The Quest for Consciousness: A Neurobiological Approach - Couverture rigide

Koch, Christof

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 0974707708 ISBN 13 : 9780974707709

Editeur : Roberts & Company Publishers, 2004

Synopsis

Consciousness is one of science's last great unsolved mysteries. How can the salty taste and crunchy texture of potato chips, the unmistakable smell of dogs after they have been in the rain, or the exhilarating feeling of hanging on tiny fingerholds many feet above the last secure foothold on a cliff, emerge from networks of neurons and their associated synaptic and molecular processes? In The Quest for Consciousness, Caltech neuroscientist Christof Koch explores the biological basis of the subjective mind in animals and people.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

Consciousness is the major unsolved problem in biology. How do what philosophers call 'qualia', the redness of red and painfulness of pain, arise from the concerted actions of nerve cells and their associated synaptic and molecular processes? Can such feelings be explained by modern science, or is some quite different kind of explanation needed? And how can this seemingly intractable problem be approached experimentally? Written by a world-renowned scientist as an introduction to the field and drawing upon clinical, psychological, and physiological observations, this book seeks answers to these questions within a neuroscientific framework; that is, how do the operations of the conscious mind emerge out of the specific interactions of myriads of neurons? Contents: 1. Introduction to the study of consciousness; 2. Neurons, the atoms of perception; 3. The first steps in seeing; 4. The primary visual cortex as a prototypical neocortical area; 5. What are the Neuronal Correlates of Consciousness?; 6. The Neuronal Correlates of Consciousness are not the primary visual cortex; 7. The architecture of the cerebral cortex; 8. Going beyond the primary visual cortex; 9. Attention and consciousness; 10. The neuronal underpinnings of attention; 11. Memories and consciousness; 12. What can you do without being conscious: The zombie within; 13. Agnosia, blindsight, epilepsy and sleep walking: clinical evidence for zombies; 14. Some speculations on the function of consciousness; 15. On time and consciousness; 16. When the mind flips; 17. Splitting the brain splits consciousness; 18. Further speculation on thoughts and the nonconscious homunculus; 19. A framework for consciousness; 20. An interview; Glossary; Bibliography; Index.

Revue de presse

'The Quest for Consciousness' is not only a mine of information, and full of provocative thoughts and insights, but a delight to read and ponder.' --Oliver Sacks

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Roberts & Company Publishers
• Date d'édition: 2004
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0974707708
• ISBN 13: 9780974707709
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 432
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible