Mechanisms Of The Mind

The Mechanism of Mind presents Edward de Bono’s original theories on how the brain functions, processes information and organises it. It explains why the brain, the ’mechanism’, can only work in certain ways and introduces the four basic types of thinking that have gone on to inform his life’s work, namely ‘natural thinking’, ‘logical thinking’,’ mathematical thinking’ and ‘lateral thinking’. De Bono also outlines his argument for introducing the word ‘PO’ as an alternative to the word ‘NO’ when putting lateral thinking into practice. Drawing on colourful visual imagery to help explain his theories and thought-processes, from light bulbs and sugar cubes to photography and water erosion, The Mechanism of Mind remains as fascinating and as insightful as it was when it was first published in 1969. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to gain a greater understanding of how the mind works and organises information – and how Edward de Bono came to develop his creative thinking tools.

Mechanisms of the Mind is the ONLY BOOK available that reveals what goes on in your mind when you think, set goals, make decisions, etc. and how subconscious & unconscious thoughts & processes influence you, all of which are explained using common sense logic. It is a result of research done by author Parag Jasani, who has developed Dichotomized Operating System Model, a model that explains how the mind develops and works in the brain. It is the first ever causal account of the human mind and is based on the process of natural selection proposed by Charles Darwin in the year 1859. Besides explaining mechanisms underlying diverse mind phenomena like thinking, sensations, perception, awareness, attention, multitasking, instincts, etc., the model solves millennia old mysteries like consciousness, free will, subjective experience, the self, etc. by revealing their underlying mechanisms using a single set of functional components on a single platform. In particular, the model shows how a simple mechanism - so simple, it can be easily understood by an 8-year-old - offers brain the capability of making 'its own' decisions, when no other mechanism in the world can. It also shows how your thoughts, actions, personality and behaviour are controlled by something that you cannot hold in your hands, has no physical dimensions, does not weigh anything, has no smell and is not visible. The book is full of cause-and-effect mechanisms which are explained in a step-by-step manner, thereby simplifying the workings of the human brain - the most complex structure known to the mankind - to the level that can be understood by anyone who is prepared to make the necessary effort. No prior knowledge of any subject is required to understand it. It is your first chance to comprehensively understand how your mind works - a new way to introspect. Book preview & updates: mechanismsofthemind.com

This second edition of The Creative Mind has been updated to include recent developments in artificial intelligence, with a new preface, introduction and conclusion by the author.

This book aims to understand human cognition and psychology through a comprehensive computational theory of the human mind, namely, a computational "cognitive architecture" (or more specifically, the Clarion cognitive architecture). The goal of this work is to develop a unified framework for understanding the human mind, and within the unified framework, to develop process-based, mechanistic explanations of a large variety of psychological phenomena. Specifically, the book first describes the essential Clarion framework and its cognitive-psychological justifications, then its computational instantiations, and finally its applications to capturing, simulating, and explaining various psychological phenomena and empirical data. The book shows how the models and simulations shed light on psychological mechanisms and processes through the lens of a unified framework. In fields ranging from cognitive science, to psychology, to artificial intelligence, and even to philosophy, researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, and practitioners of various kinds may have interest in topics covered by this book. The book may also be suitable for seminars or courses, at graduate or undergraduate levels, on cognitive architectures or cognitive modeling (i.e. computational psychology).

First published in 1927, the original blurb reads: "Scientists are beginning to believe there is some immaterial thing which performs certain functions that the material mechanism of the brain is powerless to perform. It is the purpose of this book to explain what that immaterial thing is and how it functions. The Mind and Its Mechanism deals with a theory that may conceivably influence the study of psychology, and will interest not only psychologists, but physiologists, physicists and biologists." Now back in print, this title can be read and enjoyed in its historical context.

The brain ... There is no other part of the human anatomy that is so intriguing. How does it develop and function and why does it sometimes, tragically, degenerate? The answers are complex. In Discovering the Brain, science writer Sandra Ackerman cuts through the complexity to bring this vital topic to the public. The 1990s were declared the "Decade of the Brain" by former President Bush, and the neuroscience community responded with a host of new investigations and conferences. Discovering the Brain is based on the Institute of Medicine conference, Decade of the Brain: Frontiers in Neuroscience and Brain Research. Discovering the Brain is a "field guide" to the brainâ€"an easy-to-read discussion of the brain's physical structure and where functions such as language and music appreciation lie. Ackerman examines: How electrical and chemical signals are conveyed in the brain. The mechanisms by which we see, hear, think, and pay attentionâ€"and how a "gut feeling" actually originates in the brain. Learning and memory retention, including parallels to computer memory and what they might tell us about our own mental capacity. Development of the brain throughout the life span, with a look at the aging brain. Ackerman provides an enlightening chapter on the connection between the brain's physical condition and various mental disorders and notes what progress can realistically be made toward the prevention and treatment of stroke and other ailments. Finally, she explores the potential for major advances during the "Decade of the Brain," with a look at medical imaging techniquesâ€"what various technologies can and cannot tell usâ€"and how the public and private sectors can contribute to continued advances in neuroscience. This highly readable volume will provide the public and policymakersâ€"and many scientists as wellâ€"with a helpful guide to understanding the many discoveries that are sure to be announced throughout the "Decade of the Brain."