Brain and Mind (Psychology Library Editions: Comparative Psychology)

The relationship between brain and mind is one of the most baffling problems in science but potentially one of the most interesting. First published in 1985, this collection of original essays traces the development of mind in animals and human beings from its origins in the evolution of larger brains with a capacity for creating mental models of the environment. Examples are given of the way in which the brain may use this increased capacity to represent both the physical and social worlds, and the authors suggest that this type of mental activity might underly what human beings recognize in themselves as ‘awareness’ or ‘consciousness’.

Brain and Mind brings together much of the latest research and provides a useful framework for the study of this increasingly important subject. The contributors are experts in a wide range of disciplines and draw their conclusions from a broad base of clinical and experimental evidence. Students of psychology, zoology, anatomy, medicine and philosophy, as well as anyone who has wondered about their own mind and its relation to the brain, will find this a fascinating and stimulating source.

David A. Oakley