What the Hands Reveal about the Brain

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Author :
Publisher : MIT Press
ISBN 13 : 9780262660662
Total Pages : 260 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (66 download)

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Book Synopsis What the Hands Reveal about the Brain by : Howard Poizner

Download or read book What the Hands Reveal about the Brain written by Howard Poizner and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 1987 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What the Hands Reveal About the Brain provides dramatic evidence that language is not limited to hearing and speech, that there are primary linguistic systems passed down from one generation of deaf people to the next, which have been forged into antonomous languages and are not derived front spoken languages.

What the Hands Reveal about the Brain

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Author :
Publisher : MIT Press (MA)
ISBN 13 : 9780262161053
Total Pages : 236 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (61 download)

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Book Synopsis What the Hands Reveal about the Brain by : Howard Poizner

Download or read book What the Hands Reveal about the Brain written by Howard Poizner and published by MIT Press (MA). This book was released on 1987-01-01 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What the Hands Reveal About the Brain provides dramatic evidence that language is not limited to hearing and speech, that there are primary linguistic systems passed down from one generation of deaf people to the next, which have been forged into antonomous languages and are not derived front spoken languages.

Hand and Brain

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Author :
Publisher : Elsevier
ISBN 13 : 9780080532745
Total Pages : 513 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (327 download)

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Book Synopsis Hand and Brain by :

Download or read book Hand and Brain written by and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 1996-06-24 with total page 513 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Used for gestures of communication, environmental exploration, and the grasping and manipulating of objects, the hand has a vital role in our lives. The hand's anatomical structure and neural control are among the most complex and detailed of human motor systems. Hand and Brain is a comprehensive overview of the hand's sensorimotor control. It discusses mediating variables in perception and prehension, the coordination of muscles with the central nervous system, the nature of movement control and hand positioning, hand-arm coordination in reaching and grasping, and the sensory function of the hand. In the last decade the rapid growth of neuroscience has been paralleled by a surge of interest in hand function. This reflects the fact that many of the fundamental issues facing neuroscientists today--including the problem of relating physiology to behavior--are central to the study of sensorimotor control of the hand. This book takes a broad interdisciplinary perspective on the control of hand movements that includes neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, psychology and neuropsychology, and biomechanics. The authors, who have all made significant scientific contributions in their own right, have sought to introduce their chosen topics in a manner that the undergraduate reader will be able to follow without sacrificing detailed and up-to-date coverage ofthe major developments. Uses an interdisciplinary approach including behavioral and neurophysiological data Describes a variety of experimental methodologies Treats neural computations necessary for the control of movement Covers implications of biomechanics for control, sensory mechanisms, and perceptual processing (haptics) Includes manipulative hand function as well as reaching Overviews each group of chapters using link sections Contains an integrated index and a glosssary The five sections cover: Mediating variables in perception and prehension The coordination of muscles with the central nervous system The nature of movement control and hand positioning Hand-arm coordination in reaching and grasping The sensory function of the hand

Hand and Mind

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Author :
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
ISBN 13 : 0226561348
Total Pages : 432 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (265 download)

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Book Synopsis Hand and Mind by : David McNeill

Download or read book Hand and Mind written by David McNeill and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 1992 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A research subject is shown a cartoon like the 1950 Canary Row--a classic Sylvester and Tweedy Bird caper that features Sylvester climbing up a downspout, swallowing a bowling ball and slamming into a brick wall. After watching the cartoon, the subject is videotaped recounting the story from memory to a listener who has not seen the cartoon. Painstaking analysis of the videotapes revealed that although the research subjects--children as well as adults, some neurologically impaired--represented a wide variety of linguistic groupings, the gestures of people speaking English and a half dozen other languages manifest the same principles. Relying on data from more than ten years of research, McNeill shows that gestures do not simply form a part of what is said and meant but have an impact on thought itself.

