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Cognitive Neuroscience
Modeled on the classic Neuroscience Study Program volumes which helped define an evolving field, The Cognitive Neurosciences is a major new reference that documents and defines the emerging field of cognitive neuroscience. The ninety-two original contributions provide comprehensive coverage - from the molecular level right up to human conscious experience - of one of the most interesting areas of modern science, namely the relationship between the structural and physiological mechanisms of the brain/nervous system and the psychological reality of mind. "Sections and section editors": Molecular and Cellular Plasticity, Ira Black. Neural and Psychological Development, Pasko Rakic. Sensory Systems, Colin Blakemore and J. Anthony Movshon. Strategies and Planning: Motor Systems, Emilio Bizzi. Attention, Michael Posner. Memory, Endel Tulving. Language, Steven Pinker. Thought and Imagery, Stephen M. Kosslyn. Emotion, Joseph E. LeDoux. Evolutionary Perspectives, Leda Cosmides and John Tooby. Consciousness, Daniel L. Schacter.
"An extremely valuable handbook. Not only is its scope adequate to the challenge of this rapidly growing young discipline, but the focus is clear: intelligible, up-to-date theories of mental processes are grounded in the latest findings of the brain sciences. The integration provided in this handbook lays a foundation for the next generation of cognitive neuroscientists."
-- George A. Miller, James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Psychology Emeritus, Princeton University.
"The Cognitive Neurosciences" is a wonderfully comprehensive and up-to-date collection of authoritative articles. Istrongly recommend it to anyone who hopes to keep abreast with this fast-moving area of scientific enquiry--relating the brain and mind."
-- Sir Roger Penrose, FRS, Rouse Ball, Professor of Mathematics, University of Oxford.
"At last--a source book in Cognitive Neuroscience for our students! And for ourselves! This much needed book contains a thoughtful selection of reviews from all areas relevant to current research. [...] Michael Gazzaniga and his colleagues should be congratulated for an outstanding job."
-- Eric R. Kandel, M.D. University Professor, Center for Neurobiology, Columbia University
A Bradford Book
"An extremely valuable handbook. Not only is its scope adequate to the challenge of this rapidly growing young discipline, but the focus is clear: intelligible, up-to-date theories of mental processes are grounded in the latest findings of the brain sciences. The integration provided in this handbook lays a foundation for the next generation of cognitive neuroscientists."
-- George A. Miller, James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Psychology Emeritus, Princeton University.
"The Cognitive Neurosciences" is a wonderfully comprehensive and up-to-date collection of authoritative articles. Istrongly recommend it to anyone who hopes to keep abreast with this fast-moving area of scientific enquiry--relating the brain and mind."
-- Sir Roger Penrose, FRS, Rouse Ball, Professor of Mathematics, University of Oxford.
"At last--a source book in Cognitive Neuroscience for our students! And for ourselves! This much needed book contains a thoughtful selection of reviews from all areas relevant to current research. [...] Michael Gazzaniga and his colleagues should be congratulated for an outstanding job."
-- Eric R. Kandel, M.D. University Professor, Center for Neurobiology, Columbia University
A Bradford Book
752 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 1998
177 people are currently reading
2928 people want to read
About the author
Michael S. Gazzaniga
77 books429 followersMichael S. Gazzaniga, one of the premiere doctors of neuroscience, was born on December 12, 1939 in Los Angeles. Educated at Dartmouth College and California Institute of Technology, he is a professor of psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he heads the new SAGE Center for the Study of the Mind.
His early research examined the subject of epileptics who had undergone surgery to control seizures. He has also studied Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients and reveals important findings in books such as Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind.
While many of his writings are technical, he also educates and stimulates readers with discussions about the fascinating and mysterious workings of the brain. Books such as The Social Brain and The Mind's Past bring forth new information and theories regarding how the brain functions, interacts, and responds with the body and the environment.
His early research examined the subject of epileptics who had undergone surgery to control seizures. He has also studied Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients and reveals important findings in books such as Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind.
