Best of
Neuroscience

1986

The Future of Humanity: A Conversation


Jiddu Krishnamurti - 1986
    Krishnamurti includes discussions of consciousness, time, intelligence, and society.Foreword by David Bohm"The two dialogues which appear in this book took place three years after a series of thirteen similar dialogues between Krishnamurti and myself, which appeared in the book The Ending of Time. [Harper & Row, 1985.] Therefore they were inevitably profoundly affected by what had been done in these earlier dialogues. In a certain sense, therefore, the two books deal with closely related questions. Of course, The Ending of Time' can, because of its much greater length, go into these questions in a more thorough and extensive way. Nevertheless, the present book stands by itself; it approaches the problems of human life in its own way, and provides important additional insights into these problems. Moreover, I feel that it is an easier book to follow, and may therefore usefully serve as an introduction to The Ending of Time.'The starting point for our discussions was the question: "What is the future of humanity?'' This question is by now of vital concern to everyone, because modern science and technology are clearly seen to have opened up immense possibilities of destruction. It soon became clear as we talked together that the ultimate origin of this situation is in the generally confused mentality of mankind, which has not changed basically in this respect throughout the whole of recorded history and probably for much longer than this. Evidently, it was essential to inquire deeply into the root of this difficulty if there is ever to be a possibility that humanity will be diverted from its present very dangerous course..."- David Bohm.

Neurophilosophy: Toward a Unified Science of the Mind/Brain


Patricia S. Churchland - 1986
    Contemporary research in the empirical neurosciences and recent research in the philosophy of mind and the philosophy of science are used to illuminate fundamental questions concerning the relation between abstract cognitive theory and substantive neuroscience.

Mind from Matter Cloth


Max Delbrück - 1986
    He traces organic evolution from bacteria to man, and explains how biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology have done so much to advance our understanding of that process. Professor Delbruck was honoured with the Nobel Prize in 1969 for his pioneering studies in viral genetics. After his death in 1981, this manuscript was completed by his collaborators.

The Emotions


Nico H. Frijda - 1986
    Nico Frijda discusses the motivational and neurophysiological preconditions for emotions, and the ways in which emotions are regulated by the individual. Considering the kinds of events that elicit emotions, he argues that emotions arise because events are appraised by people as favorable or harmful to their own interests. he takes an information-processing perspective: Emotions are viewed as outcomes of the process of assessing the world in terms of one's own concerns, which, in turn, modify action readiness. This analysis leads him to address such fundamental issues as the place of emotion in motivation generally and the discrepancy between the functions of the emotions and their often irrational and disruptive character. An important contribution to recent debates, The Emotions does not presuppose extensive prior knowledge.

Cellular Physiology Of Nerve And Muscle 4


Gary G. Matthews - 1986
    The text begins with an overview of the origin of electrical membrane potential, then clearly illustrates the cellular physiology of nerve cells and muscle cells. Throughout, this new edition simplifies difficult concepts with accessible models and straightforward descriptions of experimental results. An all-new introduction to electrical signaling in the nervous system. Expanded coverage of synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity. A quantitative overview of the electrical properties of cells. New detailed illustrations.