Cognitive Science: An Introduction to the Science of the Mind

Product Description Cognitive Science combines the interdisciplinary streams of cognitive science into a unified narrative in an all-encompassing introduction to the field. This text presents cognitive science as a discipline in its own right, and teaches students to apply the techniques and theories of the cognitive scientist's 'toolkit' - the vast range of methods and tools that cognitive scientists use to study the mind. Thematically organized, rather than by separate disciplines, Cognitive Science underscores the problems and solutions of cognitive science, rather than those of the subjects that contribute to it - psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, etc. The generous use of examples, illustrations, and applications demonstrates how theory is applied to unlock the mysteries of the human mind. Drawing upon cutting-edge research, the text has been updated and enhanced to incorporate new studies and key experiments since the first edition. A new chapter on consciousness has also been added. Review "The text is engaging, well-crafted for an undergraduate audience, and is sure to inspire a generation of students." --Michael J. Spivey, University of California, Merced "This book is the most carefully written, thorough, up-to-date, and accessible single-author textbook on the theoretical issues of cognitive science I have read." --John Douard, Department of Philosophy, Rutgers University "Bermudez presents here an approachable story of an integrated cognitive science that may well succeed where others have failed - defining the goals and ambitions of what an introductory course in cognitive science should try to do." --Anthony Beavers, Philosophy and Cognitive Science, University of Evansville, Philosophical Psychology "This book's breadth and depth of coverage is truly impressive. Bermudez explicates the science of the mind in a sophisticated yet understandable fashion, from its traditional roots in symbol processing to exciting new advances in dynamic, embodied, and situated cognition." --Rob Goldstone, Professor of Psychology and Director, Cognitive Science Program, Indiana University "The Bermudez text represents an accessible and thoughtful introduction to cognitive science." --Karl Haberlandt, Professor of Psychology, Trinity College, Connecticut "....The author does a good job reminding the reader why particular material is presented.... The author has a nice touch for providing just enough detail for the reader to understand examples.... The pedagogical aids are well designed in Cognitive Science.... Each chapter includes a brief summary and a checklist.... students will appreciate the brevity of the checklists, which are simply numbered lists of key points.... Bermúdez paints a coherent picture of the field and leaves us hopeful that we can actually understand something about the mind." - David S. Kreiner, PsycCRITIQUES "...The book does an admirable job of tackling its dual role as both text-book and monograph.... Bermúdez's book is an outstanding work; it will prove to be of benefit to both students and their teachers and it makes many important contributions to several ongoing debates. -Dr. Joel Walmsely, University College Cork, Ireland, Teorema "...The book presents the main historical milestones of cognitive science and their particular methods, always with the aim to elucidate the connections and links between the different procedures and the whole project of understanding the mind from an information-processing point of view.... the book is highly pedagogical in the sense of preparing the reader with an overview, conveying the main discussion clearly and finally summarizing the main points. Another virtue of the book is the fact that the author indicates many internet recourses that the reader can use to continue her studies.... demonstrates how a philosopher could organize and make sense of many different ideas coming from very different domains.... it succeeds in providing a truly i