While many of his writings are technical, he also educates and stimulates readers with discussions about the fascinating and mysterious workings of the brain. Books such as The Social Brain and The Mind's Past bring forth new information and theories regarding how the brain functions, interacts, and responds with the body and the environment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 17, 2012
Cognitieve neuroscience is a relatively recently developed academic field that seeks to explain the underlying biological/neural processes of mental processes (or cognition) in humans. In doing so, it overlaps with many different disciplines, most of them originating from psychology and neuroscience. Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind is an academic textbook that attempts to show a complete overview of contemporary findings in its field, and provides its reader with a heavy chunk of information gathered by three well-known cognitive neuroscientists (Gazzaniga, Ivry, and Mangun).
It is as cutting edge as the cover says it is, and often updated and republished in new versions with brand new information added to its large bulks of text. This review is about the current third edition, which includes chapters on the following subjects: (1) A brief history of cognitive neuroscience, (2) Cellular mechanisms and cognition, (3) Neuroanatomy and development, (4) Methods of cognitive neuroscience, (5) Sensation and perception, (6) Object recognition, (7) The control of action, (8) Learning and memory, (9) Emotion, (10) Language, (11) Hemispheric specialization, (12) Attention and Consciousness, (13) Cognitive control, (14) Social cognition, and (15) Evolutionary perspectives.
As one can see, next to very specific and advanced level chapters, this book doesn’t skip out on the basics, either. Though I would recommend courses on biological psychology, neuroscience, and/or cognitive psychology, with a bit of determination and devotion, readers new to the material could pick up all the information they need just from this book alone. As far as basics are concerned, it is especially clear on neural structure and cellular mechanisms, and perhaps even explains it better than other books I’ve read on the subject.
Despite its heavy and advanced level of information, this textbook doesn’t really read like one’s normal, everyday university textbook. It’s more of a narrative, and its texts flow really well. Starting off each chapter with an interesting case example, the authors then dive further and further in the underlying mechanisms that cause the case study’s current state, exploring both the cognitive processes and the biology of it step by step. This makes it easy to follow, even for undergraduates, and therefore more comprehensive (and more successful as an academic textbook, too, in my opinion).
To help support its narrative texts, this particular book includes a lot of colourful illustrations of models, diagrams, schemas – and also photos of patients, case studies, and many a picture of an EEG recording or an fMRI scan. This not only aids the reader in absorbing the material and in understanding it better, but it also makes for quite an attractive book to look at.
Complete and dense, Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind definitely does provide its readers with everything they need to know on the subject, including some of the basics and a lot of contemporary research/findings. However, its completeness and density make for some heavy reading, and though I very much enjoyed its narrative style, all of that taken together can hinder a reader when, for example, studying for exams. It’s sometimes a little difficult to pick the text apart and find short, easy conclusions to cram away with; even its ‘take home messages’ at the end of each chapter are a bit longwinded.
Even so, one of the absolute best books I’ve read in my academic career up until now. Rarely have I seen an academic textbook that felt so complete without getting too dry and boring; this one is almost a page-turner in some ways.
Recommended for anybody interested in the field of cognitive neuroscience, looking for a comprehensive guide to all aspects of the field – which also includes many extras such as the biological basics, background information on both prominent scientists in the field and their case study examples, and a historic narrative of the field’s development.
It is as cutting edge as the cover says it is, and often updated and republished in new versions with brand new information added to its large bulks of text. This review is about the current third edition, which includes chapters on the following subjects: (1) A brief history of cognitive neuroscience, (2) Cellular mechanisms and cognition, (3) Neuroanatomy and development, (4) Methods of cognitive neuroscience, (5) Sensation and perception, (6) Object recognition, (7) The control of action, (8) Learning and memory, (9) Emotion, (10) Language, (11) Hemispheric specialization, (12) Attention and Consciousness, (13) Cognitive control, (14) Social cognition, and (15) Evolutionary perspectives.
As one can see, next to very specific and advanced level chapters, this book doesn’t skip out on the basics, either. Though I would recommend courses on biological psychology, neuroscience, and/or cognitive psychology, with a bit of determination and devotion, readers new to the material could pick up all the information they need just from this book alone. As far as basics are concerned, it is especially clear on neural structure and cellular mechanisms, and perhaps even explains it better than other books I’ve read on the subject.
