The Evolving Brain: The Known And the Unknown

The human brain is arguably the most complex object in the universe. With about 100 billion neurons, each of which makes perhaps 10,000 synapses, our incredible central processing unit is capable of roughly 1,000 trillion interconnections. What do scientists know about how this amazingly complex organ functions? Is it even possible to unravel all of its mysteries? In this comprehensive book on the science of the brain, distinguished neurophysiologist R. Grant Steen provides us with a crash course on how the brain works. As a researcher on the forefront of brain studies, Dr Steen explores the latest findings on a host of topics: Consciousness, unconsciousness, and brain death; Learning, memory, and role of genes; Motivation, aggression, and the range of emotions; The plasticity of the growing brain; Mental illness and treatment. He also delves into such stimulating questions as: Where does creativity come from? What is personality? Can we distinguish between the brain and the mind? Impressive in breadth and depth, yet written with clarity in an engaging, non-technical style, this fascinating tour of the brain provides the general reader with the latest information on one of the most intriguing and burgeoning areas of scientific research. No topic has more meaning or relevance than using our brains to understand the working of our own minds.