Synopses & Reviews
How does the brain work? How do billions of neurons bring about ideas, sensations, emotions, and actions? Why do children learn faster than elderly people?What can go wrong in perception, thinking, learning, and acting? Scientists now usecomputer models to help us to understand the most private and human experiences. InThe Mind Within the Net, Manfred Spitzer shows how these models can fundamentallychange how we think about learning, creativity, thinking, and acting, as well assuch matters as schools, retirement homes, politics, and mentaldisorders.Neurophysiology has told us a lot about how neurons work; neural networktheory is about how neurons work together to process information. In this highlyreadable book, Spitzer provides a basic, nonmathematical introduction to neuralnetworks and their clinical applications. Part I explains the fundamental theory ofneural networks and how neural network models work. Part II covers the principles ofnetwork functioning and how computer simulations of neural networks have profoundconsequences for our understanding of how the brain works. Part III coversapplications of network models (e.g., to knowledge representation, language, andmental disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease) that shed new lighton normal and abnormal states of mind. Finally, Spitzer concludes with his thoughtson the ramifications of neural networks for the understanding of neuropsychology andhuman nature.
Review
Seductive on-screen views of brain activity open up a closed realm by rendering the mind visible. A new enlightenment beckons. A new stupidity, too, a new confusion of the moral and mechanical, if we don't listen carefully to sane and discriminating voices like Spitzer's. The MIT Press The MIT Press
Synopsis
Neurophysiology has told us a lot about how neurons work; neural network theory is about how neurons work together to process information. In this highly readable book, Manfred Spitzer provides a basic, nonmathematical introduction to neural networks and their clinical applications. Part I explains the fundamental theory of neural networks and how neural network models work. Part II covers the principles of network functioning and how computer simulations of neural networks have profound consequences for our understanding of how the brain works. Part III covers applications of network models (e.g., to knowledge representation, language, and mental disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease) that shed new light on normal and abnormal states of mind. Finally, Spitzer concludes with his thoughts on the ramifications of neural networks for the understanding of neuropsychology and human nature.
Synopsis
A highly readable, non-mathematical introduction to neural networks -- computer models that help us to understand how we perceive, think, feel, and act.
Neurophysiology has told us a lot about how neurons work; neural network theory is about how neurons work together to process information. In this highly readable book, Manfred Spitzer provides a basic, nonmathematical introduction to neural networks and their clinical applications. Part I explains the fundamental theory of neural networks and how neural network models work. Part II covers the principles of network functioning and how computer simulations of neural networks have profound consequences for our understanding of how the brain works. Part III covers applications of network models (e.g., to knowledge representation, language, and mental disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease) that shed new light on normal and abnormal states of mind. Finally, Spitzer concludes with his thoughts on the ramifications of neural networks for the understanding of neuropsychology and human nature.
Synopsis
Neurophysiology has told us a lot about how neurons work; neural network theory is about how neurons work