William James (1842-1910) was a groundbreaking philosopher, psychologist and physician whose pioneering work laid the foundation for the emerging field of psychology at the turn of the century. He was a key figure in the development of the "new Psychology" of his day and is remembered for his innovative theories of emotion, perception, and cognition. He has been credited with helping to develop the concept of "the stream of consciousness" and was undoubtedly one of the major influences in the field of psychology for generations to come. He is arguably the most prominent American figure in the history of the discipline, and his seminal book 'The Principles of Psychology' is still widely read and studied today.

See also: hemispheric hypothesis, right hemisphere, left hemisphere, corpus callosum