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| Mapping the Mind | 
 enlarge | Author: Rita Carter
Publisher: University of California Press
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $6.97
You Save: $18.98 (73%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (45 reviews)
Sales Rank: 53503
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 10.3 x 7.7 x 0.6
ISBN: 0520224612
Dewey Decimal Number: 573
EAN: 9780520224612
ASIN: 0520224612
Publication Date: February 1, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Mapping the Mind Review May 1, 2003
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This book allowed me to update my knowledge in neurospychology 10 years after leaving neurosciences studies for engineering.
The illustrations are probably the best in the domain for both their artistic quality and their content. Rita Carter wrote a little masterpiece that I regret not to find when I was a student.
Stunning, all neuroscientists should read this. April 19, 2003
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
This is a beautifully written overview of the current thinking in neuroscience. What is stunning about this "everymans overview" is that it presents information that you may not even find in the very latest research. Bearing in mind it was written in 1998 some of the research presented seems to be more advanced than that presented in many current specialist publications and it does so with clarity and simplicity.The problem with the field of neuroscience (and this is true of other scientific fields) is that, to put it in brain disorder language, often quite literally the "right hand does not know what the left hand is doing". What this means is that researchers often have very deep knowledge of specific areas but no overall view of the subject. This is crucial in neuroscience which deals with a highly interconnected system like the brain. It is usual that an overview text on a particular field will be published five years or so behind the current leading research. However this book turns that on its head to some degree because it makes connections between different areas that need to be consistant with one another. I am somewhat baffled as to how an overview can have more information than specialist publications and be published before them. I am a neuroscientist and I just wish I had known about and read this book when it came out, it would have saved me a good deal of time! This is a great read for anyone at any level.
A Novices Review of Neural Substrates for Cognition March 29, 2003
Considering my limited background in this field, this book was an excellent overview of all research that tries to associate specific areas of the brain with specific cognitive function, like emotions, memory, conscious and unconcious thought, blind sight, etc. If you're looking for a first book in this field, I'd highly recommend Mapping the Mind by Rita Carter. Even if you have lots of experience in this field, you should pick up this book and see what a good writer can do with a complex subject. This book might also be good as a textbook for a survey course in cognitive science.
An excellent introduction to current neuropsychology. November 5, 2002
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I ordered this book without having seen it, intending it as a sort of casual review of current trends in neuropsycholoical knowledge and research- more for casual reading than serious study. I'd taken my last neuro course in grad school nearly 20 years ago, and thought of Carter's book more as casual reading than something for serious study.I was surprised to discover that Carter has written a book that, while an enjoyable read, is one of the best introductory text's I've ever come accross in the field. I showed it to a few academic friends who agreed that yes, this would make a fine adjunct to an introductory cource in neruopsychology or neuroanatomy. Quite an accomplishment. I would strongly recommend this book to both the casual reader with an interest in mind and anatomy, and the serious student looking towards a career in psychology, medicine or neuroanatomy.
 Good. July 2, 2002
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is a good book, covering a lot of ground, introductory, that discusses a lot of research. It certainly would not hurt someone that is not a begginer to check it out, because it sumarizes a lot of information.
The book starts off with general functional neuroanatomy. Next it explores issues in hemispheric specializations. It talks of split-brain research, among other things. Presents a nice overview, not being affected by the popularization (and simplification) of the "left-brain, right-brain" idea. The next section covers the labour that the limbic system does, namely regulating and emotive functions. THere is also some neuropharmacology. Next the book dicusses perception and sensation, does a good job in presenting neuropsychological, neurobiological and cognitive evidence. There is a chapter on language, its mechanisms and disorders. Next comes memory, its different types, concentrating on neurological underpinnings, hipocampus, temporal cortex, molecular changes. LTP etc..Finally there is the frontal lobes. They are characterized as the seat of reason, consciousness etc.To me the most intersting part of the book are the contributions made by prominent authors. There are sections on consciousness, by Penrose and CRick. Damasio talks of convergence zones as binding mechanism. LeDoux talks of emotions, Rose of molecular bases of memory, and Richard Gregory of perception, among other contributions.
The other thing that makes this book worthwile are the ilustrations, clarity, typography and presentation of the book.
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