Items from the list of books recommended by Dr Feldenkrais for SF training, 1975
Lloyd Jeffress (ed.)
Cerebral Mechanisms in Behaviour, The Hixon Symposium. NY, John Wiley &
sons ; London, Chapan & Hall, 1951*
The book covers a wide range of topics related to the brain and behavior, with particular emphasis
on the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms. Contributors to the symposium presented
research and theories on topics such as perception, memory, learning, emotions, motivation and
cognitive processes. There was plenty of scope for discussion and exchange between
perspectives and understandings. Cerebral Mechanisms in Behaviour, published following the
symposium, also helped to disseminate the ideas discussed at the event. The symposium was
held in 1948, at a time when neuroscience was still an emerging field. Bringing together renowned
researchers John von Neumann (1903-1957), Warren S. McCulloch (1898-1969); K.S. Lashley
(1890-1958), Heinrich Klüver (1897-1979), Wolfgang Kölher (1887-1967), Ward C. Halstead
(1908-1968), Henry W. Brosin, in fields such as neurophysiology, psychology, neurology and
psychiatry, the symposium fostered an interdisciplinary exchange of ideas and knowledge. It
provided an opportunity to share knowledge and advances in the field of behavioral
neurophysiology in the mid-20th century.
In the history of neuroscience, the Hixon Symposium is considered a key event that stimulated
research and interest in the study of the brain and behavior. It paved the way for new
collaborations and a more integrated approach to understanding the brain and its link to behavior.
* About this collective work, Lloyd Jeffrerss (ed.) Cerebral Mechanisms in Behaviour, The Hixon Symposium. NY, John
Wiley & sons; London, Chapan & Hall, 1951, we could divide each contribution up between different people, as
it is not certain that all the contributions are equally relevant for shedding light on an aspect of FM (it is not
certain that Feldenkrais would have attached as much interest to each of the articles, although as a humanist it is
possible that almost everything could satisfy his curiosity).
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