HUMAN --- THE SMITHSONIAN DEFINITIVE VISUAL GUIDE
by Robert Winston, editor-in-chief. DK Publishing. Inc. 2004
    FORWARD (p6-7)

    ABOUT THIS BOOK (p8-9)

    INTRODUCTION (p10-19)

      1) ORIGINS (p20-47)

      2) BODY (p40-143)

      3) MIND (p144-181)

        [1] MIND --- INTRODUCTION (p146-147)

        The brain is humanity's greatest resource. Thus, since you have a "brain" with a "mind," usually identified as the higher brain functions such as information collection, storage, and processing, "you" are one of humanity's greatest resources, too! (p146-147)

          (1) Uniquely human --- What sets humans apart from all other animals is their ability to "think" about thinking!

            Humans can categorize information in more than one way, develop habits, and ponder the meaning of things in the world. Instead of having to learn survival skills from the direct experience of living like most animals do, humans can learn "cultural" information (such as facts, skills, and knowledge) across generations, from one individual to another, and from group to group.

            Your human brain is proportionally much larger within your skull than are the brains of all other animals!

          (2) Early ideas

          (3) Increased understanding

          (4) Conscious minds

          (5) Talking minds

          (6) All the same

          (7) Much to discover

        [2] HOW YOUR MIND WORKS (p148-149)

          Your brain is more than just the most important organ in your body, it is also the most complex structure in the universe.

          The best tool for understanding your "mind" is your mind itself!

          Brain scientists are now discovering the secrets of how your brain works. The word "mind" simply refers to the parts of your brain that deal with your "critical thinking" ability, or "higher" brain functions.

          The "lower" brain structure, such as your brainstem, limbic system, and cerebellum are located deep within your brain and their physical parts are very similar to the anatomy of animals. (p349)

            (1) Sophisticated brain

              Your human brain can do things no other animals can do.

              Namely, it can plan for the future, empathize, deceive, talk, invent complex tools, and use a shared base of cultural information and skills stored in books and electronic data bases. Your brain's vastly larger outer layer or "cortex" appears to be the essential difference between human and animal functions. Also, the "prefrontal cortex" appears to be the most significant brain part as far as distinguishing humans from other animals since it is the place where rational thought processes happen! (p149)

                1.Your LIMBIC SYSTEM system is involved in the expression of your instincts and moods

                2. Your CORTEX plays a part in your higher mental functions

                3. Your PREFRONTAL CORTEX is essential for your conscious thought processes

                4. Your CEREBELLUM is responsible for your posture and coordinated movement

                5. Your BRAINSTEM controls your body's most basic functions, including breathing

            (2) Information processing

            (3) Making connections

        [3] CONSCIOUSNESS (p150-151)

          What is consciousness? The word "consciousness" is used in different ways:

            (1) First, you are aware of your identity and your surroundings, whether you are studying or being politically active or working for money or amusing yourself for recreation.

            (2) Second, consciousness is best described as the function of your brain that is able and responsible for you to be aware of your own existence and that enables you to think about your own thought processes.

            (3) Because of pre-scientific cultural information (ignorance and superstitions), most people alive today perceive the mind and the brain as separate things instead of what now appears to be true due to scientific experimentation that your consciousness is no more and no less than the firing of nerve cells within your brain!

        [4] Receiving information (p152-154)

        [5] Learning (p154-155)

        [6] Memory (p156-159)

        [7] Thinking (p160-163)

        [8] Emotion (p164-167)

        [9] Language (p168-171)

        [10] The individual mind (p172-173)

        [11] Personality (p174-177)

        [12] Intelligence (p178-179)

        [13] Gender and sex (p180-181)

      4) LIFE CYCLE (p182-239)

      5) SOCIETY (p240-281)

      6) CULTURE (p282-341)

      7) PEOPLES (p342-469)

      8) FUTURE (p470-485)

    GLOSSARY (p486-490)

    INDEX (p491-509)

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (p510-512)

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