The Hand and the Brain

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Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1447153340
Total Pages : 197 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (471 download)

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Book Synopsis The Hand and the Brain by : Göran Lundborg

Download or read book The Hand and the Brain written by Göran Lundborg and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-09-11 with total page 197 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents the human hand from an overall perspective – from the first appearance of hand-like structures in the fins of big fishes living millions of years ago to today ́s and the future’s mind-controlled artificial hands. Much focus is given to the extremely well-developed sensation of the hand, its importance and its linkage to brain plasticity mechanisms. How can active hands rapidly expand their representational area in the brain? How can the sense of touch substitute for other deficient senses, such as in Braille reading where hand sensation substitutes for missing vision? How can the mere observation of active hands, belonging to others, activate the hand area in the observer’s own brain and what is the importance of this phenomenon for learning by imitation and the understanding of other peoples’ actions, gestures and body language? Why are some of us left-handed and what are the consequences from cultural and physiological viewpoints? Why does phantom sensation and phantom pain occur after hand amputation, and what can we do about it? Why can salamanders regenerate new extremities while humans can not? Is it possible to transplant a hand from a diseased individual to an amputee? Can artificial robotic hands be controlled by our mind, and can they ever gain the role of a normal hand? What role did the hand and the brain play during evolution in tool construction and development of language and cognitive functions? The hand has a high symbolic value in religion, literature and art and our hands have a key role in gestures and body language. The Hand and the Brain is aimed at anybody with interest in life sciences, in the medical field especially hand surgeons, orthopaedic specialists, neurologists and general practitioners, and those working in rehabilitation medicine and pain treatment. The original Swedish version of The Hand and the Brain has also become very popular among physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and among a general population with an interest in science.

The Sensory Hand

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Author :
Publisher : Harvard University Press
ISBN 13 : 9780674019744
Total Pages : 648 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (197 download)

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Book Synopsis The Sensory Hand by : Vernon B. Mountcastle

Download or read book The Sensory Hand written by Vernon B. Mountcastle and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2005-12-30 with total page 648 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Vernon Mountcastle has devoted his career to studying the neurophysiology of sensation in the hand. In The Sensory Hand he provides an astonishingly comprehensive account of the neural underpinnings of the rich and complex tactile experiences evoked by stimulation of the hand.

The Hand

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Publisher : Vintage
ISBN 13 : 0679740473
Total Pages : 418 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (797 download)

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Book Synopsis The Hand by : Frank R. Wilson

Download or read book The Hand written by Frank R. Wilson and published by Vintage. This book was released on 1999-09-14 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A startling argument . . . provocative . . . absorbing." --The Boston Globe "Ambitious . . . arresting . . . celebrates the importance of hands to our lives today as well as to the history of our species." --The New York Times Book Review The human hand is a miracle of biomechanics, one of the most remarkable adaptations in the history of evolution. The hands of a concert pianist can elicit glorious sound and stir emotion; those of a surgeon can perform the most delicate operations; those of a rock climber allow him to scale a vertical mountain wall. Neurologist Frank R. Wilson makes the striking claim that it is because of the unique structure of the hand and its evolution in cooperation with the brain that Homo sapiens became the most intelligent, preeminent animal on the earth. In this fascinating book, Wilson moves from a discussion of the hand's evolution--and how its intimate communication with the brain affects such areas as neurology, psychology, and linguistics--to provocative new ideas about human creativity and how best to nurture it. Like Oliver Sacks and Stephen Jay Gould, Wilson handles a daunting range of scientific knowledge with a surprising deftness and a profound curiosity about human possibility. Provocative, illuminating, and delightful to read, The Hand encourages us to think in new ways about one of our most taken-for-granted assets. "A mark of the book's excellence [is that] it makes the reader aware of the wonder in trivial, everyday acts, and reveals the complexity behind the simplest manipulation." --The Washington Post

How People Learn

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309131979
Total Pages : 384 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis How People Learn by : National Research Council

Download or read book How People Learn written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2000-08-11 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Discovering the Brain

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309045290
Total Pages : 195 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (9 download)

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Book Synopsis Discovering the Brain by : National Academy of Sciences

Download or read book Discovering the Brain written by National Academy of Sciences and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1992-01-01 with total page 195 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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."

