Overview

An in-depth look at the science that explains the hidden powers of the five senses and how to harness their potential. University of California psychologist and researcher Lawrence D. Rosenblum explores the astonishing abilities of the five senses, abilities few of us even know we have. Drawing on groundbreaking insights into the brain's neuroplasticity and integrative powers, including findings from his own research, Rosenblum examines how the brain uses the subtlest information to apprehend the world. A blind person, for example, can ""see"" through batlike echolocation; wine connoisseurs can actually taste the vintage of an obscure wine; pheromones can signal a lover's compatibility; and an undetected odor can influence our behavior. Rosenblum takes us from the ""beep"" baseball fields where blind players swing at buzzing balls to a pitch-black restaurant where diners experience taste without the aid of sight, not only illuminating the science behind our sensory powers but also demonstrating how awareness of our sensory skills can enhance and hone their power.

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9780393067606

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Reviews

Rosenblum describes in language accessible to lay readers a quirky collection of sensory wonders, which he then explains scientifically and also describes how to duplicate easily. ... Fans of Steven Pinker's How the Mind Works will find a cousin in this science book for non-scientists.

This terrific book might have been subtitled Tales of Perceptual Versatility! Combining extraordinary cases, classic studies and the latest reports from the laboratory, See What I'm Saying exposes the psychological dynamics of perception. With great charm, Lawrence Rosenblum describes the functions of five senses in noticing and knowing objects and events. His book treats these intricate phenomena in a deft and appealing way. --Robert Remez, Professor of Psychology, Barnard College and Columbia University

""This is the first book I've seen that expertly draws the non-scientist into the fascinating world of sensory experience and perception. Until now, the popular science of sensation and perception has been less sexy than neuroscience, but See What I'm Saying will change that. Rosenblum engages the reader with many lively personal experiences and stories of intriguing individuals and he does this while melding in lucidly explained hard science."" -- Rachel Herz, author of The Scent of Desire

Author Information

Lawrence D. Rosenblum, an award-winning Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, is the recipient of multiple National Science Foundation and National Institute of Health grants for his research on lipreading and multimodal integration and a grant from the National Federation of the Blind for his research on the audibility of hybrid cars. Rosenblum’s work has been featured in The Economist, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and on National Public Radio. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

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