From Brain Dynamics to the Mind

Dr. Northoff is a neuroscientist and psychiatrist at the University of Ottawa. He has global outreach with world-wide collaborations and affiliations. The main focus of his research is on unravelling the connection of brain and mind, that is, how neuronal activity transforms into mental activity. He is world-wide known for his work on the neuroscience of self and consciousness, psychiatric disorders, and neurophilosophy. Additionally, he published several major books on major neuroscientific, psychiatric and neurophilosophical issues which have been translated into several languages.

• PART I Brain dynamicsSection 1 Variability of the brain1. The fluctuating brain-essentials of neural variability2. Neural variability in rest and task states3. Neural variability shapes perception and cognition4. Neurodynamic mechanisms of neural variabilitySection 2 Scale-freeness of the brain5. From broccoli to the brain - Scale-free activity6. From scale-free activity to temporo-spatial nestedness7. Scale-free dynamic shapes perception and cognition8. Scale-free activity – bridge between environment and brainSection 3 Timescales of the brain9. The brain’s inner time – intrinsic neural timescales10. Intrinsic neural timescales mediate input processing11. From Chronos and Kairos to the brain’s temporal receptive windows12. Lessons from geology – from the human brain to artificial agentsSection 4 Synchrony of the brain13. Synchrony in nature and brain14. Entrainment – How the brain synchronizes with its environment15. Global synchronization in the brain16. Neural synchronization in fMRI and EEG/MEG - a methodological guidePart II Dynamic layer model of brainSection 1 Dynamic layers and the brain17. Layers of the brain - An introduction18. Background and foreground layers I: Scale-free stability versus oscillatory flexibility19. Background and foreground layers II - nonlinear and asymmetric relationshipSection 2 From dynamic layers to cognition20. Baseline model of cognition I: Distinction from dual model of cognition21. Baseline model of cognition II: Spatiotemporal shaping of cognition and input processing22. Dynamic capacities and cognitionSection 3 Dynamic layer model of brain vs other models of brain23. Cognitive model and predictive coding24. Intrinsic and inside-out models of brain25. Brain and world - converging free energy principle and dynamic layer theory of brainPart III Mind dynamicsSection 1 The self26. The self and its intrinsic topography27. The dynamic of self and its semantics28. The self - psychological baseline or default29. From icebergs to the self – point of viewSection 2 Meditation30. Topographic reorganization model of meditation31. Topographic reorganization of the self32. Dynamic reorganization of the brainSection 3 Dreams33. From Salvador Dali to dreams - topographic reorganization model of dreams34. From falling keys to dreams - Dynamic reorganizationSection 4 Thoughts35. How dynamics shape our thoughts36. Baseline model of thoughtSection 5 Consciousness37. The jungle of consciousness – current neuroscientific theories38. Order in the jungle of consciousness – convergence of theories39. Temporo-spatial theory of consciousness I – form and level/state40. Temporo-spatial theory of consciousness (TTC) II: Contents41. From brain to consciousness - “common currency hypothesis”Section 6 Autism42. Dynamic shapes perception and behavior in autism43. Hierarchical model of autistic self