The Brain: A Very Short IntroductionThe Brain: A Very Short Introduction provides a non-technical introduction to the main issues and findings in current brain research and gives a sense of how neuroscience addresses questions about the relationship between the brain and the mind. Short, clear discussions on the mechanical workings of the brain are offered and the details of brain science are covered in an accessible style. Explanations of the more familiar implications of the brain's actions, such as memories, perceptions, and motor control are integrated throughout the book. It has chapters on brain processes and the causes of "altered mental states," as well as a final chapter that discusses possible future developments in neuroscience, touching on artificial intelligence, gene therapy, the importance of the Human Genome Project, drugs by design, and transplants. Up-to-date coverage of the newest developments in brain research and suggestions for future research on the brain are also included. About the Series: Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - waltzmn - LibraryThingWhat this book needs is a time machine. It's obviously unfair to ask a science book from 2005 to reflect opinions from 2015, but even from a 2005 perspective, there were some holes -- e.g. its ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - jpporter - LibraryThingPerhaps very short, but very informative, as well. O'Shea gives us a tour de force of the state of knowledge about the brain, and does so in an extremely accessible fashion. This is what one expects ... Read full review
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ability action potential activity animals Aplysia artificial axons battery behaviour biological blood brain–machine interface Cajal called cell body cellular central nervous system centre cerebral cortex Chapter chemical signals chemical synapse complex components connections consciously cortical devices dorsal effect electrical signals electrical synapses evolution example excited flow fMRI forebrain ganglia gates genes glial cells gorilla hemispheres hippocampus human brain important increased individual neurons input intelligence involved Kandel lateral geniculate left and right long-term memory machine mechanisms membrane memory formation midbrain molecular molecules motor neurons muscle nerve cells nerve impulse networks neural circuits Neurobiology neuroscience neurotransmitter optic organic pathway perception performed photoreceptors physical potassium primary visual cortex proteins receptor region response retina retinal ganglion cells robot sense sensitive sensory information sensory neurons serotonin short-term memory sodium sound spatial spinal cord stimulated structure targets understanding visual field visual information visual world voltage