Discoveries in the Human Brain: Neuroscience Prehistory, Brain Structure, and Function

ISBN-13: 9780896034358 / Angielski / Twarda / 1997 / 323 str.

Louise H. Marshall; Horace W. Magoun

Opis

170u can climb back up a stream of radiance to the sky, and back through history up the stream of time. 1 -Robert Frost topics that he judged to be important in brain his From the last years of the second millennium, tory leading into the end of the century, and was we can look back on antecedent events in neuro undertaken in response to the enthusiasm gener science with amazement that so much of modern ated by exhibition at several national and interna biomedical science was anticipated, or even said or done, in an earlier time. That surprise can be tional meetings of a series oflarge posters for which matched by appreciation for what the pioneer Magoun wrote a 27-page brochure. The posters investigators, with no inkling that they were creat were viewed by a multitude of young neuroscien ing a discipline, contributed to its emergence as a tists who wanted more, as well as by mature inves productive force in human progress. In today's tigators who were warmly pleased to see familiar names and faces from the past. The acclaim was reductionist atmosphere, in which research at the molecular level is producing breathtaking new accompanied by a veritable deluge of requests for knowledge throughout biology, the student may an illustrated, expanded publication."

Recenzje

". . .a remarkable work of science, art, and history. . .The rich heritage of neuroscience comes alive here, even for the general reader. . . fascinating and valuable reading"-Choice: Current Reviews of Academic Books

"This excellent book. . .should be of interest to neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroscientists, and others interested in the history of neuroscience."-Journal of the American Medical Association

". . . [a] very fine book. . .the reader will be impressed not only with the text, but also with the style and quality of presentation by Humana Press. The quality of the paper, the layout, and the reproductions of photographs are for the most part outstanding."-Einstein Quarterly

"...The book is filled with interesting pictures of contributing scientists and their laboratories, as well as figures and diagrams, and will be of interest to investigators actively involved in neuroscience research. The book is well written and easy to read. It is enjoyable from the historical standpoint and also valuable for the amount of neuroscientific data available in the text and the references...the book clearly accomplishes its objective to present the discoveries in the human brain and is highly recommended to all interested in this subject."-The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

Spis treści

I. Introduction: The Basic Postulates. Nature of the Continuum. Charles Darwin. Galen of Pergamum. Overview of the Base. II. Evolution of the Mammalian Brain. Phylogeny Leads the Way. Otogeny 'Recapitulates'. Paleoneurology Is Introduced. Early Evidence of Handedness. Modern Theories of Evolutionary Neurology. Overview of Early Humans. III. The Ventricles and Their Functions. Ancient and Early Modern Beliefs. The Cerebrospinal Fluid. Two 'Barrier' Systems: The Blood-Brain Barrier. Quantitative Physiologic Data. Overview of Ventricular 'Cells'. IV. Surface Contours: Order or Chaos? The Convolutions or Gyri. The Fissures or Sulci. Overview of the 'Coils'. V. Lobes and Functional Localization. Frontal Lobe Pathology and Speech: Observations. Frontal Lobe Stimulation: Experiments. Frontal Lobe: Experiments by Ablation. The Parietal Lobes and Evoked Potentials. The Temporal Lobes. Occipital Lobes and Vision. Overview of the Cortical Hemispheres. VI. Cerebral Asymmetry and Behavioral Laterality. Hemispheric Differences. Handedness and Speech and Other Asymmetries. Growth of Knowledge of the Corpus Callosum. Overview of Cerebral Differences. VII. The Anatomic Substrate: Cerebral Fine Structure. Connectedness of Cell Body and Fiber. Cellular Elements. The Independent Neuron. Multiple Approaches to the Substrates of Vision. Nonneuronal Cells of the Cerebrum. Overview of Neural Fine Structure. VIII. Landmarks in Cerebral Neurochemistry. The Early Chemists. Animal Electricity. Tissue Excitability. Chemical Transmission. Vascularity of the Brain. Overview of Neurochemical Discoveries. IX. The Cerebellum. Ancient Views and Early Experiments. The Ridiculous and the Sublime. Insights from Phylogeny and Embryology. Cerebellar Mapping. Inhibitory Influence of the Cerebellum. From Old to New Techniques. Overview of the 'Little Brain'. X. Thalamocortical Pathways and Consciousness. In Early History. Modern Views of Consciousness. Thalamic Functions and Efferent Connections. The Diffuse Projections. Overview of Some Thalamic Projections. XI. The Pituitary-Hypothalamic Axis. Pituitary Posterior Lobe: The Neurohypophysis. Pituitary Anterior Lobe: The Adenohypophysis. The Hypothalamus. Overview of the Axix. XII. Three Major Integrative Systems. The Limbic System and Memory. Corticothalamic Connections and Cybernetics. The Brain-Stem Reticular Formation and Arousal. Overview of the Three Major Integrators. Postscript. References. Credits. Index.

Blurb

In Discoveries in the Human Brain Louise Marshall and Horace Magoun capture the grand sweep of human brain history leading to the emergence of modern neuroscience as a multidisciplinary field incorporating anatomical, behavioral, cellular, and medical knowledge. The book chronicles-from the time of early humans to the 1980s-the many significant people and events that gradually produced today's understanding of brain anatomy and physiology. Enlightening and engrossing throughout, Dr. Marshall's survey traces this unfolding story from the first findings of gross neuroanatomy in the ancient world to today's functional analysis of the electrophysiology of nerve impulses; from early discoveries of the existence and operations the central nervous system to, finally, the developments in brain chemistry and pharmacology that have now brought us to neural networks and brain modeling. Throughout there are numerous historic and rare plates, a rich tapestry of quotations from primary sources, and concise summaries of the pathbreaking research that shaped and determined modern neuroscience.

Discoveries in the Human Brain illuminates for neuroscientists, neurologists, historians of medicine and science, as well as the educated reader all the major landmarks in the development of neuroscience and its various subdisciplines, ranging from anatomy, chemistry, and physiology, to biomathematics, biophysics, psychobiology, and physiological psychology. It will prove indispensable reading for everyone wanting to understand the evolution of neuroscience and the broad interdisciplinary foundation on which our knowledge of mind-brain relations and human consciousness rests.