The Human Brain: A Guided Tour (Science Masters Series) [Paperback]

Susan A. Greenfield (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0465007260 | ISBN-13: 978-0465007264 | Publication Date: October 2, 1998 | Edition: 1

What would you see if you removed the skull from the human brain and then slowly worked your way deeper and deeper into the brain, to the level of an individual neuron? With renowned brain researcher Susan Greenfield as your guide, here is your chance to gain a bird’s eye view of the human brain—and to learn more about what the brain is, how it works, what happens when one part of the brain is made dysfunctional through stroke or accident, how brain mood-modifying drugs find their targets.In a particularly fascinating chapter, Greenfield surveys for us how a brain is built and then takes us on a tour of the developing brain from the moment of conception.Throughout Greenfield poses the larger questions all readers want to consider, including: At what stage does individuality creep into the developing brain? How does the collection of circuits of neurons give rise not just to an individual brain but an individual consciousness? What might a fetus be conscious of?

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This set of five essays stems from the 1994 Royal Institute Christmas Lectures, filmed and later televised by the BBC. Greenfield, a science writer and professor of pharmacology at Lincoln College in Oxford, presents a survey of the brain that is intended for a general adult readership. Offering both a "top-down" and "bottom-up" approach, Greenfield examines movement and vision to illustrate how various brain functions might be localized, and she describes how neurons communicate and how this activity can be modified by drugs. She also discusses the development of the human brain from conception to birth and speculates on how experience can modify this brain to create a unique individual. Finally, in her explanation of how memory is laid down, the author touches on a physical basis for the mind. Greenfield presents a number of sophisticated concepts in a lively and very comprehensible style. Her book will provide a useful introduction to the brain in both academic and public libraries.?Laurie Bartolini, Legislative Research, Springfield, Ill.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

For the lay reader, a British scientist offers an enlightening look at the human brain and mind, clarifying what researchers now know and what difficult and tantalizing questions they are still struggling to answer. In 1994, Greenfield (Pharmacology/Oxford) was asked to give the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, a popular series aimed at teenagers and broadcast by the BBC. This book, which is aimed at adult readers, derives from that series. In it, the author approaches the brain first as a physical object, exploring its different regions, and then examining certain functions, specifically movement and vision, to demonstrate how these are carried out by the different regions engaging in a kind of ``balanced dialogue.'' Greenfield then shifts her approach and tackles the brain from a cellular level. She begins with a single neuron and explains how the brain is built in increasingly complex circuits. She shows how neurons communicate with each other chemically and how this communication is affected by mood-altering drugs such as nicotine, morphine and its derivative heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy. She next turns to the development of the brain from the beginning of life, showing how its neuronal circuitry constantly changes as a result of experience, and tackling the issue of when consciousness arises. In her final chapter she considers the various kinds of memory, raising tough questions about the relationship of brain to mind. Happily for the reader, Greenfield, who recently began giving free public lectures on the brain in the City of London, has developed a keen sense of what curious nonscientists want to know and, equally important, how to impart scientific information with verve and clarity. (b&w illustrations, not seen) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books; 1 edition (October 2, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465007260
• ISBN-13: 978-0465007264
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #625,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars INTERESTING STATE-OF-THE-ART EXPLORATION FOR GENERAL READERS, May 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Human Brain: A Guided Tour (Science Masters Series) (Paperback)

Her approach of integrating the 'top down' (brain functions) with the 'bottom up' (cellular mechanism) is very clear and easy to read. Besides, she cited many interesting examples in explaining how the brain gets malfunction. However, it would be much more clear in conveying the message if she can use more graphical representations instead of text description. (In that case I will rate it a FIVE STARS without hesitation!) All in all, it is still a marvelous book to enjoy!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great wee overview, June 25, 2009

By 

Victor R. D. Macgill (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Human Brain: A Guided Tour (Science Masters Series) (Paperback)

As an easy to read overview of the brain and its functions this book is great. I like the systems within systems approach especially.

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, June 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Human Brain: A Guided Tour (Science Masters Series) (Hardcover)

Great book for the "rest of us". The language is clear, and the content VERY interesting. I highly recommend it, if it's one of your first experiences with Brain/Mind issues. Read it.