To many scientists the gap between the nineteenth century views of consciousness proposed by the psychologist William James and that developed by the inventor of psychophysics Gustav Fechner has never seemed wider. However the twentieth century concept of collective/cooperative behavior within the brain has partially reconciled these diverging perspectives suggesting the notion of consciousness as a physical phenomenon. A kernel of twenty-first century investigators bases their investigations on physiological fluctuations experiments. These fluctuations, although apparently erratic, when analyzed with advanced methods of fractal statistical analysis reveal the emergence of complex behavior, intermediate between complete order and total randomness, a property usually referred to as temporal complexity. Others, with the help of modern technologies, such MRI, establish a more direct analysis of brain dynamics, and focus on the brain’s topological complexity. Consequently the two groups adopt different approaches, the former being based on phenomenological and macroscopic considerations, and the latter resting on the crucial role of neuron interactions. The neurophysiology research work has an increasing overlap with the emerging field of complex networks, whereas the behavior psychology experiments have until recently ignored the complex cooperative dynamics that are proved by increasing experimental evidence to characterize the brain function. It is crucial to examine both the experimental and theoretical studies that support and those that challenge the view that it is an emergent collective property that allows the healthy brain to function. What needs to be discussed are new ways to understand the transport of information through complex networks sharing the same dynamical properties as the brain. In addition we need to understand information transfer between complex networks, say between the brain and a controlled experimental stimulus. Experiments suggest that brain excitation is described by inverse power-law distributions and recent studies in network dynamics indicate that this distribution is the result of phase transitions due to neuron network dynamics. It is important to stress that the development of dynamic networking establishes a connection between topological and temporal complexity, establishing that a scale-free distribution of links is generated by the dynamic correlation between dynamic elements located at very large Euclidean distances from one another. Dynamic networking and dynamics networks suggest a new way to transfer information: the long-distance communication through local cooperative interaction. It is anticipated that the contributed discussions will clarify how the global intelligence of a complex network emerges from the local cooperation of units and the role played by critical phase transitions in the observed persistence of this cooperation.

On the Fractal Language of Medicine bridges a very clear gap among the knowledge gained over the last 20 years in the physical and life sciences on network theory, organ synchronicity and communication, the understanding of fractal signatures in health and disease and the importance of fractional calculus in integrating these concepts. The authors opine that the field of medicine has not appreciated this hard-won knowledge and has suffered greatly as a result. This book addresses this perceived deficiency by introducing medical researchers, clinicians, residents, first-year medical students and members of allied fields to the work of the so-called hard sciences. It seeks to facilitate effective communication between empiricists and theorists by making interdisciplinary efforts to explain complex mathematical concepts to physicians and, equally important, to elucidate complex medical concepts to physicists or mathematicians. This book will be of great interest to medical students, professionals and academics, as well as students and researchers of applied mathematics, especially those interested in fractional calculus and fractals.

This contributed volume explores innovative research in the modeling, simulation, and control of crowd dynamics. Chapter authors approach the topic from the perspectives of mathematics, physics, engineering, and psychology, providing a comprehensive overview of the work carried out in this challenging interdisciplinary research field. The volume begins with an overview of analytical problems related to crowd modeling. Attention is then given to the importance of considering the social and psychological factors that influence crowd behavior – such as emotions, communication, and decision-making processes – in order to create reliable models. Finally, specific features of crowd behavior are explored, including single-file traffic, passenger movement, modeling multiple groups in crowds, and the interplay between crowd dynamics and the spread of disease. Crowd Dynamics, Volume 4 is ideal for mathematicians, engineers, physicists, and other researchers working in the rapidly growing field of modeling and simulation of human crowds.

This volume features the complete text of all regular papers, posters, and summaries of symposia presented at the 16th annual meeting of the Cognitive Science Society.

Relational Psychophysics in Humans and Animals offers a comprehensive and integrated overview of the often fragmented field of psychophysics. It introduces key concepts in psychophysics and clearly summarises and illustrates the central issues through telling examples. It combines empirical research and theoretical approaches from general psychophysics, animal psychophysics and human-infant psychophysics, to create a systematic comparison of these three key areas. Through out, Viktor Sarris makes a strong case for more comparative psychophysical research across different species and across different stages of development. He presents original research and examines frame-of-reference models, behavioural psychophysics, developmental psychophysics, perceptual-cognitive psychophysics and evolutionary perspectives, to create an integrated framework for the direction of new research. The book will be an invaluable aid for researchers in the fields of perception and psychophysics.

Now published by SAGE! A classic text for the undergraduate Cognitive Psychology course, Cognition: Theories and Applications provides an overview of the origins of this experimental field and makes connections with our current understanding of cognitive processes through deep dives into classic and current research findings. Author Stephen K. Reed offers streamlined coverage of classic and contemporary theories, an emphasis on real world applications, and an easy-to-follow explanatory style that demonstrates how cognitive processes are connected. This fully-revised Tenth Edition includes a new, standalone chapter dedicated to Action; full-color visuals; and new research findings in the areas of cognitive neuroscience, linguistics, and robotics. This title is accompanied by a complete teaching and learning package.

This book provides a comprehensive review of the works in the rapidly evolving field of neural networks and brain studies. Its purpose is two-fold: to help physicists entering this field to get a broader view of the context of the domain, and to help scientists of other disciplines to reach a better understanding of the physicists' contributions within a context of perspectives they can relate to.Included in the volume are 68 carefully selected, high quality reprints to provide the volume with both breadth and depth. It is organized into 5 sections and 22 chapters, both the sections and chapters being preceded by introductory comments by the editors.

Psychology is of interest to academics from many fields, as well as to the thousands of academic and clinical psychologists and general public who can't help but be interested in learning more about why humans think and behave as they do. This award-winning twelve-volume reference covers every aspect of the ever-fascinating discipline of psychology and represents the most current knowledge in the field. This ten-year revision now covers discoveries based in neuroscience, clinical psychology's new interest in evidence-based practice and mindfulness, and new findings in social, developmental, and forensic psychology.