What is the true definition of the mind? What does it do? And what happens when things go wrong? Presenting a thematically organized tour of the mind, this superb reference provides answers to these and many other complicated questions about the mind and its functions.
Each section consists of an introductory essay followed by specially selected entries drawn from Richard Gregory's famous Oxford Companion to the Mind. Focusing on psychological processes (and the underlying physiology) that are central to everyday experience, the book expertly examines everything from the hardware of the mind, the biological basis of behavior, through consciousness, learning, and mental disorders, to practical examples of minds in action (such as driving a car). By exploring in fascinating and authoritative detail the everyday mysteries of the mind, it is a necessary source for all mental health professionals and an ideal reference for all those broadly curious about the biological and cognitive functions behind our actions.
Although the bulk of the text is based on selections from the existing Companion, this new Guide includes five entirely new entries based on the latest research: cognitive defects; connectionist models of mental processes; connectionist models of mental deficits; images of the brain in action; and schizophrenia.