The Brain

As the title implies, this ambitious volume packs in information. The scope of The Brain Book is extensive, thoroughly covering topics ranging from normal brain development, anatomy, and chemistry to aging, abnormalities, and disorders. Initial chapters present normal anatomy and physiology: brain and spinal cord function, nerves, and central nervous system development. The brain in action follows, in discussion of the senses, movement, the “social and thinking brain,” and mood and consciousness. The final portion of the book presents an overview of disorders, including brain injury, drug use and addiction, and diseases. Thus, topics range from basic anatomy and physiology – nerve function and parts of the brain – to specialized sections inquiring “What is language?” and a history of human language, emotions, cooperation, music and the brain, fear and anxiety, concussion and spinal cord injury, drugs and medications, and much more. Each section is extensively illustrated with photographs, historical...