Tracing evolution over millions of years, Michael 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. Then 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 gives us our intuitions about consciousness and makes us empathetic social beings as we attribute it to others. The theory implies that uploading the data structure of consciousness into machines will be possible and he discusses what artificial consciousness will mean for our evolutionary future.

About the Author
Michael S. A. Graziano is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Princeton University. The author of four previous neuroscience books, he lives in Princeton, New Jersey.

Reviews
"Graziano's attention schema theory marks a milestone by offering a plausible, mechanistic answer to the hard problem [of consciousness]." -- Aaron Schurger - Science
"Rethinking Consciousness is a very accessible work of science popularisation. There's limited jargon and Graziano guides the reader with numerous pop culture references and helpful analogies." -- Prospect


Awards
Long-listed for PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award 2020.



Book Information
ISBN 9780393652611
Author Michael S A Graziano
Format Hardback
Page Count 256
Imprint WW Norton & Co
Publisher WW Norton & Co
Weight(grams) 480g
Dimensions(mm) 244mm * 165mm * 23mm