From Neurons to Self-Consciousness: How the Brain Generates the Mind (Gateway Books) - Softcover

Korzeniewski, Bernard

3.33

6 ratings by Goodreads

9781616142278: From Neurons to Self-Consciousness: How the Brain Generates the Mind (Gateway Books)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1616142278 ISBN 13: 9781616142278

Publisher: Humanities Press, 2010

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

In this overview of what is now known about brain functioning, biophysicist Bernard Korzeniewski constructs a novel theory about how consciousness gradually emerged in the course of evolution from the single neuron in certain species of sea anemone to the complex neural network of the human brain.He first explains how integrative and associative neural structures form the material substrate of the subjective conceptual network. He goes on to demonstrate how the system of instincts plus reward and punishment mechanisms makes the neural/conceptual network intentional. Finally, he argues that self-consciousness emerged when the cognitive center in the brain, which evolved to receive signals from sensory receptors, began to receive signals from itself. It thus created a representational model of itself within itself, and from this our sense of self-awareness emerged.In the end, the author suggests that as more is learned about the working of the brain, philosophical problems that have caused centuries of speculation will simply be resolved by the facts of neurophysiology.Rich in detail about the latest brain research yet accessible to the lay reader, this stimulating book offers much to ponder.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:

Bernard Korzeniewski (Krakow, Poland) is a professor of biophysics in the Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Biotechnology at Jagiellonian University. He is the author of five books in Polish on biological evolution; brain, mind, and consciousness; and related problems.

Review:

"Dr Korzeniewski's book is a lucid account of how self-consciousness emerges from neuronal activity. He acts as an expert guide as he leads from the base camp of brute matter, through the foothills of neuronal circuits, around the obstacles of information processing, and on to the summit of consciousness, from which we can look down with dizzying clarity at a range of philosophical and scientific problems." --Dr. Guy Brown, reader in cellular biochemistry, University of Cambridge, and author of The Living End: The Future of Death, Aging and Immortality and The Energy of Life

"In this fine book, Professor Bernard Korzeniewski proposes a novel theory of the brain and mind. Anyone interested in the nature of consciousness, more generally, and self consciousness, more specifically, will find From Neurons to Self-Consciousness to be an engaging introduction to this important topic." --Elizabeth F. Loftus, PhD, Distinguished Professor, University of California-Irvine

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.