The Mind And Its Mechanism

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."

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 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.

This is Volume IX of ten of collection of works on Physiological Psychology. The ideal of science is the highest possible degree of unification, and it undoubtedly aims at the correlation of psychological facts with physiological mechanics, neglecting the subjective aspect of consciousness. This effort to attain unity, which, according to the profound views of Emile Meyerson, responds to the fundamental craving after unity inherent in the human mind, has an undeniable value in research. Initially published in 1927, this book, looks at neuro-mental functioning, receptive and incito-motor functions, verbal function and thought, and the affective regulation of mental life.

An exploration of the mind-body problem from the perspective of artificial intelligence.

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

First released in the Spring of 1999, How People Learn has been expanded to show how the theories and insights from the original book can translate into actions and practice, now making a real connection between classroom activities and learning behavior. This edition includes far-reaching suggestions for research that could increase the impact that classroom teaching has on actual learning. Like the original edition, this book offers exciting new research about the mind and the brain that provides answers to a number of compelling questions. When do infants begin to learn? How do experts learn and how is this different from non-experts? What can teachers and schools do-with curricula, classroom settings, and teaching methods--to help children learn most effectively? New evidence from many branches of science has significantly added to our understanding of what it means to know, from the neural processes that occur during learning to the influence of culture on what people see and absorb. How People Learn examines these findings and their implications for what we teach, how we teach it, and how we assess what our children learn. The book uses exemplary teaching to illustrate how approaches based on what we now know result in in-depth learning. This new knowledge calls into question concepts and practices firmly entrenched in our current education system. Topics include: How learning actually changes the physical structure of the brain. How existing knowledge affects what people notice and how they learn. What the thought processes of experts tell us about how to teach. The amazing learning potential of infants. The relationship of classroom learning and everyday settings of community and workplace. Learning needs and opportunities for teachers. A realistic look at the role of technology in education.

This book offers something unique - a perspective of mind and language where diverse topics are carefully integrated within one framework.