Lifting Depression

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Author :
Publisher : ReadHowYouWant.com
ISBN 13 : 145875930X
Total Pages : 406 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (587 download)

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Book Synopsis Lifting Depression by : Kelly Lambert

Download or read book Lifting Depression written by Kelly Lambert and published by ReadHowYouWant.com. This book was released on 2010-10-08 with total page 406 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing on the latest findings from neuroscience, as well as cultural observation and her own unique laboratory research, psychologist Kelly Lambert puts forth a provocative new theory about the cause and treatment of depression. Today's young adults are up to ten times more likely to experience depression than their grandparents were. Could it be that in our increasingly automated world, the reduced physical effort needed to accomplish anything may somehow interfere with our level of happiness and subsequent responses to stress? Neuroscientist Kelly Lambert finds compelling evidence that having to work hard for rewards significantly improves mood and prevents depression. Beginning with her innovative research on rats - she compared ''trust-fund rats'' (whose rewards came with no effort on their part) to hard-working ''trained-to-succeed'' rodents - Lambert offers hope of treatment for people without debilitating (and often ineffective) drugs. Drawing on a wealth of information from the fields of anthropology, neuroscience, and evolutionary psychology, Lambert develops a unique theory suggesting that physical effort directed toward tangible outcomes activates particular regions of the brain and builds resilience against the emotional emptiness and negative thinking associated with depression. Whereas most therapies emphasize the importance of mental activity, Lambert reminds us of the importance of physical activity in establishing control in a fast-paced culture that is focused more on the prospect of immediate gratification than savoring the fruits of our labor.

Hand and Mind

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Author :
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
ISBN 13 : 9780226561325
Total Pages : 446 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (613 download)

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Book Synopsis Hand and Mind by : David McNeill

Download or read book Hand and Mind written by David McNeill and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 1992-08-15 with total page 446 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A research subject is shown a cartoon like the 1950 Canary Row--a classic Sylvester and Tweedy Bird caper that features Sylvester climbing up a downspout, swallowing a bowling ball and slamming into a brick wall. After watching the cartoon, the subject is videotaped recounting the story from memory to a listener who has not seen the cartoon. Painstaking analysis of the videotapes revealed that although the research subjects--children as well as adults, some neurologically impaired--represented a wide variety of linguistic groupings, the gestures of people speaking English and a half dozen other languages manifest the same principles. Relying on data from more than ten years of research, McNeill shows that gestures do not simply form a part of what is said and meant but have an impact on thought itself.

Mindsight

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Author :
Publisher : Bantam
ISBN 13 : 0553907107
Total Pages : 338 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (539 download)

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Book Synopsis Mindsight by : Daniel J. Siegel