Despite its heavy and advanced level of information, this textbook doesn’t really read like one’s normal, everyday university textbook. It’s more of a narrative, and its texts flow really well. Starting off each chapter with an interesting case example, the authors then dive further and further in the underlying mechanisms that cause the case study’s current state, exploring both the cognitive processes and the biology of it step by step. This makes it easy to follow, even for undergraduates, and therefore more comprehensive (and more successful as an academic textbook, too, in my opinion).
To help support its narrative texts, this particular book includes a lot of colourful illustrations of models, diagrams, schemas – and also photos of patients, case studies, and many a picture of an EEG recording or an fMRI scan. This not only aids the reader in absorbing the material and in understanding it better, but it also makes for quite an attractive book to look at.
Complete and dense, Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind definitely does provide its readers with everything they need to know on the subject, including some of the basics and a lot of contemporary research/findings. However, its completeness and density make for some heavy reading, and though I very much enjoyed its narrative style, all of that taken together can hinder a reader when, for example, studying for exams. It’s sometimes a little difficult to pick the text apart and find short, easy conclusions to cram away with; even its ‘take home messages’ at the end of each chapter are a bit longwinded.
Even so, one of the absolute best books I’ve read in my academic career up until now. Rarely have I seen an academic textbook that felt so complete without getting too dry and boring; this one is almost a page-turner in some ways.
Recommended for anybody interested in the field of cognitive neuroscience, looking for a comprehensive guide to all aspects of the field – which also includes many extras such as the biological basics, background information on both prominent scientists in the field and their case study examples, and a historic narrative of the field’s development.
July 8, 2023
my exam was a month ago but i forgot to update this ajdhsjs
October 21, 2021
In part written by one of the founders of cognitive neuroscience, this textbook- which is presently in its 5th edition due to its popularity- is a good and fairly comprehensive introduction to the field. The goal eventually is to wholly describe the mind via the activity, movement, interaction, and dynamics of systems of neurons. The issue of course is that we struggle presently to understand both what the mind is and how the brain works.
The field of cognitive neuroscience to be more specific attempts to combine theories from cognitive science, experimental psychology, and neurophysiology.
This book describes many of the theories of what can be called the 'metaphysics'/ basic working concepts proposed to explain the mind(e.g. attention, action(movement), sensation, perception, memory, emotion, consciousness ), and how via the observation of physiological correlates we can explain how these behaviors come together to make a mind.
While it is in many ways not satisfying, as the science of what has been called the mindbrain, physiological psychology, neuropsychology, and cognitive psychology is far from reaching its status as a mature science like physics or chemistry where the components are more cut and dry, it nonetheless is making progress.
And for those who do not like Gazzaniga's organization: The book contains a myriad of studies from loads of researchers in the relevant fields thus making it at the very least a great reference.
Recommended to: those interested in the modern attempts to naturalistically explain the mechanisms of the mind.
The field of cognitive neuroscience to be more specific attempts to combine theories from cognitive science, experimental psychology, and neurophysiology.
This book describes many of the theories of what can be called the 'metaphysics'/ basic working concepts proposed to explain the mind(e.g. attention, action(movement), sensation, perception, memory, emotion, consciousness ), and how via the observation of physiological correlates we can explain how these behaviors come together to make a mind.
While it is in many ways not satisfying, as the science of what has been called the mindbrain, physiological psychology, neuropsychology, and cognitive psychology is far from reaching its status as a mature science like physics or chemistry where the components are more cut and dry, it nonetheless is making progress.
And for those who do not like Gazzaniga's organization: The book contains a myriad of studies from loads of researchers in the relevant fields thus making it at the very least a great reference.
Recommended to: those interested in the modern attempts to naturalistically explain the mechanisms of the mind.
December 21, 2023
voor de studie gelezen maar was echt interessant :) soms wat onnodige grappen, maar de goede schema’s en plaatjes waren het helemaal waard
February 3, 2012
Great as just a book to read, but I really disliked it as a textbook as it doesn't have a clear structure or aesthetic features that facilitate studying it. Also, it could have explored the theory behind many of the experiments and case studies presented instead of using them as a starting point for guiding the book.
