Phantoms in the Brain [Paperback]

Can cotton swabs, water glasses and dime-store mirrors hold the secret to who we are as human beings, how we make decisions or why we may believe in God? In Phantoms in the Brain, neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran uses stunningly simply experiments, common household items and good old-fashioned medical sleuthing to investigate bizarre neurological disorders like phantom limb pain, visual hallucinations, false pregnancies and more. Instead of looking at these cases as neurological or psychological curiosities, Ramachandran uses them to peek into the inner workings of the brain. Phantoms in the Brain combines smart writing, a sense of humor, quirky medical mysteries and provocative insights into consciousness and self.