{"title":"Michael S A Graziano","description":"\u003cp\u003eMichael S A Graziano explores the intricate workings of the human mind, offering insightful perspectives on consciousness and the brain’s hidden mechanisms. His work blends rigorous science with engaging narrative, inviting readers to rethink how we perceive awareness and selfhood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a focus on neuroscience and cognitive science, Graziano’s books challenge conventional ideas and deepen our understanding of the biological roots of consciousness. Expect thoughtful analysis that bridges complex theory and accessible explanation within the realm of \u003cem\u003eScience \u0026amp; Nature\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"rethinking-consciousness-by-michael-s-a-graziano-9780393541342","title":"Rethinking Consciousness","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIlluminating his groundbreaking theory of consciousness known as the attention schema theory, Michael S. A. Graziano traces the evolution of the mind over millions of years with examples from the natural world. He shows how neurons first allowed animals to develop simple forms of attention and then to construct awareness of the external world and of the self.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGraziano draws from his and other scientists' research to explore how this sense of a conscious self led to empathy and made us social beings. His theory has fascinating implications for the future: it may point the way for engineers to build consciousness artificially, and even someday to take the natural consciousness of a person and upload it into a machine for a digital afterlife.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46833446322412,"sku":"9780393541342","price":31.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/2494303482328.jpg?v=1758459446"},{"product_id":"rethinking-consciousness-by-michael-s-a-graziano-9780393652611","title":"Rethinking Consciousness","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFocusing attention can help an animal find food or flee a predator. It also may have led to consciousness. Tracing evolution over millions of years, Michael S. A. Graziano shows how neurons first allowed animals to develop simple forms of attention: taking in messages from the environment, prioritising them, and responding as necessary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThen covert attention evolved—a roving, mental focus separate from where the senses are pointed. To monitor and control covert attention, Graziano posits in his attention schema theory, the brain evolved a simplified model of it—a cartoonish self-description depicting an internal essence with a capacity for knowledge and experience. In other words, consciousness. That self-model not only gives us our intuitions about consciousness, but makes us empathetic social beings as we attribute it to others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe theory also implies that uploading the data structure of consciousness into machines will someday be possible, and he discusses what artificial consciousness will mean for our evolutionary future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRethinking Consciousness\u003c\/em\u003e delves into these concepts, exploring the profound implications for both natural evolution and technological advancement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47536926359788,"sku":"9780393652611","price":54.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/90d104485ef184de6ba0e5d3b34ee35c.jpg?v=1776903445"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/michael-s-a-graziano.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}