the brain tree
Here are five books I've found very useful...
Neuroscientist Lisa-Feldman Barrett explains the latest findings in the study of emotions. There are no places in the brain for particular emotions, the opposite of how they are portrayed in Inside Out. She demonstrates how we are both master and slave to our emotions and how neuro-science is helping us to strike a better balance.
World-famous expert in cognitive science and artificial intelligence Stanislav Dehaene gives a no punches-pulled assessment of teaching and artificial intelligence. Teaching, he says, is ignoring the evidence for how we learn, whilst artificial intelligence is domain-specific and narrow. Computers are great at pattern-recognition and games, for example, but they cannot - as yet - understand context. Teachers, he says, have a lot of learning to do. He advocates the 4 stage learning process, which is well established, and this is what I practice.
Psychiatrist, Literature Critique, Neuro-scientist and Polymath Iain MacGilchrist's work is the most visionary I've come across in years. Pooling expertise in many areas he elucidates the role of the two hemispheres of the brain. In parts it reads like a thriller showing how left or right brain dominated cultures have impacted on history. He is emphatic the Western bias toward the Left Hemisphere is at the root of many modern problems, both individually and globally.
Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology Oxford, pioneer of computer modelling of the heart and accomplished musician Denis Noble presents a compelling case against the Central Dogma of biology. DNA, he says, does not determine your destiny. His pioneering work and understanding of epi-genetics shows that some genes may be switched on and off. Using a musical analogy he shows the life of a butterfly involves different body shapes, and these are all created by the same DNA being expressed in different ways, like musical notes on a keyboard, some are played, others not.
Epi-genetics shows we are not just victims of our genes, we can change.
An excellent introduction to the new possibilities available for treating Special Educational Needs. Robin Pauc has run a highly successful private practice for over 20 years, helping thousands of people overcome conditions they had been told were genetic.
Using the latest neuro-science and understandings in epi-genetics Robin Pauc asserts that conditions like Dyslexia and Dyspraxia are really just symptoms of underlying physiological developmental delays. In other words these conditions can be addressed by tackling underlying issues.
Robin's work is amazing and I'm very proud to have been his pupil.