The Brain: A Very Short Introduction

The Brain: A Very Short Introduction

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Number Of Pages: 144
Publication Date: 2003-10
Sales Rank: 241152
ISBN / ASIN: 0192853929
EAN: 9780192853929
Binding: Paperback
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Studio: Oxford University Press, USA
Average Rating: 4

How does the brain work? How different is a human brain from other creatures' brains? Is the human brain still evolving? In this fascinating book, Michael O'Shea 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. Chapters tackle subjects such as brain processes, perception, memory, motor control and the causes of 'altered mental states'. A final section discusses possible future developments in neuroscience, touching on artificial intelligence, gene therapy, the importance of the Human Genome Project, drugs by design, and transplants.

Review:

A great introduction

This is one of the best books in the VSI series, and I've read well over thirty by now. It gives a very good introduction to the basic neuroanatomy of the brain, and explains many important brain functions. The book is intended for laypeople, but even those (like me) who are familiar with the subject can benefit from reading it. Oftentimes neuroscience textbook overwhelm with details, and it is sometimes hard to see the forest from the trees. This book provides a good bird's eye perspective on the field, and its many references and recommended books make it a valuable reference. Very importantly, the book is up to date in some of the more recent discoveries, including some current controversies like grandma neuron, the idea that the brain has a neuron devoted just for recognizing each family member.

A good, well written and well organized book. I highly recommend it.

Review:

Good for nonscientists

I was somewhat disappointed by this book and did not think it was as good as most of the other volumes in the series. It is truly written for the layman and not for anyone with a biological background. The best chapter was on memory; the parts on machine/brain interactions were also interesting. Overall, though, I got little from this book that I did not already know. If you have taken any neuroanatomy or neurophysiology classes (or even a good basic biology course), you will not get much out of this volume. However, If you know nothing about the brain, this is a reasonable introduction.

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