Customer Reviews

Atlas of the Human Brain

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This is the premiere brain atlas--I cannot stress enough how good it is. I would say the only negative of this atlas is that it is almost too detailed, and might be a bit overwhelming for a beginner. For example, it labels subareas of structures that might be labeled as single structures in other atlases (e.g., claustrum, amygdala etc.). I don't mean to present this as a criticism--the atlas fills the role of a comprehensive atlas for intermediate to advanced users, but beginners might want to use this in combination with another atlas (I recommend The Brain Atlas: A Visual Guide to the Human Central Nervous System in the paperback). This latter book is nice for the illustrated pathways as well. I was a big fan of the last edition of the Mai et al book, and I think the current edition is even better. For example, there is a supplemental website containing a large amount of great information: [...]. Used in combination with another book, this atlas will give any medical or neuroscience student a solid foundation in anatomy.

For many readers, this might be a rather exotic book. However, for those who want a sense of the structure of the human brain, this is a fine resource. The title refers to this as an "atlas" of the human brain. And that it is! As the authors note: "The present book consists of a series of maps, each featuring. . .brain morphology and topography."

MRI technology allows for a better view of the human brain and makes this volume more helpful still. The Introduction (Chapter 1) emphasizes some realities--such as the fact that there is a fair amount of variability in individuals' brain structure; localization of brain function is another issue discussed here. Methodological issues are joined, too, in the Introduction. Chapter 2 focuses in more detail on materials and methods in the study of brain structure. Chapters 3 and 4 represent the heart of the book, an atlas of different parts of the brain.

Interested in the structure of the human brain? This is a handy resource if you wish to visualize the brain.