V. Ramachandran – Encyclopedia of the Human Brain

Автор: V. Ramachandran
Название книги: Encyclopedia of the Human Brain
Формат: PDF
Жанр: Медицина
Страницы: 3289
Качество: Изначально компьютерное, E-book

In the past decade, enormous strides have been made in understanding the human brain. The advent of sophisticated new imaging techniques (e.g. PET, MRI, MEG, etc.) and new behavioral testing procedures have revolutionized our understanding of the brain, and we now know more about the anatomy, functions, and development of this organ than ever before. However, much of this knowledge is scattered across scientific journals and books in a diverse group of specialties: psychology, neuroscience, medicine, etc. The Encyclopedia of the Human Brain places all information in a single source and contains clearly written summaries on what is known of the human brain.

Covering anatomy, physiology, neuropsychology, clinical neurology, neuropharmacology, evolutionary biology, genetics, and behavioral science, this four-volume encyclopedia contains over 200 peer reviewed signed articles from experts around the world. The Encyclopedia articles range in size from 5-30 printed pages each, and contain a definition paragraph, glossary, outline, and suggested readings, in addition to the body of the article. Lavishly illustrated, the Encyclopedia includes over 1000 figures, many in full color. Managing both breadth and depth, the Encyclopedia is a must-have reference work for life science libraries and researchers investigating the human brain.

The functions of the human brain are the last major
challenge to science. Despite having made rapid strides
in understanding the cosmos, subatomic particles,
molecular biology, and genetics, we still know very
little about the organ that made these discoveries
possible. How does the activity of 100 billion nerve
cellsFmere wisps of protoplasm that constitute the
brainFgive rise to the broad spectrum of abilities that
we call consciousness, mind, and human nature?
There is now, more than ever before, a real need for a
standard reference source covering all aspects of the
human brain and nervous system, and the Encyclopedia
of the Human Brain is the most up-to-date and
comprehensive coverage to date. It is a compendium of
articles contributed by many of the world’s leading
experts in neuroscience and psychology. These essays
will be of interest to a wide range of individuals in the
behavioral and health sciences.
Written in an engaging, accessible style, the encyclopedia
not only is an importantmajor referencework but
also can be browsed informally by anyone who seeks
answers about the activities and effects of the brain,
such as why and how we dream, what parts of the brain
are involved inmemory, howwe recognize human faces
and other objects, what are the brain mechanisms
involved in cognition and language, what causes
phantom limb pain, what are the implications of lefthandedness,
or what current treatments are available
for Parkinson’s disease. Here in the Encyclopedia of the
Human Brain will be found brief yet comprehensive
summaries on all of these topics and some 200 more.
Many of the articles will appeal equally to a student
preparing an essay for class, a novice researcher
looking for new fields to conquer, a clinician wanting
to become up-to-date on recent research in his or her
field, or even an interested lay reader.
Each of the articles has been through a long process
of author nomination, peer review, revision, and
copyediting. Most of the entries were written by
acknowledged experts in the field. Given the nature
and scope of this enterprise, a degree of overlap
among the articles was not only inevitable but also
desirable, since our goal was to ensure that each article
was a self-contained summary of one specific aspect of
the human brain. Given space limitations, each author
was encouraged to provide a broad overview of an
area of research rather than an exhaustive review. The
result is a stimulating and informative compilation of
material.
The eighties were dubbed the ‘‘decade of the brain,’’
an apt term given the subsequent progress made in
understanding the structure, function, and development
of this mysterious organ. This encyclopedia
should prove to be an invaluable resource on this
fascinating subject and would not have been possible
without the dedicated efforts of more than 350
authors, 12 associate editors, 150 peer reviewers, and
the following Academic Press personnel: Nikki Levy,
Barbara Makinster, Christopher Morris, Carolan
Gladden, Joanna Dinsmore, and Jocelyn Lofstrom.
V. S. Ramachandran