Reasoning: The Neuroscience of How We Think

Reasoning: The Neuroscience of How We Think is a comprehensive guide to the core topics related to a thorough understanding of reasoning. It presents the current knowledge of the subject in a unified, complete manner, ranging from animal studies, to applied situations, and is the only book available that presents a sustained focus on the neurobiological processes behind reasoning throughout all chapters, while also synthesizing research from animal behavior, cognitive psychology, development, and philosophy for a truly multidisciplinary approach. The book considers historical perspectives, state-of-the-art research methods, and future directions in emerging technology and cognitive enhancement.

Written by an expert in the field, this book provides a coherent and structured narrative appropriate for students in need of an introduction to the topic of reasoning as well as researchers seeking well-rounded foundational content. It is essential reading for neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, neuropsychologists and others interested in the neural mechanisms behind thinking, reasoning and higher cognition.

Provides a comparative perspective considering animal cognition and its relevance to human reasoningIncludes developmental and lifespan considerations throughout the bookDiscusses technological development and its role in reasoning, both currently and in the futureConsiders perspectives from not only neuroscience, but cognitive psychology, philosophy, development, and animal behavior for a multidisciplinary treatmentContains highlight boxes featuring additional details on methods, historical descriptions and experimental tasks

1. Introduction to Reasoning 2. Historical Perspectives on Reasoning 3. The Neuroscience of Reasoning 4. The Comparative Approach: Reasoning in Other Species Daniel Krawczyk and Aaron Blaisdell 5. Reasoning Origins: Human Development in Infancy and Childhood 6. Reasoning over the Lifespan 7. Disorders and their Effects on Reasoning 8. Causal Reasoning 9. Deduction and Induction 10. Analogical Reasoning 11. Decision Making and Abductive Reasoning 12. Social Reasoning 13. Future Directions: Emerging Technology and Cognitive Enhancement