Customer Reviews

The Evolving Brain: The Known and the Unknown

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This book is a state of the art discussion on the brain intended for the general reader rather than the professional. Unlike many such books that have been published in the past, this one is written by an individual who is both a neurophysiologist and a psychiatrist. As such the book covers not only the physical and chemical aspects of the brain, but also the thinking aspects.

I was very glad to see the discussion in the book on subjects that are emotionally laden subjects such the potential benefits of stem cell research in such diseases as seizure, ischemic stroke, Parkinson's, Huntington's, ALS, verious childhood diseases, brain tumors. And in his discussion about Brain Death with particular mention of the Terri Schiavo case. The tests that have to be passed before a person is pronounced brain dead are described and they are extensive.

This is a fairly good sized book at 400+ pages. Yet, it is refreshing to see Dr. Steen admit there is much more to learn and points to several directions where reseach is ongoing and opening ever more areas where we just don't know.

This is a book I'd recommend to anyone interested in the subject, but especially to those who have a family member or loved one wuffereing from a brain disease.

This book is certainly one of the most thought-provoking works I have read. It treats, arguably, the most incredibly complex thesis possible. It describes what is known today about the human brain as well as ongoing research into brain function and malfunction attributable to disease or accident. The author also conjectures about needed research in the future as well as some impediments to future research on the brain. He also discusses relationships among brain function and behavior; neurology and psychiatry; and environmental and genetic components of brain development.

One of the most interesting ideas presented comes in the form of an analogy between an ant hill and brain development. In this analogy, he indicates that success in the ant colony depends upon the cooperation of each individual in performing its task whereas success in the brain depends upon the cooperation of each neuron in performing its task. Perhaps the goal of complex behavior in the brain and a force driving the continuing evolution of the human mind is growth toward cooperation among humans. For anyone interested in understanding more cogently the relationships among people his section on intelligence and sociability is very rewarding.

For those of us who are not neurologists this book presents its message in a clear and meaningful manner. I suspect it may present even greater clarity of meaning to those who are engaged in research on brain behavior or function. This is a scholarly work made understandable to the layman.

What may research on the human brain reveal to us in the next decade?

THE EVOLVING BRAIN: THE KNOWN AND THE UNKNOWN explores the latest findings on brain physiology, from the nature of consciousness and unconsciousness to learning, genetic influences, mental illness and more. College-level holdings as well as general-interest libraries strong in popular science and health will find discussions draw important links between mental functions and attributes of creativity, personality, and more, making for a lively blend of science, health and social issues under one cover.