Brain Sense: The Science Of The Senses And How We Process The World Around Us

Brain Sense The Science of the Senses and How We Process the World Around Us Faith Hickman Brynie American Management Association New York • Atlanta • Brussels • Chicago • Mexico City San Francisco • Shanghai • Tokyo • Toronto • Washington, D.C. Special discounts on bulk quantities of AMACOM books are available to corporations, professional associations, and other organizations. For details, contact Special Sales Department, AMACOM, a division of American Management Association, 1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Tel: 800-250-5308. Fax: 518-891-2372. E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.amacombooks.org/go/specialsales To view all AMACOM titles go to: www.amacombooks.org This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Although this book does not always specifically identify trademarked names, AMACOM uses them for editorial purposes only, with no intention of trademark violation. This medical and health information in this book is not intended to be used for diagnosis or treatment and is not to be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice and treatment specifically tailored to the needs of each patient. Any person desiring medical information and treatment should consult a qualified physician. Neither the author nor the publisher are responsible for the misuse of information found in this book. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Brynie, Faith Hickman Brain sense : the science of the senses and how we process the world around us / Faith Hickman Brynie. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-8144-1324-1 ISBN-10: 0-8144-1324-2 1. Senses and sensation. I. Title. BF233.B97 2010 152.1—dc22 2009017998 © 2009 Faith Hickman Brynie. Illustrations by Susan Gilbert, CMI. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of AMACOM, a division of American Management Association, 1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Printing number 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 have been told that my need to understand things is a disease. This book is dedicated to all those who are similarly afflicted. I This page intentionally left blank Our brains are good for getting us around and mating successfully, and even for doing some serious physics, but they go blank when they try to understand how they produce the awareness that is our prized essence. The consolation is that we shall always be of intense interest to ourselves, long after quantum theory has become old hat. —Colin McGinn “An Unbridgeable Gulf ” 2007 This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS Preface: Falling in Love with Science ix Acknowledgments xiii PART ONE TOUCH 1 Life Without Touch 3<