Download or read book Mindsight written by Daniel J. Siegel and published by Bantam. This book was released on 2010-01-12 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From a pioneer in the field of mental health comes a groundbreaking book on the healing power of "mindsight," the potent skill that allows you to make positive changes in your brain–and in your life. Foreword by Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence • Is there a memory that torments you, or an irrational fear you can't shake? • Do you sometimes become unreasonably angry or upset and find it hard to calm down? • Do you ever wonder why you can't stop behaving the way you do, no matter how hard you try? • Are you and your child (or parent, partner, or boss) locked in a seemingly inevitable pattern of conflict? What if you could escape traps like these and live a fuller, richer, happier life? This isn't mere speculation but the result of twenty-five years of careful hands-on clinical work by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. A Harvard-trained physician, Dr. Siegel is one of the revolutionary global innovators in the integration of brain science into the practice of psychotherapy. Using case histories from his practice, he shows how, by following the proper steps, nearly everyone can learn how to focus their attention on the internal world of the mind in a way that will literally change the wiring and architecture of their brain. Through his synthesis of a broad range of scientific research with applications to everyday life, Dr. Siegel has developed novel approaches that have helped hundreds of patients. And now he has written the first book that will help all of us understand the potential we have to create our own lives. Showing us mindsight in action, Dr. Siegel describes • a sixteen-year-old boy with bipolar disorder who uses meditation and other techniques instead of drugs to calm the emotional storms that made him suicidal • a woman paralyzed by anxiety, who uses mindsight to discover, in an unconscious memory of a childhood accident, the source of her dread • a physician–the author himself–who pays attention to his intuition, which he experiences as a "vague, uneasy feeling in my belly, a gnawing restlessness in my heart and my gut," and tracks down a patient who could have gone deaf because of an inaccurately written prescription for an ear infection • a twelve-year-old girl with OCD who learns a meditation that is "like watching myself from outside myself" and, using a form of internal dialogue, is able to stop the compulsive behaviors that have been tormenting her These and many other extraordinary stories illustrate how mindsight can help us master our emotions, heal our relationships, and reach our fullest potential.

The Wisdom of Our Hands

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Author :
Publisher : Linden Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781610355018
Total Pages : 180 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (55 download)

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Book Synopsis The Wisdom of Our Hands by : Doug Stowe

Download or read book The Wisdom of Our Hands written by Doug Stowe and published by Linden Publishing. This book was released on 2022-02-22 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A guide to living fully and humanely by learning the wisdom of authentic manual work. Most of us modern people live in a world of constant abstraction, immersed in our heads and our screens. But there is a deeper wisdom in working with your hands in the real world. In The Wisdom of Our Hands, craftsman and educator Doug Stowe shows how working with handcrafts, either professionally or as a hobby, is essential for a full education and a full life. Based on his 45 years as a woodworker and 20 years as a teacher of handcrafts, Stowe argues that human beings have a natural need to express themselves creatively through tangible work. The use of one's hands and whole body to make physical things promotes both physical and mental health and fosters a sense of mastery in both young and adult students. A life of craftsmanship is also an opportunity and obligation to define one's own values. Drawing on his experiences living and working in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a town dedicated to handcrafts and arts, Stowe demonstrates how craft work creates community, forges deeper social bounds, and fosters a saner attitude about the value of relative value of human labor and material goods. A quietly radical and spiritual blueprint for a deeper and more connected way of life, The Wisdom of Our Hands is a transformational book.

The Human Hand

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Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1317393279
Total Pages : 202 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (173 download)

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Book Synopsis The Human Hand by : Charlotte Wolff

Download or read book The Human Hand written by Charlotte Wolff and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-08-11 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Originally published in 1942, this book was very different from anything else written about the psychology of hands. The author had worked amongst apes and monkeys at the zoo, patients in what at the time were called ‘mental hospitals’, and amongst all manner of men, women and children. The results of her research are found here where she looks at how the hands link to the brain and ultimately our personality. A pioneer in this field the author continued her research in this area for a number of years. A fascinating glimpse into early personality psychology.

On the Other Hand

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Publisher : JHU Press
ISBN 13 : 1421423340
Total Pages : 217 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (214 download)

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Book Synopsis On the Other Hand by : Howard I. Kushner

Download or read book On the Other Hand written by Howard I. Kushner and published by JHU Press. This book was released on 2017-09-25 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Does being left-handed make a person different in any way that matters? Since the late Stone Age, approximately 10 percent of humans have been left-handed, yet for most of human history left-handedness has been stigmatized. In On the Other Hand, Howard I. Kushner traces the impact of left-handedness on human cognition, behavior, culture, and health. A left-hander himself, Kushner has long been interested in the meanings associated with left-handedness, and ultimately with whether hand preference can even be defined in a significant way. As he explores the medical and cultural history of left-handedness, Kushner describes the associated taboos, rituals, and stigma from around the globe. The words “left” and “left hand” have negative connotations in all languages, and left-handers have even historically been viewed as disabled. In this comprehensive history of left-handedness, Kushner asks why left-handedness exists. He examines the relationship—if any—between handedness, linguistics, and learning disabilities, reveals how toleration of left-handedness serves as a barometer of wider cultural toleration and permissiveness, and wonders why the reported number of left-handers is significantly lower in Asia and Africa than in the West. Written in a lively style that mixes personal biography with scholarly research, On the Other Hand tells a comprehensive story about the science, traditions, and prejudices surrounding left-handedness.

