How We Became Sensorimotor: Movement, Measurement, Sensation

The book "How We Became Sensorimotor" by Mark Paterson provides a systematic account of the century between 1833 and 1945 that transformed our understanding of the body's inner senses, revolutionizing fields like philosophy, the social sciences, and cognitive science. It explores the formation of various senses, including balance, fatigue, pain, and motricity, through recent scientific studies, case studies, and media coverage. The book also includes original archival research with illustrations and correspondence, showing how the historical background to our senses understanding is being extended even today.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 14 December 2021
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

The years between 1833 and 1945 were a period of profound transformation in the scientific understanding of the body's inner senses, revolutionizing fields such as philosophy, social sciences, and cognitive science. In his book "How We Became Sensorimotor," Mark Paterson offers a comprehensive account of this transformative era, while also highlighting its significant implications for current explorations into phenomenology, embodied consciousness, the extended mind, and theories of the sensorimotor, body, and embodiment.

Each chapter of "How We Became Sensorimotor" focuses on a specific sense and traces its historical development through recent scientific studies, case studies, or media coverage. The book covers a wide range of sensations, including balance, fatigue, pain, the "muscle sense," and what Maurice Merleau-Ponty termed "motricity." Paterson's analysis extends beyond the traditional boundaries of the laboratory to encompass the industrial world, natural environments, and even wild animals and their habitats. He uncovers fascinating stories, such as how forgotten pain-measurement schemes transformed criminology, or how Penfield's outdated concepts of sensory and motor homunculi continue to influence psychology textbooks.

"How We Became Sensorimotor" is enriched with original archival research, featuring illustrations and correspondence, which illustrate how the historical background to our understanding of the senses is being extended even today. The book provides a rich and detailed account of the evolution of scientific thought on the senses, shedding light on the shifting and sometimes contested narratives that have shaped our knowledge over the centuries. It is a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and anyone interested in the interdisciplinary study of the body, mind, and perception.

Dimension: 216 x 140 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781517909994