July 21, 2023
twas fun while it lasted but i'm not nerdy enough to be like omg i loved every second of this book. yea it was interesting fs but it is a textbook--textbooks are quite frequently boring af and way too long for the information they share
November 27, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
Para ser un manual tan extenso, denso y complejo, que siga un estilo narrativo cercano ha contribuido en una gran parte a mi disfrute leyéndolo (al contrario de la redundancia en los últimos capítulos). Me confirma lo mucho que me gusta la neurociencia :)
Para ser un manual tan extenso, denso y complejo, que siga un estilo narrativo cercano ha contribuido en una gran parte a mi disfrute leyéndolo (al contrario de la redundancia en los últimos capítulos). Me confirma lo mucho que me gusta la neurociencia :)
June 20, 2013
Perfect for hard-science averse psychology majors. But if you are reasonably intelligent, I would recommend a more nuanced treatment.
May 6, 2018
A good overview of a bunch of brain related topics - language, vision, hemispheres, how the brain evolved, problem solving, and probably some other ones that I've forgotten :P
June 25, 2022
Granted that I forced myself to read this in two days, it's an allright book. Interesting articles and very comprehensive. But as a last minute student it's a hell to study, there's just so much information and different graphs and illustrations which are more confusing than illustrative. So, if you have to read/study: take your time or it's not worth it at all.
Read
December 21, 2020Just adding this to the shelves to save my Goodreads reading challenge since this textbook is probably the reason why I've barely read anything since September 🙃
December 14, 2024
To sum it all up:
“Put more simply, we input information into the brain, something secret happens to it, and out comes our behavior.”
“Put more simply, we input information into the brain, something secret happens to it, and out comes our behavior.”
May 13, 2025
En neuron modtager en elektrisk impuls, og nu forstår jeg ikke hvad jeg ser i spejlet.
April 2, 2020
My ratings of books on Goodreads are solely a crude ranking of their utility to me, and not an evaluation of literary merit, entertainment value, social importance, humor, insightfulness, scientific accuracy, creative vigor, suspensefulness of plot, depth of characters, vitality of theme, excitement of climax, satisfaction of ending, or any other combination of dimensions of value which we are expected to boil down through some fabulous alchemy into a single digit.
October 20, 2023
Questo libro è fondamentale se si vogliono esplorare i correlati neurali dei processi che hanno a che fare con il mondo della mente; gli argomenti presenti al suo interno trattano di differenze fra i due emisferi, delle caratteristiche di ogni lobo (parti cerebrali) e di aree e network implicate in diverse funzioni.
L’argomento che più ha suscitato il mio interesse riguarda il mondo delle emozioni; i correlati di quelle positive (ad esempio le vie dopaminergiche) e di quelle negative (fra cui amigdala e insula). Nello specifico, le emozioni influenzano la nostra presa di decisioni, gestita dalla corteccia prefrontale, facendoci comportare sempre in un unico modo e non sempre funzionale (anche per questo c’è bisogno dello psicologo clinico, per sviluppare una certa apertura mentale nella presa di decisioni).
L’insula potrebbe attivarsi quando si notano le immagini presenti sui pacchetti di sigarette, causando sensazione di disgusto e un senso di perdita per quello che potrebbe succedere qualora si continuasse a fumare. Dunque, le emozioni negative riescono ad inibire, ad esempio, le vie dopaminergiche, implicate nella ricerca delle novità, del piacere e delle ricompense. Sappiamo che la dopamina (neurotrasmettitore) è rilasciata anche quando si attende uno stimolo da cui si dipende.
La corteccia prefrontale svolge un ruolo fondamentale nel controllo delle emozioni, grazie al circuito cortico-limbico. Alcuni eventi emozionali negativi possono influenzare la codifica di un ricordo (l’amigdala è vicina all’ippocampo che mette insieme le informazioni episodiche sparse nelle cortecce, guidato sempre dalla corteccia prefrontale). Questi processi sono più complessi di quanto immaginiamo.
