Abstracts Accepted

What is mind? : A neuropsychological perspective

Thomas M.V* 

Abstract

This paper explains the neuropsychological aspect of the concept of mind. We commonly understand mind as a range of functions carried out by the brain. The action of the brain underlie all behavior not only relatively simple motor behavior such as walking, and eating but, all the complex cognitive actions that we associate with specifically human behavior such as thinking, speaking and creating work of art. This paper describes ancient and modern philosophical approaches of mind, including the views of Aristotle, Rene Descartes, John Locke, George Berkeley, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Julian Offray DeLa Mettrie, Auguste Comte, John Stuart Mill, William James etc. The neuropsychological aspect of mind begins with brain-behavior relationship. Charles Darwin put forward the Materialistic theory of behavior. The development of language is an example. Language is a cognitive behavior which can be explained on the basis of neural science. Different theories explain how language has been developed in animals including human beings. The need for effective communication between the same species and the search for food led to non-verbal language which later led to verbal language. Verbal communication made life easier. Certain areas in the brain are responsible for the language process. This means that the cognitive behavior (language) is a product of brain. Hence we can say that the mind is a product of brain activity.
Keywords: Mind; Dualism; Materialism; Neuropsychology; Cognitive behavior; Language
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 *MSc.  Clinical and Counseling Psychology Student, School of Behavioral Sciences, Kannur University, Kerala, India.
Email:  rageethomas@yahoo.com

Final Accepted 2nd Workshop 27 Nov 2009