title: The brain/mind complex. An epistemological approach.
abstract: It is stressed that the brain/mind complex constitutes a monolithic system that functions with emergent properties at several levels of hierarchical organization. These hierarchical levels are non-reducible to one another; they are at least three (neuronal, functional, and semantic), and they function within an interactional plan. From the epistemological view-point, the brain/mind complex uses logical and non-logical mechanisms to deal with day-to-day problems. Logic is necessary for the thinking process, but it is not sufficient. Emphasis is given to non-logical mechanisms; fuzzy logic and heuristics, which allow the mind to develop strategies to find solutions, are analysed.
authors.affiliation: Disciplina de Neurologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Sanvito
mesh_terms: D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008128:Logic; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010684:Philosophy; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D013850:Thinking / Q000502:physiology