Checked this 2013 book out - authored by N.
Rose and J.M. Abi-Rached and published by Princeton University Press.
I worked through the ebook available
through CPIT library. The book is a good overview of the state of play with
regards to neuroscience, neuropsychology and brings in perspectives and
concepts already summarised in other books – for instance, as overviewed on
this blog recently, by P. Churchland, Ramachandran and Broks.
The book has 9 chapters, an introduction
and conclusion and 7 chapters with each chapter overviewing the ‘functional’
aspects of the brain, implications.
The introduction (available frompublisher’s site) provides a good overview of the book and worth a read through
before diving into the book itself.
Chapter 1 covers the ‘neuromolecular brain’
is the historical overview of how we progressed through the last 100 years or
so in our understanding of how the brain is structured and how it works. A
summary of 8 points in page 43 sums up is presently known. The brain is an
organ like other, evolved like other mammals, can be anatomised at the
molecular level as being chemical transmissions partially dependent on neurotransmitters
and a whole complex of other entities – enzymes, ion channels receptors,
transporters etc. Different parts of the brain have different evolutionary
histories. Mental processes reside in the brain, so mental states and processes
can be potentially observable through the organic function of the brain.
The second chapter is on how the brain sees
the world – ‘the invisible gaze’ summarise the long journey taken to the
present in how to try to unlock what happens in the brain as it functions. From
crude images to present brain scanners and the coloured pictures available
through fMRI.
Chapter 3 is a call to heed research on
humans rather than mice in ‘what’s wrong with mice’ maintains the argument that
study of human brains cannot be completed through making assumptions from
animal studies. For instance, page 84 has 6 points which include difficulties
in assuming animals and human behaviour
are the same, although mechanics may be the same, biochemical may defer, difficulties
with phenotypes, modelling human stressors in animals, weakness of current
tests used in animals (mazes) and inferred to human responses, and many trials
are not properly blinded or randomised. Hence, the specificity of humans needs
to be accounted for.
The fourth chapter is a good discussion on
how the brain goes wrong – ‘all in the brain’ covers mental illness and how
brain function / malfunction?. How neuropsychiatry is still a work in progress
and how although we have made many positive discoveries and applied to
treatment, we have only scratched the surface in understanding why and how mental
illness occurs.
Chapter 5 concentrates on the ‘social
brain’ and summarises the work of social neuroscience, trying to understand why
primates are ‘social animals’ and the role of the brain. The specialised area
of social neuroscience is presented and discussed. Includes a thoughtful
critique for and against the role of mirror neurons, their presence and
function and theorised connection to our social nature.
Chapter 6 presents the other side of the
coin ‘the antisocial brain’ and tries to unpack how criminality occurs. A
historical overview of criminality and its associations with psychology,
psychiatry and neuroscience is provided. A slight hiatus after the second world
war due to Nazi research in the area followed by revival of interest from the
1980s with accessibility to CT scans. Cautions are discussed with regards to
neurolaw – using brain science to try to explain (and sometimes provide
defence) criminal behaviour.
Chapter 7 come together with ‘personhood in
the neurobiological age’ with the perennial challenge of where the self comes
from – the soul or the brain? As per previous chapters, the historical journey
towards understanding who we are and the role of the brain is summarised.
The conclusion ‘managing brains, minds and
selves’ brings in the challenge into the future. A glimpse of where to next.
I would not recommend this book as the
first port of call on things neurobiological. It is written with an academic although, in general, readable style. The function of the book is to update the
thousands of studies in the last two decades on brain function and the media
hype around conclusions that may be drawn from ‘brain scanning’ . Therefore,
the book is a more academic version of 'need for caution in using neuroscience findings', reminding one in drawing
conclusions from limited, exploratory studies, many conducted on rats or small
‘building block’ studies which are sensationalised by the media.
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