How come some people always remember a face? Is it really possible to do two things at once? Fundamentals of Cognition is a clear and reader-friendly introduction that will help students understand and answer these kinds of questions. Taking his cue from modern cognitive psychology, and drawing from coverage in his previous book, Principles of Cognitive Psychology, 2nd Edition, which this book replaces, Mike Eysenck explores the key processes that allow us to make sense of the world around us. Whether we are aware of their workings or not, our abilities in attention, perception, learning, memory, language, problem solving, thinking and reasoning all help us to make decisions about how to cope with everyday life. This book takes a close look at all the relevant key findings and issues. It also offers accessible explanations of the more complex debates which spring up around them. Fundamentals of Cognition guides students through all the classic topics in cognitive psychology. New research from approaches in cognitive science and cognitive neuroscience is integrated and evaluated in a lively (but systematic) approach. The book provides a broad overview of current thinking and a thorough evaluation of the various theoretical approaches to basic cognitive processes. Written with introductory-level students in mind, it can be read easily by those with no previous knowledge of cognitive psychology. However, it also includes directions for more detailed and advanced study.

Author Biography

Michael W. Eysenck is one of the best-known psychologists in Europe. He is Professor of Psychology at Royal Holloway University of London, one of the leading psychology departments in the United Kingdom. He is a specialist in cognitive psychology and has published extensively in this field. Altogether he has written 35 books and over 150 articles and book chapters.