Cultural Patterns And Neurocognitive Circuits Ii East West Connections

The contents of this book continues the theme as in the previous volume on cultural patterns and cognitive patterns in the East and West, with special regard to those patterns which are determined by our natural-genetic endownments in contrast to those patterns which are influenced by our cultural ("East-West") influences, and within this context a unique flavour is given to the "good life" aspects of adapting to this global community. The chapters written by leading neuroscientists, give an overarching picture from the elementary organisational principles of the human brain through the basic perceptual and motor functions of the brain to the highest levels of cognition, including aesthetical or moral judgments, with an eye on what can be called "good life" in both Eastern and Western cultures. A unique compilation of state-of-the-art overviews of how the human brain is organised and functions in order to achieve high level of social, moral or aesthetic thoughts across cultures. Contents: Preface (J Vasbinder and B Gulyás)Introduction (Sydney Brenner)Neuronal Circuits: Action Observation as a Visual Process: Different Classes of Actions Engage Distinct Regions of Human PPC (Guy A Orban)The Power of Single Cases: Examples from the Early Visual Pathway and from Visual Art (Ernst Pöppel and Yan Bao)Emergence of Higher Cognitive Functions: Imitation: Mechanisms and Importance for Human Culture (Giacomo Rizzolatti)Brain Mechanisms of Tool-Use that Advance Our Knowledge Beyond the Border Neural Correlates of "Proto-Language" in the Monkey Brain (Atsushi Iriki and Kevin W McCairn)Conscious Processing: Unity in Time Rather Than in Space (Wolf Singer)Highest Cognitive Functions: Overcoming "Monocausalitis" by Complementarity as a Generative Principle and a Thought Pattern Exemplified with Aesthetic Appreciations and the Arts (Yan Bao and Ernst Pöppel)Modelling Levels of Consciousness for Language Development in Infants: A Feature-based Approach (Helena Hong Gao)Individual Differences in Math Achievement: Finland and Singapore (Kerry Lee and Pirjo Aunio)Moral Progress Requires a Coupling Between Empathy and Reason — A Social Neuroscience Perspective (Jean Decety)Appendix: The Video and Presentation Links Readership: Students and researchers interested in following cultural and behavioral patterns, with respect to their neurobiological foundations. Keywords: Cultures;Cognitive Patterns;Cultural Patterns;Behavioral PatternsReview: Key Features: Contributions from world renowned neuroscientistsFocus on highest level neurocognitive functions, including perception, action, learningJudgements on aesthetics, morals and good life

Our age is characterized by global access to information, places and cultures: we can gain more and more knowledge about "the others": other people and their cultures by "indirect knowledge" — learning about them via the global information net assisted by electronic and other high-tech communication channels, as well as by "direct knowledge": personally visiting various parts of the world and meeting local people in their own natural and social environments. East and West, two major worlds of aspirations, cultures, world-views, theoretical and practical approaches to life and death, have come closer by personal experiences of both Westerners and Easterners. But do we really understand the similarities and differences between the cultural-cognitive-behavioural-emotional patterns of the East and the West, with special regard to their neurobiological underpinnings in the human brain? The contents of this book focus on cultural patterns and cognitive patterns in the East and West, with special regard to those patterns which are determined by our natural-genetic endownments in contrast to those patterns which are influenced by our cultural ("East–West") influences, and within this context a unique flavour is given to the "good life" aspects of adapting to this global community.

"The contents of this book continues the theme as in the previous volume on cultural patterns and cognitive patterns in the East and West, with special regard to those patterns which are determined by our natural-genetic endownments in contrast to those patterns which are influenced by our cultural ("East-West") influences, and within this context a unique flavour is given to the "good life" aspects of adapting to this global community. The chapters written by leading neuroscientists, give an overarching picture from the elementary organisational principles of the human brain through the basic perceptual and motor functions of the brain to the highest levels of cognition, including aesthetical or moral judgments, with an eye on what can be called "good life" in both Eastern and Western cultures. A unique compilation of state-of-the-art overviews of how the human brain is organised and functions in order to achieve high level of social, moral or aesthetic thoughts across cultures."--

