Science and Inquiry discussion

I'd love to read a good book on the brain, or the nervous system in general, and current theories about what consciousness is. There's probably no good scientific answer to that at the moment, but if anybody can recommend a good book - or, failing that - any book - for the lay reader about what science has to say about the brain these days, I'd really love to hear about it.

Thanks.

There's always Daniel Dennet's (somewhat classic) Consciousness Explained

Looks interesting Kenny. The book which came to mind in response to bups inquiry was Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, which does not tackle the topic head on but looks at whAt music says about the human brain. Some of it was a little slow, but if someone has an interest in music they would likely find it worthwhile.

Yes and other Oliver Sacks books: http://www.oliversacks.com/about-the-...

examine various aspects of brain/mind/consciousness.

Thanks. It looks like Dennet wrote a follow-up called Sweet Dreams that updates the 1991 book.

I'll take anything I can get - consciousness is a pretty ill-understood phenomenon, I think it's fair to say.

Two books that I really enjoyed are:
The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science
and
The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force

...and their ratings indicate everybody else likes them too.

Added to the TBR pile - thanks!

I really enjoy Steven Pinker's books...more about psychology, but very interesting reads.

Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain is recommended by Sean Carroll. See his blog.

I may have to cover the seizure-inducing front with a book cover, but it sounds great. Thanks!

How about Quirk? This book is on my to-read list and Hannah Holmes is a fantastic writer: witty, easily understandable, and in-depth in her information.

Good suggestions in the previous group. I really enjoyed these three: 1) How We Decide, 2) Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom, and 3) Welcome to Your Brain: Why You Lose Your Car Keys But Never Forget How To Drive and Other Puzzles of Everyday Behavior.

I am a career neuroscientist, but my expertise is not in the cognitive areas you want to understand. The books I listed will touch on many aspects of conscious brain function, and all are very well written and very readable.

Jim wrote: "Good suggestions in the previous group. I really enjoyed these three: 1) How We Decide, 2) Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom, a..."

The "Welcome to your brain" book looks interesting. I have put it on my to-read list. Thanks!

Yet another "brain book" suggestion: Mapping the Mind

Charise wrote: "The "Welcome to your brain" book looks interesting. I have put it on my to-read list. Thanks!"

You are most welcome, and I hope you enjoy it!

bup wrote: "I'd love to read a good book on the brain, or the nervous system in general, and current theories about what consciousness is. "

Science News has started a new 3-part series of articles on the struggles of science to explain consciousness:

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/featu...

Thanks. I think the brain is to consciousness as a clock is to time. Physicists struggle with what time really *is* and punt and say it's the stuff a clock measures. So it often is with consciousness.

So it's interesting to see attempts to deal with something with a bit of scientific rigor while not losing what is the real essence of the concept of consciousness. I like the first essay.

I highly recommend the book "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life" by Dr. Amen (a psychiatrist). This excellent book examines the effects of healthy and unhealthy choices on brain function and illustrates the point with functional brain scans (SPECT scans). Dr. Amen pioneered the use of SPECT scan as an aid to making difficult psychiatric diagnoses and I am convinced that it is the future of that profession. I personally sent a patient to his clinic to assist me with a particularly difficult diagnosis about a year ago and I was extremely impressed with the results.

Dr. Leonardo Noto
Physician-turned-Author

www.leonardonoto.com

Leonardo wrote: "I highly recommend the book "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life" by Dr. Amen (a psychiatrist). This excellent book examines the effects of healthy and unhealthy choices on brain function and illus..."

I agree--Daniel Amen's books are fascinating. Just today, in the Washington Post Magazine, there is an extensive article about Dr. Amen:
Daniel Amen is the Most Popular Psychiatrist in America. To Most Researchers and Scientists that's a Very Bad Thing. The article is about the controversy that surrounds Dr. Amen's unorthodox interpretations of SPECT scans; most psychiatrists believe that he is a quack. Nevertheless, there is plenty of evidence that his SPECT scan interpretations and diagnoses really do work.