complex topic. This book is one of the first introductory books on this topic. It introduces the theoretical foundations of neuroscience with a focus on the nature of information processing in the brain.This book covers the introduction and motivation of simplified models of neurons that are suitable for exploring information processing in large brain-like networks. Additionally, it introduces several fundamental network architectures and discusses their relevance for information processing in the brain, giving some examples of models of higher-order cognitive functions to demonstrate the advanced insight that can be gained with such studies. An additional feature is the inclusion of simple Matlab programs that can be used to explore many of the mechanisms explained in the book. An accompanying webpage includes programs for download. ... Read more