Understanding the Brain: From Cells to Behavior to Cognition

by John E. Dowling

Overview

An examination of what makes us human and unique among all creatures—our brains.

No reader curious about our “little grey cells” will want to pass up Harvard neuroscientist John E. Dowling’s brief introduction to the brain. In this up-to-date revision of his 1998 book Creating Mind, Dowling conveys the essence and vitality of the field of neuroscience—examining the progress we’ve made in understanding how brains work, and shedding light on discoveries having to do with aging, mental illness, and brain health. The first half of the book provides the nuts-and-bolts necessary for an up-to-date understanding of the brain. Covering the general organization of the brain, early chapters explain how cells communicate with one another to enable us to experience the world. The rest of the book touches on higher-level concepts such as vision, perception, language, memory, emotion, and consciousness. Beautifully illustrated and lucidly written, this introduction elegantly reveals the beauty of the organ that makes us uniquely human.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393712582
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	10/30/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	27 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

John E. Dowling is professor emeritus at Harvard University, and has done extensive research into the neurobiology of vision. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Part 1 Cellular Neurobiology: The Nuts and Bolts

Chapter 1 The Uniqueness of the Brain 1

Cells of the Brain: Neurons and Glia

How Special Are Neurons?

Brain Organization

Development of the Brain

Chapter 2 Brain Signals 24

Electricity and the Brain

Cell Resting Potentials

Neuronal Signaling

Transmission Down Axons

Synapses

Synaptic Mechanisms

Vulnerability of Synapses

A Synaptic Disease: Myasthenia Gravis

Chapter 3 Neuromodulation, Drugs, and the Brain 48

Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators

Classifying Synaptic Substances

Dopamine, Parkinson's Disease, and Schizophrenia

Serotonin and Depression

Neuropeptides: The Enkephalins-Endogenous Opiates

Chapter 4 Sensing the World 67

Mechanoreceptors: Touch and Hearing

Adaptation

Hair Cells and Audition

Second-Messenger Receptors: Olfactory and Visual

Discrimination of Odors

Vision

Phototransduction

Part 2 Systems Neuroscience: Getting at Behaviors

Chapter 5 Simpler Nervous Systems: The Invertebrates 89

Electrical Signaling and the Squid Giant Axon

Mach Bands and the Horseshoe Crab Eye

Learning, Memory, and a Sea Snail

Circadian Rhythms, Behavioral Genetics, and Flies

Chapter 6 Vertebrate Brains 112

The Central Nervous System

Spinal Cord

The Brain

Medulla and Pons

Hypothalamus

Cerebellum

Thalamus

Basal Ganglia

Cerebral Cortex

Chapter 7 Vision: Window to the Brain 131

Early Processing of Visual Information: The Retina

Next Stages of Visual Processing: The Primary Visual Cortex

Formation of Cortical Receptive Fields

Seeing Depth: Binocular Interactions

Cortical Organization: The Hypercolumn

Part 3 Cognitive Science: Higher Brain Function and Mind

Chapter 8 From Brain to Mind: Visual Perception 153

Area V₂ and Higher Visual Areas

Face Recognition

Overview of Visual Processing

Visual Perception

Modulation of Cortical Responses

Chapter 9 The Dynamic Brain: Development and Plasticity 171

Migration and Differentiation of Neurons

How Do Axons Find Their Way?

