Review
Praise for Pictures of the Mind
“Pictures of the Mind is an extraordinary book. It makes the unfolding scientific story of consciousness vivid, even joyous, while offering a sophisticated tour of what is known about our selves, our emotions, and our brains. A beautiful read.”
–Ruth R. Faden,
Philip Franklin Wagley Professor of Biomedical Ethics and Director of the Berman Institute of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University
“This book explores the many ways in which neuroscience is revealing remarkable things about the inner workings of our minds–not the least of which is the transformative impact that meditation can have on destructive thoughts and behavior. I have no doubt that Miriam Boleyn-Fitzgerald’s work will be of great benefit to those with an interest in this fascinating new area of inquiry.”
–Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche,
Author of The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness
“The mind is embodied, and it is relational. In this straightforward and illuminating book, Miriam Boleyn-Fitzgerald reveals pictures in both visual and narrative form that capture the power of the mind to transform the brain. How our mental lives shape and are shaped by neural circuitry–itself forever being molded by experience–is the central theme of these powerful portraits of what it means to be human. By learning to focus our minds in more compassionate ways–toward ourselves and others–we can literally promote a healthier and more integrated brain. Read these pages, and you'll be able to see for yourself!”
–Daniel J. Siegel, M.D.,
Author of Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, Co-Investigator at the Center for Culture, Brain, and Development, and Co-Director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center
“Miriam Boleyn-Fitzgerald has given us a remarkably clear and engaging account of the ways that the new brain imaging technologies can give us deep insights into our gravest maladies. Her conclusion, that healing may often lie with us, joins science with the wisdom of the ages.”
–Jonathan D. Moreno,
Author of Mind Wars, David and Lyn Silfen University Professor, and Professor of Medical Ethics and of History and Sociology of Science at the University of Pennsylvania
“An engaging and compelling read that illustrates how the new brain science can help us understand elements of our basic humanity.”
–Zindel Segal,
Author of The Mindful Way through Depression and Cameron Wilson Chair in Depression Studies at the University of Toronto and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Product Description
This is the eBook version of the printed book.
Neuroscientists once believed your brain was essentially "locked down" by adulthood. No new cells. No major changes. If you grew up depressed, angry, sad, aggressive, or nasty, you'd be that way for life. And, as you grew older, there'd be nowhere to go but down, as disease, age, or injury wiped out precious, irreplaceable brain cells. But over the past five, ten, twenty years, all that's changed. Using fMRI and PET scanning technology, neuroscientists can now look deep inside the human brain and they've discovered that it's amazingly flexible, resilient, and plastic. This book shows you what they've discovered and what it means to all of us. Through masterfully written narrative and stunning imagery, you'll watch human brains healing, growing, and adapting to challenges. You'll gain powerful new insights into the interplay between environment and genetics, begin understanding how people can influence their own intellectual abilities and emotional makeup, and understand the latest stunning discoveries about coma and "locked-in" syndrome. You'll learn about the tantalizing discoveries that may lead to cures for traumatic brain injury, stroke, emotional disorders, PTSD, drug addiction, chronic pain, maybe even Alzheimer's. Miriam Boleyn-Fitzgerald even shows how these discoveries are transforming our very understanding of the "self", from an essentially static entity to one that can learn and change throughout life and even master the art of happiness.