Altri argomenti trattati sono: le vie del riconoscimento degli oggetti, l’attenzione, l’azione e il sistema motorio, il linguaggio, la memoria a breve e lungo termine, la cognizione sociale, le funzioni esecutive e i processi cognitivi.
L’argomento che più ha suscitato il mio interesse riguarda il mondo delle emozioni; i correlati di quelle positive (ad esempio le vie dopaminergiche) e di quelle negative (fra cui amigdala e insula). Nello specifico, le emozioni influenzano la nostra presa di decisioni, gestita dalla corteccia prefrontale, facendoci comportare sempre in un unico modo e non sempre funzionale (anche per questo c’è bisogno dello psicologo clinico, per sviluppare una certa apertura mentale nella presa di decisioni).
L’insula potrebbe attivarsi quando si notano le immagini presenti sui pacchetti di sigarette, causando sensazione di disgusto e un senso di perdita per quello che potrebbe succedere qualora si continuasse a fumare. Dunque, le emozioni negative riescono ad inibire, ad esempio, le vie dopaminergiche, implicate nella ricerca delle novità, del piacere e delle ricompense. Sappiamo che la dopamina (neurotrasmettitore) è rilasciata anche quando si attende uno stimolo da cui si dipende.
La corteccia prefrontale svolge un ruolo fondamentale nel controllo delle emozioni, grazie al circuito cortico-limbico. Alcuni eventi emozionali negativi possono influenzare la codifica di un ricordo (l’amigdala è vicina all’ippocampo che mette insieme le informazioni episodiche sparse nelle cortecce, guidato sempre dalla corteccia prefrontale). Questi processi sono più complessi di quanto immaginiamo.
Altri argomenti trattati sono: le vie del riconoscimento degli oggetti, l’attenzione, l’azione e il sistema motorio, il linguaggio, la memoria a breve e lungo termine, la cognizione sociale, le funzioni esecutive e i processi cognitivi.
September 9, 2018
It's a very good course book for those that are starting out. Clear and comprehensive - I really recommend!
July 22, 2019
Hi
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2020
An excellent and compelling text. Recommended for those who wish to study the mind.
partly-read
April 13, 2020Gazzaniga MS (2014) Cognitive Neuroscience - The Biology of the Mind
March 23, 2021
Well structured with good focus on key elements and great chapter summaries. One of the better psychology text books I have read.
July 30, 2021
Requires a bit of outside research but is a wonderful guide to the human mind and its potential
December 28, 2024
สนุก สมองน่าสนใจมาก
May 18, 2025
Had to read this for class. Pain incarnate
July 16, 2012
Love it, love it, love it!
I haven't read the whole book yet though - it was one of my course books at the uni. Very nicely written, easy to understand, with handy summaries in the end of each chapter, and lots of pictures of course - quite important with those kind of books :P
I haven't read the whole book yet though - it was one of my course books at the uni. Very nicely written, easy to understand, with handy summaries in the end of each chapter, and lots of pictures of course - quite important with those kind of books :P
September 4, 2012
This rating is for the third edition.
The third addition is absolutely amazing. I am an autodidact and was able to comprehend most the material on my own. It is very accessible, yet still packed with knowledge. Out of the 600+ pages, not one page was a filler. Great book
The third addition is absolutely amazing. I am an autodidact and was able to comprehend most the material on my own. It is very accessible, yet still packed with knowledge. Out of the 600+ pages, not one page was a filler. Great book
November 12, 2013
Comprehensive, sometimes a little too much. Great chapter summaries and take home messages that succinctly cover what the chapters had done in a sometimes convoluted way. I suppose though that this is beneficial to different types of learning.
July 18, 2008
Hét naslagwerk voor iedereen die zich in de neurowetenschappen wil verdiepen.
July 29, 2013
Wow! Clear and comprehensive. This is the best textbook treatment of the field that I've seen.
Read
July 27, 2017Great textbook for undergrad cog neuro.
Read
March 16, 2015It was an awesome read! Got me a 99% on the psych GRE for cognitive neuroscience portion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews