The shape of things unseen : a new science of imagination / Adam Zeman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Zeman, Adam, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Imagination.

Brain.

brains.

Physical Description:

x, 367 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some colour) ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London : Bloomsbury Circus, 2025.

Summary:

"Imagination is about far more than whether people think of themselves as creative or not. We use our imagination all the time in planning, anticipating, daydreaming, reminiscing and being able to enjoy other people's stories. In fact, we don't live in the here and now as much as we might think. Imagination isn't the exception to our daily lives; it's our default setting. From hallucinations to sleepwalking, from REM sleep to delusions, neurologist Adam Zeman brilliantly guides us through the latest scientific discoveries in the world of the imagination. Imagine looking at a cube and your eye will trace the contours of the cube as if you were actually seeing it. Imagine inhaling and the airflow through your nose will increase. In grief, you might imagine that you saw your loved one again – and be consoled by the experience. And yet some people have no visual imagination at all – they would even be unable to picture their family if asked to – but still lead fulfilling, even highly creative, lives. From how infants perceive the world to how we can anticipate the thoughts of other people, from the benefits of play to mental disorders, The Shape of Things Unseen dazzles and delights in its insights into the workings of the human mind"--Amazon.

Contents:

Introduction: a short tour of imagination

Part I. The scope of imagination

Seeing things

everyday imagination

Bodying forth

creative imagination

Others have souls

social imagination

Part II. The science of imagination

Picture this

reproductive imagination

The wondrous sight

productive imagination

Creating future

imagination in the brain

Homo prospiciens

evolving imagination

Bedtime stories

learning to imagine

Part III. The besieged imagination

Visions and voices

hallucinations in mind and brain

Foul play : delusions and 'illness according to idea'

Reprogram

treating and training imagination

Extreme imagination

imagination unbound

Epilogue: why we imagine.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781526609755

1526609754

1526609738

9781526609731

OCLC:

1493628746