Feelings of apprehension and fear brought on by mathematical performance can affect correct mathematical application and can influence the achievement and future paths of individuals affected by it. In recent years, mathematics anxiety has become a subject of increasing interest both in educational and clinical settings. This ground-breaking collection presents theoretical, educational and psychophysiological perspectives on the widespread phenomenon of mathematics anxiety. Featuring contributions from leading international researchers, Mathematics Anxiety challenges preconceptions and clarifies several crucial areas of research, such as the distinction between mathematics anxiety from other forms of anxiety (i.e., general or test anxiety); the ways in which mathematics anxiety has been assessed (e.g. throughout self-report questionnaires or psychophysiological measures); the need to clarify the direction of the relationship between math anxiety and mathematics achievement (which causes which). Offering a revaluation of the negative connotations usually associated with mathematics anxiety and prompting avenues for future research, this book will be invaluable to academics and students in the field psychological and educational sciences, as well as teachers working with students who are struggling with mathematics anxiety

This interesting book is a compilation of the lectures and discussions held during a four-day event — Grand Challenges for Science in the 21st Century — organized by Para Limes at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.The elite group of speakers included Nobel laureate Sydney Brenner who called on all scientists to adopt a truth-seeking approach and not be afraid of challenging assumptions. The other panellists were Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal and past President of the Royal Society, the much-cited Terrence Sejnowski from the renowned Salk Institute for Biological Studies, the well-known keynote speaker in economics and complexity sciences Brian Arthur, the former President of the European Research Council Helga Nowotny and the Director of the Parmenides Center for the Conceptual Foundations of Science Eors Szathmary.The lively sessions were moderated by the Danish writer Tor Norretranders. The panel tackled topics from evolution and the origin of the universe to modern technologies and artificial intelligence. The challenges presented during the event are bound to get the reader thinking about what may lie ahead in our future.

The 2021 IPCC report made one thing crystal clear — global climate change is here to stay. Time is up. We need to act or climate change will lead to inconceivable suffering by billions of people. Buying Time for Climate Action is the combined narrative of world class experts, all committed to help humanity survive its largely self-induced destructive course. Changing that course requires urgent action. Determining which actions will lead to helpful change requires insights into the stumbling blocks that always emerge when actions aimed at change are planned, resulting in lost time. The experts who contributed to this volume, through their expertise, networks, wisdom and creativity, have largely concluded that the way to cope with the stumbling blocks is to avoid them by focusing on grassroots initiatives. Their narratives and discussions, presented in this book, highlight such thinking.The book is essential reading for anyone committed to help avoid an existential disaster for humanity, and ready to move plans into effective action.

The Federation of German Scientists together with the Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University, organized an interdisciplinary and international 'autumn school' in 2023 when 30 young researchers and students participated. This important volume comprises lectures presented by international leading scientists and prominent experts from different academic fields who provided the background knowledge for 'balanced sustainability in a changing world'.Topics selected in the first block of lectures focused on climate change and biodiversity. And in the second block, lectures were given on social and personal challenges in a changing world: How should 'smart cities' be organized in the future, and how a successful urban transformation can be managed. Then it was explained how a neuropolitical approach to humanization can help to overcome polarization in countries. The aspect of a necessary social togetherness was addressed in the third block with an example from Nepal and beyond. Finally, in a fourth block, questions of peace and intercultural spirit were evaluated.How can we reach and maintain equanimity in a changing world? How can peace be obtained? All these lectures were followed by intense discussions with the students, and their questions reflect the interdisciplinary background of the participants.It is hoped that the pragmatic suggestions from the participants of this autumn school will provide inspiration in finding solutions for imminent global and local problems.

Schools and universities educate (mostly young) people, to equip them to deal with the future as it unfolds from the present. The question — whether these schools and universities are fit for that purpose — has always been relevant, even in slow-paced times of relative stability, where the future seems predictable as a simple extension of the past.Now that the future is not predictable anymore. Slow-paced times have gone. The relative stability in which universities developed and educated successive generations is gone. The question whether universities are fit for purpose is now more relevant than ever.In this book, ten leading thinkers and eighteen students from different continents, countries and cultures present their views on futures of universities and whether present-day universities are fit for purpose. It is an exploration, meant to inform, inspire and crystallize discussions.