The Brain-Shaped Mind
What the Brain Can Tell Us About the Mind

Neural networks are used to explore how the brain's structure influences the mind.

Naomi Goldblum (Author), Shifra Glick (Illustrated by)

9780521000949, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 23 August 2001

148 pages, 16 b/w illus. 7 tables
22.7 x 15.3 x 0.9 cm, 0.261 kg

'The book is indeed easy to understand. It is well structured, minimally technical in its terminology, informative, and argumentatively clear. Readers interested in a basic understanding of what is known today about the human brain would definitely find this book valuable; and teachers of the non-neuroscience-oriented cognitive sciences, particularly cognitive psychology and cognitive linguistics, might find it a useful introduction to brain research for their students.' Jyh Wee Sew, CHIJ ST Theresa's Convent, Singapore

Will brain scientists ever be able to read our minds? Why are some things harder to remember than others? Based on recent brain research and neural network modelling, The Brain-Shaped Mind addresses these, and other, questions, and provides a clear account of how the structure of the brain influences the workings of the mind. Neuroscientists are now learning about our minds by examining how the neurones in the brain are connected with one another and the surrounding environment. This book explores how neural networks enable us to recognise objects and learn new things, and what happens when things go wrong. The reader is taken on a fascinating journey into what is arguably one of the most complicated and remarkable aspects of our lives.

Preface
Figure permissions and acknowledgements
1. Introduction
2. What the brain cannot tell us about the mind
3. How neurons form networks
4. Theories and models of how the mind functions
5. What are connectionist networks?
6. How our networks learn
7. Connecting the networks: how different things are related
8. Evidence for connectionist models
9. Two different types of memory
10. Coping with disaster
11. Practical implications
12. Criticism of connectionist theory
Annotated references and suggested readings
Index.

Subject Areas: Neurosciences [PSAN], Cognition & cognitive psychology [JMR]