Neocortical Dynamics and Human EEG Rhythms [Hardcover]

Paul L. Nunez (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195057287 | ISBN-13: 978-0195057287 | Publication Date: January 15, 1995 | Edition: 1st

The field of neocortical dynamics is a highly interdisciplinary one that draws on information from electrophysiology, anatomy, neurochemistry, clinical neurology, cognitive neuroscience, physics, mathematics, neural networks, engineering, and related fields. Spanning these fields, this integrated work examines dynamic interactions between neural structures at various spatial scales within the human neocortex. The relationships between this neocortical dynamic function, electroencephalographic (EEG) data and cognitive processing by the brain are discussed in detail. The study of complex dynamical systems, which involve interactions of functional units at various spatial scales, is mostly the province of certain branches of physics and engineering. Specific aspects of these fields that appear to be especially applicable to neocortical dynamic function and EEG recordings are emphasized in this volume. These include important issues of different dynamic behavior at different spatial scales and interactions across scales.
Underlying principles are considered in the context of a variety of EEG and MEG data, including spontaneous activity and transient and steady-state evoked potentials. Several connections between general theoretical ideas concerning predictions of coherent spatial structure in neocortical dynamics, such as standing waves, and actual data are also discussed. This unique volume provides a tentative theoretical framework for neocortical function that will serve as a guide to further experimental and theoretical work.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The reader finds refreshing excursions into classic topics such as consciousness, which are introduced with the intent of revealing the crosscurrent of contemporary thought from a physiological perspective. These discussions are welcome, if only because the brain researcher should be aware of the present limits to our knowledge....An interesting and well-written book. It provides value for both neophyte and expert."--Physics Today

About the Author

Paul L. Nunez, Director, Brain Physics Group and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 708 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1st edition (January 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195057287
• ISBN-13: 978-0195057287
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,959,308 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paul L. Nunez is Emeritus Professor at Tulane University and heads a small consulting firm (Cognitive Dissonance, LLC) that engages in brain physics and cognitive science research, mostly with the Cognitive Science Department at the University of California at Irvine. He has authored three technical books: Electric Fields of the Brain: The Neurophysics of EEG, 1981 (2nd edition with Ramesh Srinivasan of UCI, 2006) and Neocortical Dynamics and Human EEG Rhythms, 1995. Professor Nunez holds a Ph.D. in engineering physics and NIH-sponsored postdoctoral training in the neurosciences, both from the University of California at San Diego. Early in his career he held several positions in private industry, working on such disparate projects as spacecraft guidance, plasma instabilities, and controlled fusion.

Nunez's new book addresses both the easy and hard problems of consciousness. Many view human consciousness as one of the following: 1) Nothing but a byproduct of sensory, motor, and memory information processing, essentially saying that the hard problem is just an illusion. 2) Something mystical that lies beyond scientific purview, implying that the hard problem is just too hard for us deal with. 3) Explained by flaky ideas, pseudo quantum mechanics, or appeals to fuzzy theology. By contrast, Professor Nunez's book Brain, Mind, and the Structure of Reality (2010) aims for a proper balance between knowledge and ignorance. The book is based on hard science but is written for a general audience. It involves ideas from philosophy, religion, ethics, neuroscience, physics, engineering, and cosmology. Personal stories and a little humor aim for an enjoyable read. What do we know, what do we only think we know, and what can we perhaps never know? Does the brain create the mind? Or is Mind already out there. You decide.

Brain, Mind, and the Structure of Reality (2010) is scheduled to be published in Japanese by Intershift, Inc. in February, 2013.

Professor Nunez has written about 100 scientific journal articles on EEG and related aspects of Complex Systems as well as many sections or chapters of edited books. A few of his more recent works are found in the following books: Brain Computer Interfaces for Communication and Control, 2012 (Wolpaw); Encyclopedia of Behavioral Science, 2012 (Ramachandran); Quantitative EEG Analysis: Methods and Applications, 2009 (Tong and Thakor); Handbook of Brain Connectivity, 2007 (Jirsa and McIntosh); Encyclopedia of Nonlinear Science, 2005 (Scott); Encyclopedia of Neuroscience, 2004 (Adelman and Smith); Encyclopedia of the Human Brain, 2002 (Ramachandran); Analysis of Physiological Brain Functioning, 1999 (Uhl). Nunez was awarded the 2011 Pierre Gloor Award by the American Clinical Neurophysiological Society for his contributions to clinical research.

Author photos: Left, 2009; Middle, 70th birthday celebration, Queenstown, NZ, 2010; Right, Standing in UCSD's EEG lab, 1976.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Past due by 15 years, April 18, 2010

By 

Paul L. Nunez "brain physics" (Covington, Louisiana and Solana Beach California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Neocortical Dynamics and Human EEG Rhythms (Hardcover)

This book was positively reviewed by Physics Today over ten years ago, but no Amazon review has yet surfaced. Furthermore, the Amazon site does not provide access to this book's contents; hence the motivation for this review. Most was written while I was on sabbatical in 1991-92. My aim was to integrate important ideas about brain dynamics and electroencephalography (EEG) taken from several disparate fields. Such cross field communication is critically important in the highly interdisciplinary EEG field. My contract with Oxford University Press lists me as the author, but journal references sometimes list me as editor because 6 of the 14 chapters were written by the following guest authors: Kenneth Pilgreen (clinical neurologist), Fernando Lopes da Silva (physiologist), Richard Silberstein (cognitive scientist), Alan Gevins & Brian Cutillo (cognitive scientists), Lester Ingber (theoretical physicist). I have indicated their main areas of expertise in parentheses, but these guys are all multi-talented in several fields.

Should you buy this expensive book? The answer is probably not unless you are interested in brain dynamic theory and possess a strong mathematical background, not to mention deep pockets. I suggest a visit to your university library before you decide whether to make the purchase. I have given my book only 4 stars because my goal of integrating disparate information from so many areas was only partly achieved. Check out my 2006 book if you are interested in EEG applications or my 2010 book if you seek discussion of both the "easy" and the "hard" problems of consciousness.

Chapter headings are as follows:

1. Quantitative States of Neocortex (PN)
2. Towards a Physics of Neocortex (PN)
3. Mind, Brain, and Electroencephalography (PN)
4. Physiologic, Medical, and Cognitive Correlates of Electroencephalography (KP)
5. Dynamics of Electrical Activity in the Brain (FL)
6. Steady-State Visually Evoked Potentials, Brain Resonances, and Cognitive Processes (RS)
7. Neuroelectric Measures of Mind (AG&BC)
8. Discrete Linear Systems of Physics and Brain (PN)
9. Continuous Linear Systems of Physics and Brain (PN)
10. Nonlinear Phenomena and Chaos (PN)
11. Global Contributions to EEG Dynamics (PN)
12. Experimental Connections Between EEG Data and the Global Wave Theory (PN)
13. Neuromodulation of Neocortical Dynamics (RS)
14. Statistical Mechanics of Neocortical Interactions (LI)
Appendix. Solutions to the Equations for Global Neocortical Dynamics (PN)