Senses and experiments

Press, 17 April 1982, Page 16

Senses and experiments

Brain Games. By Richard B. Fisher. Fontana, 1981. 239 pp. index. $7.35 (paperback). (Reviewed, by David Robinson)

The title “Brain Games” suggests a book of pencil-and-paper puzzles. It is actually something quite different, an attempt to explain to the layman the workings of the human brain so far as they are understood.

The “games” of the title are simple experiments that can be performed by the reader, often with the help of a friend and a little easily-obtainable equipment. The cover suggests that these experiments will put you “in the shoes of a research scientist opening up new avenues of knowledge.” Many of them were indeed genuine experiments whose results were instrumental in the formulation of some new theory, or the exploding of an old one.

Their role in this book is, however, not the same. The result is nearly always given, and integrated into some theory. The reader may prefer to accept the results rather than interrupt his reading every few minutes. Nevertheless, Richard Fisher has chosen the best way to present his material. The experiments are there and can be performed by anyone who doubts the quoted result Inevitably there is much in this book that we must take on trust, but it is the proper way to treat any

science to offer the reader the opportunity to check for himself where he can.

. Nor is Mr Fisher an uncritical reporter of psychological theories.’ He points out difficulties with the leading theories, and frequently says that no one knows the answer to some basic and apparently simple question. The book opens with a chapter on personality. .The "games” here are like those found in some magazines which purport to evaluate your marriage. At least this author draws no serious conclusions, and expresses some scepticism. The second chapter looks at the physical structure of the brain (no games here!).- Next come consciousness, intelligence, memory and learning. The remaining chapters, about half the book, look at the way we perceive the world through our senses, particularly sight, and the complex interpretation which goes on in the brain to give meaning to the raw signals. Usually the writing is clear and he presents a coherent picture of the subject as a whole, but occasionally he is vague or uses curious wording, which suggests that he does not always understand the item himself.

All in all a useful general introduction, but any matter of serious interest should be followed up With one of the more specialist writers listed in the bibliography.