本书由唐院士，包括他和同事们合作的，脑与心智方面论著中的部分文章汇编而成。全书分为两部分，第一部分研究脑的工作机制、认知的规律等重大科学问题，它涉及了：脑内信息加工、认知、注意、情绪、语言、意识等。第二部分是关于脑与心智方面的评述，包括：神经信息学、分子影像学、意识研究等。 国内目前关于脑与心智这两个主题相联系的研究书籍较为少见，唐院士的著作填补了这方面的空白，既从脑研究方面又从心理学方面入手研究关于意识的问题，具有扎实的理论基础，提出了有创见的意识研究的观点，是国内脑与心智研究的前沿成果。

How does the brain work? How different is a human brain from other creatures' brains? Is the human brain still evolving? In this fascinating book, Michael O'Shea provides a non-technical introduction to the main issues and findings in current brain research, and gives a sense of how neuroscience addresses questions about the relationship between the brain and the mind. Chapters tackle subjects such as brain processes, perception, memory, motor control and the causes of 'altered mental states'. A final section discusses possible future developments in neuroscience, touching on artificial intelligence, gene therapy, the importance of the Human Genome Project, drugs by design, and transplants.