It sets humans apart from all other species by allowing us to achieve the wonders of walking on the moon and composing masterpieces of literature, art and music. Throughout recorded time, the human brain—a spongy, three-pound mass of fatty tissue—has been compared to a telephone switchboard and a supercomputer.

But the brain is much more complicated than any of these devices, a fact scientists confirm almost daily with each new discovery. The extent of the brain’s capabilities is unknown, but it is the most complex living structure known in the universe.

This single organ controls all body activities, ranging from heart rate and sexual function to emotion, learning and memory. The brain is even thought to influence the response to disease of the immune system and to determine, in part, how well people respond to medical treatments. Ultimately, it shapes our thoughts, hopes, dreams and imagination. In short, the brain is what makes us human.

Brain Facts : A Primer on the Brain and Nervous System

CONTENTS: 

• THE NEURON
• BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
• SENSATION AND PERCEPTION
• LEARNING AND MEMORY
• MOVEMENT
• SLEEP : The Stuff of Sleep ■ Sleep Disorders ■ How is Sleep Regulated?
• STRESS: The Immediate Response  ■ Chronic Stress
• AGING: Aging Neurons ■ Intellectual Capacity
• ADVANCES: Parkinson’s Disease  ■ Pain ■ Epilepsy ■ Major Depression Manic- Depressive Illness
• CHALLENGES: Addiction ■ Alzheimer’s Disease ■ Learning Disorders Stroke ■ Neurological Trauma ■ Anxiety Disorders Schizophrenia ■ Neurological AIDS ■ Multiple Sclerosis Down Syndrome ■ Huntington’s Disease ■ Tourette Syndrome Brain Tumors ■ Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• NEW DIAGNOSTIC METHODS: Imaging Techniques ■ Gene Diagnosis
• POTENTIAL THERAPIES: New Drugs ■ Trophic Factors ■ Cell and Gene Therapy

Format: PDF online
Pages: 58