Social

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Author :
Publisher : Crown
ISBN 13 : 0307889114
Total Pages : 442 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (78 download)

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Book Synopsis Social by : Matthew D. Lieberman

Download or read book Social written by Matthew D. Lieberman and published by Crown. This book was released on 2013-10-08 with total page 442 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We are profoundly social creatures--more than we know. In Social, renowned psychologist Matthew Lieberman explores groundbreaking research in social neuroscience revealing that our need to connect with other people is even more fundamental, more basic, than our need for food or shelter. Because of this, our brain uses its spare time to learn about the social world--other people and our relation to them. It is believed that we must commit 10,000 hours to master a skill. According to Lieberman, each of us has spent 10,000 hours learning to make sense of people and groups by the time we are ten. Social argues that our need to reach out to and connect with others is a primary driver behind our behavior. We believe that pain and pleasure alone guide our actions. Yet, new research using fMRI--including a great deal of original research conducted by Lieberman and his UCLA lab--shows that our brains react to social pain and pleasure in much the same way as they do to physical pain and pleasure. Fortunately, the brain has evolved sophisticated mechanisms for securing our place in the social world. We have a unique ability to read other people’s minds, to figure out their hopes, fears, and motivations, allowing us to effectively coordinate our lives with one another. And our most private sense of who we are is intimately linked to the important people and groups in our lives. This wiring often leads us to restrain our selfish impulses for the greater good. These mechanisms lead to behavior that might seem irrational, but is really just the result of our deep social wiring and necessary for our success as a species. Based on the latest cutting edge research, the findings in Social have important real-world implications. Our schools and businesses, for example, attempt to minimalize social distractions. But this is exactly the wrong thing to do to encourage engagement and learning, and literally shuts down the social brain, leaving powerful neuro-cognitive resources untapped. The insights revealed in this pioneering book suggest ways to improve learning in schools, make the workplace more productive, and improve our overall well-being.

Phantoms in the Brain

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Author :
Publisher : Harper Collins
ISBN 13 : 0688172172
Total Pages : 353 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (881 download)

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Book Synopsis Phantoms in the Brain by : V. S. Ramachandran

Download or read book Phantoms in the Brain written by V. S. Ramachandran and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 1999-08-18 with total page 353 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran is internationally renowned for uncovering answers to the deep and quirky questions of human nature that few scientists have dared to address. His bold insights about the brain are matched only by the stunning simplicity of his experiments -- using such low-tech tools as cotton swabs, glasses of water and dime-store mirrors. In Phantoms in the Brain, Dr. Ramachandran recounts how his work with patients who have bizarre neurological disorders has shed new light on the deep architecture of the brain, and what these findings tell us about who we are, how we construct our body image, why we laugh or become depressed, why we may believe in God, how we make decisions, deceive ourselves and dream, perhaps even why we're so clever at philosophy, music and art. Some of his most notable cases: A woman paralyzed on the left side of her body who believes she is lifting a tray of drinks with both hands offers a unique opportunity to test Freud's theory of denial. A man who insists he is talking with God challenges us to ask: Could we be "wired" for religious experience? A woman who hallucinates cartoon characters illustrates how, in a sense, we are all hallucinating, all the time. Dr. Ramachandran's inspired medical detective work pushes the boundaries of medicine's last great frontier -- the human mind -- yielding new and provocative insights into the "big questions" about consciousness and the self.