The Limits of Consciousness - A Conversation with Martin Monti

This book is based on an in-depth conversation between Howard Burton and Martin Monti, Associate Professor in Psychology and Neurosurgery, Brain Injury Research Centre, UCLA. This extensive conversation examines Martin Monti’s innovative work with patients who are in a vegetative state or minimally conscious state which has led to some surprising results that might well prove to be integral to our development of a deeper understanding of consciousness. This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, The Collective Unconscious, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter: I. Dualism and Science Journalism - Changing hearts and brains II. Inside The Other - A constant concern III. The Vegetative State - Evolving understanding IV. Probing Vegetative States - Some experimental details V. Beyond Reflex - A thin line VI. Assessing Consciousness - Unlikely tennis players VII. Extracting Information - Two types of controls VIII. Quantifying Consciousness- Towards more rigorous models IX. Interdisciplinary Interlude - Mathematics, cognitive science and other issues X. Language and Thought - The Whorfian Hypothesis and Italian football XI. Structural Similarities? - Comparing language, mathematics and music XII. What Makes Us Human - In search of distinction About Ideas Roadshow Conversations Series: Presented in an accessible, conversational format, Ideas Roadshow books not only explore frontline academic research featuring world-leading researchers but also reveal the inspirations and personal journeys behind the research.