The Remembered Present: A Biological Theory of Consciousness

Abstract

How does the brain know? Gerald M. Edelman, Nobel Prize—winning neuroscientist, presents his theory of global brain function and the neurobiology of consciousness.The Remembered Presentis the third in a trilogy beginning withNeural Darwinismin 1987, followed by Topobiology in 1988. These two books lay the groundwork for the present volume, presenting Edelman's theories of neuronal group selection and developmental neurobiology. The Remembered Presentbuilds on this framework, extending the theory to the issue of consciousness. Despite its relationship to the previous volumes,The Remembered Presentcan be appreciated and understood by itself. The author does restate the basic tenets of his theories of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and morphogenesis as they relate to his theory of global brain function and the neurobiology of consciousness. Referral to the previous volumes is necessary for further understanding of the experimental evidence on which the theories are based. The author divides his book