Face in the Mirror

<p>We've all witnessed this moment: a dog a cat or another animal reacting to its own reflection in the mirror treating it as another animal to be played with or confronted. As human beings we take self-recognition for granted but this seemingly simple ability represents one of the most complex mysteries of neuroscience. <em>The Face in the Mirror</em> takes readers on a lively tour of the neurological anthropological and psychological roots of self-recognition -- from the intricate network in the brain that enables higher primates to recognize their image to complex self-related emotions such as humor embarrassment and jealousy that play a crucial role in our evolution and survival. From animals who share our ability for self-recognition to case studies of patients who no longer recognize who they are the authors examine some of the latest evidence on a subject that has puzzled philosophers and scientists for millennia -- how do we know who we are?</p>