Birkbeck professor explores the hidden science behind human dexterity in new book
The brain’s crucial role in the unique capabilities of the human hand will be investigated in a new book by Professor Matthew Longo.
The human hand is one of our most extraordinary tools, shaping both our evolution and culture. In his new upcoming book, The Invisible Hand, Professor Matthew Longo, of Birkbeck’s School of Psychological Sciences, draws on his research to argue the true power of the human hand lies not in the hand itself but in the brain.
Published by MIT Press and due for release on 15 April, The Invisible Hand explores the intricate neural and cognitive mechanisms that make human hands so uniquely capable.
By bringing together research from multiple disciplines, the book aims to not only deepen understanding of the hand’s capabilities but also expand the broader conversation about how the brain shapes our interaction with the world.
Drawing on extensive research from diverse fields such as psychology, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and archaeology, Professor Longo presents a new framework for understanding how the brain orchestrates the hand’s abilities - from basic movement and sensation to complex tool use and communication.
Professor Longo, who also directs Birkbeck’s Body Representation Laboratory, has spent many years studying the brain’s role in shaping our perception and control of the body. He commented:
“The human hand is often held up as a marvel of evolutionary perfection. Yet the hand’s power as a tool comes not from the hand itself, but from the brain. My book tells the story of many years of research on the brain mechanisms underlying hand function by scientists working in many disciplines, including research from my own lab here at Birkbeck. I hope that readers from many backgrounds will find the book a stimulating and an exciting introduction to this fundamental part of human life.”