Inner Vision: An Exploration of Art and the Brain, by Semir ZekiArtistic expression is intertwined with the inner workings of the brain more than we could have ever imagined imagined? Writer and cognitive neuroscientist Semir Zeki certainly thinks so. Zeki is a leading authority on "visual brain" research. In his book Inner Vision he ventures to explain to the reader how our brain actually perceives different works of art and tries to provide a biological basis to the theory of aesthetics. With careful attention to detail and organization, he manages to explain the brain anatomy and physiology involved in viewing different works of art without seeming incredibly complicated – a definite plus for scientists and non-scientists who are interested in the topic of art and the brain. . Throughout the book, Zeki supports his arguments by presenting various research experiments, brain imaging scans, and numerous relevant works of art to clarify everything described in the text. Focusing primarily on modern masterpieces (which include Vermeer, Michelangelo, Mondrian, kinetic, abstract, and representational art), he convincingly explains how the color, movement, boundaries, and forms of these unique works of art are each received through pathways specific and systems in the brain that are specifically designed to interpret each of these particular aspects of art, as opposed to a single pathway that interprets all visual input. The topic that Zeki addresses here is not an easy topic to clearly explain to others, especially since there is still a lot left to discover in the field itself. Yet Zeki does an excellent job of explaining. In my neurobiology class, I recently learned that if we bang our arm or rub… middle of the paper… Overall, I think the book is deeply intriguing and engaging – it draws the reader in so deeply. intensely that he cannot free himself until he reads the last page. Zeki manages to bring to light many new ideas about the visual brain. It takes what little we know about the brain and distinguishes myth from fact. Interestingly, much of the book is actually just hypothetical hypotheses proposed by Zeki, as there is still much to discover about the physiological functioning of the brain. However, I found it fun to read the book and compare the known facts with the theories and speculate about what might actually one day prove to be true. This is a truly delightful book and I highly recommend it to anyone with even the slightest interest in discovering the mysterious connections that exist between the brain and visual art..