The Maturing Brain

Visual System Development and Deprivation

Plasticity of the Adult Cortex

Chapter 10 Language and Brain Imaging 193

Learning Language

Birdsong

Language Areas in Humans

Exploring the Human Brain

Brain Imaging

Chapter 11 Remembering Things: Learning and Memory 216

Synaptic Mechanisms Underlying LTP

Long-Term LTP

LTP and Memory

Short-Term Memory

Working Memory

Accuracy of Memories

Chapter 12 The Emotional Brain: Rationality 234

The Amygdala

Hypothalamus

The Autonomic Nervous System

Reinforcing Behaviors

Orbitofrontal Cortex

Rationality

Chapter 13 Consciousness 253

Sleep

Dreaming

Control of Sleep and Arousal

Consciousness and Awareness

The Future

Artificial Intelligence

Glossary 269

Further Reading 283

Index 285

Editorial Reviews

10/01/2018
How do brain cells receive, process, and transmit information? Dowling (emeritus, Harvard Univ.; Neurons and Networks; The Retina) provides the answer in this comprehensive introduction to the brain and neuroscience, expanding and updating 1999's Creating Mind: How the Brain Works. The fundamentals of brain function, such as how it's organized and grows, how neurons work, and a basic explanation of sensory receptor systems are covered in the book's first part. The second section explores the brains of various invertebrates in order to elucidate neural function in humans. The parts of the vertebrate brain and their function—think cerebellum and thalamus—are also explained. Dowling's area of research is vision, and as such, there is a more in-depth exploration of vision and visual perception. Later, Dowling considers higher brain function, specifically language, memory, learning, emotion, motivation, and consciousness. VERDICT This accessible, informative, and thorough treatise on brain function is recommended for students and general readers wishing to understand this vital organ.—Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's Sch., Brooklyn

Library Journal

"For those interested in the brain-mind problem, this phenomenally broad-reaching book lucidly describes our current understanding of how the brain serves as the messenger to the mind. A master storyteller, Professor Dowling has taught this, "the hard problem," to Harvard freshmen for decades and herein offers his wisdom for all."

Thomas N. Byrne

"I began Dowling’s book thinking I’d skim the early chapters and move on quickly to the sexy topics of memory and consciousness. But Understanding the Brain is so beautifully written, the story of how the brain is constructed from billions of cells so awe inspiring, that I started on page 1 and read every word. A perfect book for students trying to decide whether to major in neuroscience or for anyone who simply wants to know how nature constructs a thinking, feeling, human brain. The clarity of Dowling’s writing allows the reader to sail through the more challenging sections without losing sight of the big picture or the humbling, jaw-dropping, almost inconceivable genius, of nature."

Nancy Hopkins

"I would recommend this book to residents, psychiatrists, and general practitioners, as well as to individuals new to neuroscience...He keeps the material relevant and the reader engaged while providing a great overview. "

Journal of Psychiatric Practice

"Only a rare talent could demystify the complexity of the brain in sentences available to all readers without sacrificing the details that accuracy requires. John Dowling has written the best summary for those outside neuroscience who want to know the current understanding of the brain and its relation to mind."

Jerome Kagan

"[O]ffers a comprehensive look at how the brain functions. . . . From the source of emotions to the possible absence of mirror neurons in people with autism, Dowling’s book is a marvelous and fascinating journey through the human brain."

Psych Central

"Dowling has taught neuroscience to various types of students over many years, and in the course of this teaching, he has learned what things are easy and hard to understand, what students find interesting and boring, and how to explain brain function at different levels of detail...We can be grateful that there are neuroscientists such as Dowling who so engagingly bring their mastery of the subject to a broader readership."

The FASEB Journal

"A perfect introduction for anyone who comes to the brain with little background in brain science and who wants to have a meaningful understanding of how the brain works...At the same time, the book is highly informative, so that those who know about the nervous system will also enjoy reading it and will learn from it. It is written with enormous clarity and precision...a must-read."

Eric Kandeln Journal of Psychology

"Understanding the Brain is not only an instant classic among neuroscience texts, but also makes compelling reading. Drawing on lessons learned from the eye of a horseshoe crab and from surrealist film maker Luis Bunuel, Dowling tells the story of how the molecular machinery of the human brain assembled our mind and how  our minds beget reason, dreams and the imagination."

Gerald Weissmann

"Understanding the Brain delivers a great review of the neurobiology, systems, and frontiers of cognitive neuroscience…. Dowling is a master teacher, having collected quips, stories, and illustrations over 30 years…. You can see why freshmen could be captivated by these illustrations of the complex physiology of the synapse. And for the practitioner, Dowling provides teaching stories for our clinical encounters…. I recommend this book to physicians interested in the brain, and in thinking about thinking, as it provides a rich review that we might leverage for our patients, and our own aging and dynamic brains and minds."

Family Medicine

"A perfect introduction for anyone who comes to the brain with little background in brain science and who wants to have a meaningful understanding of how the brain works...At the same time, the book is highly informative, so that those who know about the nervous system will also enjoy reading it and will learn from it. It is written with enormous clarity and precision...a must-read."

American Journal of Psychology - Eric Kandel