The Oxford Companion to the Mind

The Oxford Companion to the Mind,edited by Richard L. Gregory, is a classic. Published in 1987, to huge acclaim, it immediately took its place as the indispensable guide to the mysteries - and idiosyncracies - of the human mind. In no other book can the reader find indiscussions of conceptssuch as language, memory, and intelligence, side by side with witty definitions of common human experiences such as the 'cocktail-party' and 'halo' effects, and the least effort principle. Richard Gregory again brings his wit, wisdom, and expertise to bear on this most elusive of subjects. Research into the mind and brain has moved on in bounds in recent years, and interest in the subject has never been so high. There has been a shift in focus away from Freud's concept of theunconscious onto consciousness itself. The new edition of the Companion includes three 'mini symposia' - on consciousness, brain scanning, and artificial intelligence - with contributions from a number of specialists, and encompassing a range of approaches.

Richard L. Gregory, CBE, FRS, is Emeritus Professor of Neuropsychology at the Department of Experimenttal Psychology, Bristol University. He is a world expert in human visual perception, specializing in investigating brain strategies and theories of perception, and in artificial intelligence. He is also very active in establishing hands-on science centres (as founder and president of the Exploratory in Bristol).