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Brain Sense: The Science of the Senses and How We Process the World Around Us

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I'm a neurology nurse, and I loved this book. The book is hard to describe, though. It's not your typical "this is how your eyes work" look at the senses, and yet you do get good information on how your eyes work. The same is true for "this is how your brain works." The book looks at the latest research on the brain and senses from the perspective of an author that obviously loves science. So, while you're getting the latest and greatest on sensory research, you also somehow come out of it with a lot more than you already knew about the fundamentals of the brain. I do this for a living, and I was still discovering new things on almost every page. I think this is a great recommendation for students, families of people with brain injuries, or just about anybody with a passion for discovering what those crazy scientists have come up with now.

I dare say if I had read this book at a much earlier stage of my life, I well may have been encouraged to select a science based profession. That's how much Faith Brynie's unabashed enthusiasm for science came through in every chapter. "Brain Sense" answers many of the questions about the senses and other phenomena that all of us have had at one time or another, and it debunks a few myths along the way. Brynie's style of interspersing case histories and personal experiences with the well researched data provides the perfect balance, making the book extremely informative and completely readable.

Brain Sense is an excellent source of information for anyone interested in learning more about sensation and perception. As a student in a Neuroscience class, I was especially pleased with how Brynie was able to cover a wide quantity of sensation and perception material in detail without simply listing a tiring list of facts common in most scientific literature.

Brynie teaches sensation and perception by discussing the importance of each sense and its use in the real world, whether that be through the story of Chuck Aoki, who lost the sense of touch in the majority of his body, or simply through everyday phenomena like enjoying the taste of bitter beer but not bitter tomatoes. Regardless of the specific approach, Brynie captivates the audience and does a superb job of maintaining their attention as she discusses the recent discoveries that are finally providing insight into how all of our senses operate, both separately and in unison.

Perhaps most stunning is the level of detail Brynie is able to slip into each section while maintaining this level of captivation. Throughout the book I found myself knowing I had learned valuable material that should have been monotonous to even consider, such as the layers of neurons for the different taste receptors T1R1, T1R2, and T1R3, without even noticing that the writing had changed from a story to a work of scientific intrigue.

The book is split up into 6 distinct parts, with the first five sections being devoted to the five primary senses, touch, smell, taste, vision, and hearing, and the final section detailing the neurological overlap of the previous five as well as the incorporation of sensations that don't fit in any of the five senses, such as deja vu. Each section discusses the evolution of our understanding of each sense, and provides extensive detail on surprisingly recent findings through well-worded interviews with multiple sensation and perception researchers on the frontier of their fields.

Touch
Brynie starts the book with a touching story about a 'normal' teenage boy who was born with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 2, a disease which has stolen his sense of touch. By detailing the dramatic outcomes of this disease, including walking three weeks on a fractured leg, Brynie is able to spark and keep a curiosity as she attempts to detail the workings of the somatosensory system in just 36 pages. Surprisingly, the 36 pages contain a remarkable amount of material, including up-to-date findings on proprioception, new technologies in haptic movements and brain plasticity, as well as detailed descriptions on the chemical significance of the placebo effect. Perhaps most importantly, Brynie discusses the significance of mechanoreceptors by detailing the fascinating results of multiple studies on Caenorhabditis elegans (a type of nematode) and the its implementation of a vast variety of mechanoreceptors, each with a unique function, coding, and location.

Smell/Olfaction
This section is notably more ambiguous than the others, which is probably fair as the truth behind olfaction receptor function is still very unclear. While Brynie shows a clear bias towards the view of Luis Terin, who emphasizes the importance of molecular vibration frequency in the signaling of olfaction receptors, she nonetheless does an excellent job of discussing the opposing viewpoint, which emphasizes shape and size, even providing examples of molecules that fit neither theory. The rest of the section is dedicated to a combination of the incorporation of smell in taste, with detailed descriptions of anosmia's effect on taste receptors, and the impact and evolutionary decline of pheromones.

Taste
In this section Brynie describes the growth of taste buds throughout development and discusses the various receptors and the universality of taste buds. This section differs from the others in that it takes an in-depth look at the development of taste in the womb, detailing the remarkable growth of neurons between taste bud cells and the brain.

