With so many rapid advances in brain studies in recent years, discussion as to the nature of mind and consciousness has become of critical importance for scientists and theorists alike. Are we 'nothing but a pack of neurons' that will in due course reveal their secrets in the laboratory? Or does our conscious mind, and our very self-awareness, stem from a broader dimension that lies beyond conventional scientific investigation? And how are we to account for so-called 'parapsychological' phenomena in which consciousness seems to defy physical and time boundaries?

The nature of consciousness is a vital question for the future of science, as well as for human development. These contributions to the debate, selected from the annual 'Beyond the Brain' conferences, show that if we are open and reflective about the full range of human experience, we must radically re-think our theories and methods in investigating the human mind.