The Human Mind Explained : An Owner's Guide to the Mysteries of the Mind

The Human Mind Explained explores every aspect of the mind in five chapters. "Surveying the Mind" determines what the brain is and how it has been perceived and studied through the ages (Aristotle thought the mind was in the heart); "Building the Brain" reveals what the brain is composed of and how it communicates with the body. With the brain's anatomy established, "Inputs and Outputs" looks at how the brain works within its structure, how it coordinates the whole range of subconscious activities such as involuntary muscle control, and how it controls the processing and perception of the senses. Going beyond the mechanical, "Far Horizons" examines our ability to communicate, analyze, think creatively, and dream. Finally, "States of Mind" explores consciousness - what makes the human mind unique among animals - and mental states, including fears and phobias, manic depression and schizophrenia, and their treatments. The Human Mind Explained covers every aspect of the brain thoroughly but succinctly in jargon-free language that we all can understand. Everyday analogies make complex systems easy to grasp; illuminating case histories highlight fascinating mental oddities and scientific discoveries; and the comprehensive crossreferencing system, so successful throughout the "Explained" series, reveals how each individual topic relates to the subject as a whole.