Vision
In this section, Brynie does an excellent job of examining the multiple feedback loops that control vision. In addition to detailing the rods and cones, the V1 through V8 receptors, Brynie discusses the implementation of a number of other systems in vision control, such as the vestibular system's role in the optokinetic reflex. This section contained my favorite subsection in the book, optical illusions. Brynie gave multiple examples of how they work, from tricking the actual receptor to disorienting a secondary reflex to altering perception.

Hearing
In this section, Brynie goes above and beyond the typical cochlea-basilar membrane commonly seen in describing sound sensation and emphasizes the importance of cochlean hair cells and the neural firing between those cells to the temporal lobe. She also addresses the plausibility of music increasing intelligence/performance, the increased development of the brain in learning multiple languages, the causes and remedies for tinnitus, and the incredible advances made in hearing aids, from cochlear implants to brain plasticity.

Beyond
This section, titled 'Beyond the Big Five,' logically deals with all the sensations beyond the big five. However, it also deals with the integration of the senses, including descriptions of different types of synesthetes (those who mix senses together) and addresses the potential for all of us to be synesthetes of a sort. In addition, Brynie details the 'phantom' limb phenomenon, and the irregularities in the nervous system that lead there.

Brain Sense is abundant with information in an enjoyable, intriguing setting. While there are certain aspects that can get tiring in their repetition, the majority of the book feels like you're part of a captivating debate seeking to uncover the truth about what sensation and perception is and how it works. Brynie does an excellent job in acknowledging disagreements when they exist in the scientific community, and provides more than sufficient information for the reader to form their own opinion on the potential of discrepant theories. I would highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in sensation and/or perception, neuroscience in general, or even just the workings of the human body. Brain Sense can be easily understood at most reading levels, even while providing information at and above the college level; perhaps most importantly, it provides an excellent environment for any interested reader to have both an enjoyable and educational experience.

I'll admit - I'm not very comfortable with my capacity to understand, and thus enjoy, science. However, I *devoured* Brain Sense! I really, really wish that this had been given to me back when I was in school, as it might have sparked an interest in science that most mainstream publications fail to do. Explaining issues and experiences in the context of the real world (like whether and/or why time slows down during a crisis, or why taste diminishes with age). I've now given Brain Sense to my 11-year-old cousin - I hope it inspires her to do the things and to take the classes that I never felt were fun or right for me! Now my brain makes sense! :) Bravo to Faith Brynie for a fantastic read - I hope there are more to come!

Brain Sense is fascinating, and unlike many other science books, compulsively readable. Brynie uses case studies and anecdotes to turn what might otherwise seem lofty and complex into something accessible and deeply relevant. "Accessible" and "relevant" are often code words for "dumbed down" or "condescending" but that isn't the case here. The author's love of science and teaching I expect combine to bring her into a rare equilibrium with readers. So far, my favorite section has been on the placebo effect and how it ties into expectation. I am looking forward though to the chapter on the development of taste buds. I have several friends who are new mothers and I am sure they will be interested too. Like the reviewer below, this book is definitely going to be on my holiday gift list this year!

BRAIN SENSE: THE SCIENCE OF THE SENSES AND HOW WE PROCESS THE WORLD AROUND US considers the senses and human consciousness. Science writer Faith Brynie examines the latest research on how the brain and senses interact, offering a blend of science and health insights perfect for both health libraries and general interest collections. The inclusion of myths and realities based on the latest research makes this a key acquisition.

What a breath of fresh air to read a scientific book that actually re-kindled my passion for the science of the body. I am a fourth year medical student and was given this book by my mom. Wow. Reading it made me long for the way I felt about science, biology, and the body before I began medical school. This is a good time for me to have read this book. I found it entertaining, informational, accurate, and passionate; exactly the type of book that needs to exist in the biological sciences market. Thank you Faith Brynie for writing such a fascinating book. It should be required reading in all schools.

Faith Brynie has written a science book that is important, filled with facts, and entertaining. Brain Sense is like taking a neuro anatomy/chemistry class with a story teller and poet. Faith Brynie has a gift for telling an interesting story about phenomena such as phantom sensations, smell and emotion, and the importance of sense of time for physical and emotional well-being. I highly recommend this book and plan on buying a copy for all my friends for the holidays. This book is well researched, as one would expect from a PhD scientist. More importantly, it is just plain fun and entertaining to read. You will enjoy this book!