In this wonderful and unique work, neuroscientist and poet Jan Lauwereyns explores the delicate weave of perception, thought, and action. Using roving gaze as a recurrent fixation point, Lauwereyns' scan covers not just neuroscience but large swathes of work on phenomenology and embodied cognition. The tone is appreciative throughout but the critical bite, when it comes, remains properly severe. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the science, art, and philosophy of perception.
Andy Clark FRSE, Professor of Logic and Metaphysics, University of Edinburgh; author of Supersizing the Mind
Brain and the Gaze offers a trove of richly suggestive research and insight into the nature of 'active perception' and the creative imagination. Jan Lauwereyns is foremost, of course, a neuroscientist, residing at the frontiers of his discipline. However, his depth of understanding of contemporary philosophy (phenomenology in particular) and poetic practice has led to a work that should appeal as well to a diverse, artistically oriented audience.
Michael Palmer, author of Thread
Brain and the Gaze is a poetic framework of philosophical and psychological insights into cutting-edge neuroscience. I strongly recommend this book to those who are starving for a big picture of perceptual awareness that is not only scientifically accurate, but also elegant and spiritually satisfying.
Shinsuke Shimojo, Gertrude Baltimore Professor of Experimental Psychology, California Institute of Technology
This is an illuminating and very much needed contribution that will set the benchmark for the neuroscientific study of perceptual experience for the next few years. A must read for cognitive scientists, philosophers, neuroscientists, psychologists, and more generally, for all those who are interested in understanding the delicate weave of perception and its relationship with brain, body, and action.
Biology and Philosophy
