Dynamic patterns: The self-organization of brain and behavior

Abstract

Part 1 How nature handles complexity: what is a pattern? kinds of patterns principles of dynamic pattern formation the messages of self-organized patterns new laws to be expected in the organism matters of mind and matter the mind revealed? or, what this book's about. Part 2 Self-organization of behaviour - the basic picture: some historical remarks about the science of psychology are actions self-organized? if so, how? from synergies to synergetics requirements of a theory of self-organized behaviour. Part 3 Self-organization of behaviour - first steps of generalization: Hubris tempered? on Harvard horses and Russian cats coordination between components of an organism coordination between organisms on coupling. Part 4 Extending the basic picture - breaking away: relative coordination relative coordination explained absolute and relative coordination unified related models - fireflies, lampreys, and lasers instability and the nature of life - the intermittency mechanism exposed postscript. Part 5 Intentional dynamics: goal-directness in biology the second cornerstone of biological self-organization - informational specificity intentional behaviourial change related views - termites, predator-prey cycles, and quantum mechanics summing up. Part 6 Learning dynamics: issues in learning the main concepts the 'seagull effect' - competition and cooperation questions of learning transfer and generalization - symmetry again behaviourial development evolution and morphogenesis summary and conclusions. Part 7 perceptual dynamics: the barrier of meaning - perceptual dynamics I the barrier of meaning - perceptual dynamics II metastability of mind principles of perceiving - calculating, settling, resonating, and twinkling. Part 8 Self-organizing dynamics of the nervous system: microscale events mesoscale events macroscale events extending the basic picture...again postscript on etymology. Part 9 Self-organization of the human brain: prolegomenon obstacles to understanding the brain is not a static machine the 'brain dynamics' approach - fractural dimension spatiotemporal patterns of the brain models of brain behaviour - coupled modes and Sil'nikov chaos summary and conclusions - brain behaviour.