ABSTRACT
The neural sciences, though quite young, have dramatically altered the intellectual landscape during the past 50 years. This chapter discusses the general themes of the book, namely, the emphasis of mind as part of biological adaptation, cognitive systems being endemic to the organization of action, and the fundamental role of central dopamine in the organization of action and thought. The brain has both broad and narrow circuits that have allowed for diverse behavioral adaptations. The will as an expression of the cognitive organization of action is central to understanding who we are as individuals. Dopamine is a fundamental neurotransmitter for diverse cognitive functions, for example, language and probability computations, it is fundamental also in the organization of drive and reward. Dopamine is a broadly based neurotransmitter with a number of receptors that are regulated by different transcription factors. Dopamine is one neurotransmitter that is closely linked to the concept of the will.
