title: Pictures of the Mind: What the New Neuroscience Tells Us About Who We Are (FT Press Science)
author:  Miriam Boleyn-Fitzgerald 
description: Over the past decade, a revolution in medical imaging has allowed researchers to scan the brain of subjects in situ, while setting their minds to an assigned task. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) are revealing, among other discoveries, that the brain of some apparently vegetative patients can be active; the brain's ability to heal and grow well beyond what was previously believed; and the various centers of different behaviors and skills. Physicist and science writer Boleyn-Fitzgerald addresses brain injury, addiction, memory, meditation, and more with summaries of recent research, cogent explanations of what scientists are learning, and plentiful references. Fascinatingly, she illustrates how "knotty questions about morality, blame, and punishment provide abundant raw material for brain researchers," who can assess, for instance, "whether 'normal' brains are wired for altruism and cooperation." Boleyn-Fitzgerald writes in a clear voice, making scientific data engaging and accessible for anyone with an interest in the study of neurology, mindfulness, or behavior. <BR>Copyright &copy; Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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  ## **Praise for _Pictures of the Mind_**
  
  " _Pictures of the Mind_ is an extraordinary book. It makes the unfolding
  scientific story of consciousness vivid, even joyous, while offering a
  sophisticated tour of what is known about ourselves, our emotions, and our
  brains. A beautiful read."
  
  > -- **Ruth R. Faden** ,  
  > Philip Franklin Wagley Professor of Biomedical Ethics and  
  > Director of the Berman Institute of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University
  
  "This book explores the many ways in which neuroscience is revealing
  remarkable things about the inner workings of our minds--not the least of
  which is the transformative impact that meditation can have on destructive
  thoughts and behavior. I have no doubt that Miriam Boleyn-Fitzgerald's work
  will be of great benefit to those with an interest in this fascinating new
  area of inquiry."
  
  > -- **Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche** ,  
  > Author of _The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness_
  