It may be the deepest mystery of philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience: how does the brain unite to create the self, the subjective "I"? In Altered Egos, Dr. Todd Feinberg presents a new theory of the self, based on his first-hand experience as both a psychiatrist and neurologist. Feinberg first introduces the reader to dozens of intriguing cases of patients whose disorders have resulted in what he calls "altered egos": a change in the brain that transforms the boundaries of the self. He describes patients who suffer from "alien hand syndrome" where one hand might attack the patient's own throat, patients with frontal lobe damage who invent fantastic stories about their lives, paralyzed patients who reject and disown one of their limbs. Feinberg argues that the brain damage suffered by these people has done more than simply impair certain functions--it has fragmented their sense of self. After illustrating how these patients provide a window into the self and the mind, the author presents a new model of the self that links the workings of the brain with unique and personal features of the mind, such as meaning, purpose, and being. Drawing on his own and other evidence, Feinberg explains how the unified self, while not located in one or another brain region, arises out of the staggering complexity and number of the brain's component parts.  Lucid, insightful, filled with fascinating case studies and provocative new ideas, Altered Egos promises to change the way we think about human consciousness and the creation and maintenance of human identity.

Role of Luck in Law and Life

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Todd E. Feinberg

Psychology & Counseling

Oxford Univ Pr (Txt)

Consciousness Demystified

Jon M. Mallatt

MIT Press]

From Sensing to Sentience

Random House Publishing Services

<p>Everyone worries that they-or someone they love-will one day develop Alzheimer's. We lose our keys, forget someone's name, and wonder "Am I having a senior moment or is the early stages of Alzheimer's?" Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. As Alzheimer's progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior. Although there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's, early treatment can make an enormous difference in quality of life for patients and their families.</p>

What to Do When the Doctor Says It's Early-Stage Alzheimer's: All the Medical, Lifestyle, and Alternative Medicine Information You Need to Stay Healthy and Prevent Progression

Yu, Winnie

Feinberg, Todd

Diseases & Physical Ailments

Fair Winds Press (MA)

Lost Self : Pathologies of the Brain and Identity

Julian Paul Keenan

Oxford University Press, Incorporated

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Books by Todd E. Feinberg