The Brain: An Introduction to Functional Neuroanatomy

Charles Watson, Matthew Kirkcaldie, George Paxinos

Academic Press, Sep 20, 2010 - Science - 216 pages

The authors of the most cited neuroscience publication, The Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates, have written this introductory textbook for neuroscience students. The text is clear and concise, and offers an excellent introduction to the essential concepts of neuroscience.

• Based on contemporary neuroscience research rather than old-style medical school neuroanatomy
• Thorough treatment of motor and sensory systems
• A detailed chapter on human cerebral cortex
• The neuroscience of consciousness, memory, emotion, brain injury, and mental illness
• A comprehensive chapter on brain development
• A summary of the techniques of brain research
• A detailed glossary of neuroscience terms
• Illustrated with over 130 color photographs and diagrams

This book will inspire and inform students of neuroscience. It is designed for beginning students in the health sciences, including psychology, nursing, biology, and medicine.

• Clearly and concisely written for easy comprehension by beginning students
• Based on contemporary neuroscience research rather than the concepts of old-style medical school neuroanatomy
• Thorough treatment of motor and sensory systems
• A detailed chapter on human cerebral cortex
• Discussion of the neuroscience of conscience, memory, cognitive function, brain injury, and mental illness
• A comprehensive chapter on brain development
• A summary of the techniques of brain research
• A detailed glossary of neuroscience terms
• Illustrated with over 100 color photographs and diagrams

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Contents

• Nerve cells and synapses: 2
• Central nervous system basicsthe brain and spinal cord: 12
• A map of the brain: 26
• Peripheral nerves: 44
• Command and controlthe motor systems: 56
• Gathering informationthe sensory systems: 76
• The human cerebral cortex: 98
• Higher level functionsconsciousness learning memory and emotions: 110
• When things go wrongbrain disease and injury: 126
• The development of the brain and spinal cord: 142
• Techniques for studying the brain: 154
• Voltages potentials and cell membranes: 166
• Appendix B: 169
• Appendix C: 172
• Supplementary reading: 174
• Glossary: 180
• Bibliography: 190
• Index: 194

About the author

Charles Watson is a neuroscientist and public health physician. His qualifications included a medical degree (MBBS) and two research doctorates (MD and DSc). He is Professor Emeritus at Curtin University, and holds adjunct professorial research positions at the University of New South Wales, the University of Queensland, and the University of Western Australia. He has published over 100 refereed journal articles and 40 book chapters, and has co-authored over 25 books on brain and spinal cord anatomy. The Paxinos Watson rat brain atlas has been cited over 80,000 times. His current research is focused on the comparative anatomy of the hippocampus and the claustrum. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science by the University of Sydney in 2012 and received the Distinguished Achievement Award of the Australasian Society for Neuroscience in 2018.

Matthew Kirkcaldie works in the School of Medicine, The University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia.

Professor Paxinos is the author of almost 50 books on the structure of the brain of humans and experimental animals, including The Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates, now in its 7th Edition, which is ranked by Thomson ISI as one of the 50 most cited items in the Web of Science. Dr. Paxinos paved the way for future neuroscience research by being the first to produce a three-dimensional (stereotaxic) framework for placement of electrodes and injections in the brain of experimental animals, which is now used as an international standard. He was a member of the first International Consortium for Brain Mapping, a UCLA based consortium that received the top ranking and was funded by the NIMH led Human Brain Project. Dr. Paxinos has been honored with more than nine distinguished awards throughout his years of research, including: The Warner Brown Memorial Prize (University of California at Berkeley, 1968), The Walter Burfitt Prize (1992), The Award for Excellence in Publishing in Medical Science (Assoc Amer Publishers, 1999), The Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence in Biomedical Research (2001), The Alexander von Humbolt Foundation Prize (Germany 2004), and more

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Brain: An Introduction to Functional Neuroanatomy
• Authors: Charles Watson, Matthew Kirkcaldie, George Paxinos
• Publisher: Academic Press, 2010
• ISBN: 0080920489, 9780080920481
• Length: 216 pages
• Subjects: Medical / Anatomy; Medical / Neurology; Medical / Neuroscience; Science / Life Sciences / Neuroscience