Cognitive neuroscience gazzaniga 3rd edition

The fifth edition of The Cognitive Neurosciences continues to chart new directions in the study of the biological underpinnings of complex cognition—the relationship between the structural and physiological mechanisms of the nervous system and the psychological reality of the mind. It offers entirely new material, reflecting recent advances in the field.

Many of the developments in cognitive neuroscience have been shaped by the introduction of novel tools and methodologies, and a new section is devoted to methods that promise to guide the field into the future—from sophisticated models of causality in brain function to the application of network theory to massive data sets. Another new section treats neuroscience and society, considering some of the moral and political quandaries posed by current neuroscientific methods. Other sections describe, among other things, new research that draws on developmental imaging to study the changing structure and function of the brain over the lifespan; progress in establishing increasingly precise models of memory; research that confirms the study of emotion and social cognition as a core area in cognitive neuroscience; and new findings that cast doubt on the so-called neural correlates of consciousness.

A paradigm book The Cognitive Neurosciences have introduced thousands of students and researchers to the field, giving the text cult status among its readers This book provides a timely and comprehensive summarization of the human brain in the context of evolution, development, and learning.

The results are a stunning demonstration of how new tools have transformed our understanding of how the brain supports the mind, and point the way toward future progress.

The fifth edition of The Cognitive Neurosciences continues a remarkable tradition of chronicling the advances in cognitive neuroscience and presciently anticipating the future.

From techniques to perception, memory to language and consciousness to social relevance it hits all of the important bases in an authoritative manner. It should be the go-to resource for those interested in cognitive neuroscience from the outside or for insiders curious about developments beyond the scope of their own research.

We make liberal use of patient case studies to illustrate essential points and observations that provide keys to understanding the architecture of cognition, rather than providing an exhaustive description of brain disorders.

In every section, we strive to include the most current information and theoretical views, supported by evidence fr om the cutt ing-edge technologies that are such a driving force in cognitive neuroscience. In contrast to purely cognitive or neuropsychological approaches, this text emphasizes the convergence of evidence that is a crucial aspect of any science, particularly studies of higher mental function.

To complete the story, we also provide examples of research that uses computational techniques. Teaching students to think and ask questions like cognitive neuroscientists is a major goal of our text. We highlight the strengths and weaknesses of these methods to demonstrate how these techniques must be used in a complementary manner.

We want our readers to learn what questions to ask, how to choose the tools and design experiments to answer these questions, and how to evaluate and interpret the results of those experiments. Despite the stunning progress of the neurosciences, the brain remains a great mystery, with each insight inspiring new questions. For this reason, we have not used a declarative sty le of writing throughout the book. Instead, we tend to present results that can be interpreted in more than one way, helping the reader to recognize that alternative interpretations are possible.

Since the first edition, there have bee n many major technological, methodological, and theoretical developments. There has been an explosion of brain-imaging studies; indeed, thousands of functional imaging studies are published each year.

It is authoritative and encyclopedic, but also lively and unafraid of controversy. Michael Gazzaniga, The MIT Press, and the community of cognitive neuroscientists are to be congratulated for assembling this landmark of twentieth-century science and thrilling preview of what we will learn in the twenty-first.

Successful third editions of large reference works must be reliable sources for their field, and Gazzaniga's The Cognitive Neurosciences certainly is, authored by a remarkable group of contributors. But this book is far more: it is full of exciting chapters touching on such newly important fields as adult neurogenesis, and it embraces controversy where appropriate.

In my view, this already superb text has only gotten better. To me, this book redefines the idea of comprehensiveness in a reference work.

For the cognitive neuroscientist, it provides the latest in integrative cellular and system work. For the neuroscientist who wants to grasp cognitive functions and mechanisms, it offers a thoroughly up-to-date picture of the field.

Another magnificent achievement, and truly new as well! With some 70 new chapters and over new authors, The Cognitive Neurosciences III is as up-to-date as current work in the field. Gazzaniga and his fearless colleagues have taken on the most challenging topics at the mind-brain interface. Given the brain's complexity, it is easy to get mired in details. This book steps back, looks at the fund of knowledge that has been acquired at all levels of neuroscience, and focuses our attention sharply on the essential questions that fascinate us all: From the mass of cells and circuits that is the brain, how do we come to think, feel, perceive, act, and be aware of who we are?

It deftly captures the exciting and ever-challenging journey towards understanding the neurobiology of thought.