View Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain on Amazon.com
“Three pounds of the most complex materials we’ve discovered in the universe…is built of cells called neurons and glia-hundreds of billion of them…[that] are connected to one another in a network of such staggering complexity that it bankrupts human language and necessitates a new kinds of mathematics. A typical neuron makes about 10,000 connections to neighboring neurons, which means that there are more connections in a few cubic centimeters of brain tissue than there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy.†-David Eagleman, Ph.D., Baylor University
In neurology, even the experts feel they can only see the tip of the iceberg so for someone with a new interest in the field the subject is certain to be overwhelming. Therefore starting with ‘Incognito’, we’re creating a recommended reading list. Look for selections geared towards all reading levels and join the NeuroEMS book club by commenting on and discussing each selection.
In ‘Incognito’, Dr. Eaglemen, a prominent neuroscientist, describes his understanding of the inner workings of the brain and highlights interesting clinical case studies. He covers the oft-talked about case of Phineas Gage, a railroad worker whose construction accident and resultant personality change formed the basis for questioning the origin of emotion in the brain. He also discusses the case of Supreme Court Justice William Douglas and why Douglas denied disability after suffering a paralyzing stroke and enlightens us on why some patients being treated for Parkinson’s become compulsive gamblers. You can find a link to Dr. Eagleman’s website here and can learn more about the bookhere.
Review courtesy of Michael Herbert.
