Fiber Pathways Of The Brain

The text is enriched throughout by close attention to functional aspects of the anatomical observations."--Jacket.

PDF (xviii, 654 p.) : ill. (some col.).

The brain ... There is no other part of the human anatomy that is so intriguing. How does it develop and function and why does it sometimes, tragically, degenerate? The answers are complex. In Discovering the Brain, science writer Sandra Ackerman cuts through the complexity to bring this vital topic to the public. The 1990s were declared the "Decade of the Brain" by former President Bush, and the neuroscience community responded with a host of new investigations and conferences. Discovering the Brain is based on the Institute of Medicine conference, Decade of the Brain: Frontiers in Neuroscience and Brain Research. Discovering the Brain is a "field guide" to the brainâ€"an easy-to-read discussion of the brain's physical structure and where functions such as language and music appreciation lie. Ackerman examines: How electrical and chemical signals are conveyed in the brain. The mechanisms by which we see, hear, think, and pay attentionâ€"and how a "gut feeling" actually originates in the brain. Learning and memory retention, including parallels to computer memory and what they might tell us about our own mental capacity. Development of the brain throughout the life span, with a look at the aging brain. Ackerman provides an enlightening chapter on the connection between the brain's physical condition and various mental disorders and notes what progress can realistically be made toward the prevention and treatment of stroke and other ailments. Finally, she explores the potential for major advances during the "Decade of the Brain," with a look at medical imaging techniquesâ€"what various technologies can and cannot tell usâ€"and how the public and private sectors can contribute to continued advances in neuroscience. This highly readable volume will provide the public and policymakersâ€"and many scientists as wellâ€"with a helpful guide to understanding the many discoveries that are sure to be announced throughout the "Decade of the Brain."

The goal of this book is to make a link between fundamental research in the field of cognitive neurosciences, which now benefits from a better knowledge of the neural foundations of cerebral processing, and its clinical application, especially in neurosurgery – itself able to provide new insights into brain organization. The anatomical bases are presented, advances and limitations of the different methods of functional cerebral mapping are discussed, updated models of sensorimotor, visuospatial, language, memory, emotional, and executive functions are explained in detail. In the light of these data, new strategies of surgical management of cerebral lesions are proposed, with an optimization of the benefit–risk ratio of surgery. Finally, perspectives about brain connectivity and plasticity are discussed on the basis of translational studies involving serial functional neuroimaging, intraoperative cortico-subcortical electrical mapping, and biomathematical modeling of interactions between parallel distributed neural networks.

One of the major challenges of modern neuroscience is to define the complex pattern of neural connections that underlie cognition and behaviour. This atlas capitalises on novel diffusion MRI tractography methods to provide a comprehensive overview of connections derived from virtual in vivo tractography dissections of the human brain.

Understanding how the brain works is probably the greatest scientific and intellectual challenge of our generation. The cerebral cortex is the instrument by which we carry the most complex mental functions. Fortunately, there exists an immense body of knowledge concerning both cortical structure and the properties of single neurons in the cortex. With the advent of the supercomputer, there has been increased interest in neural network modeling. What is needed is a new approach to an understanding of the mammalian cerebral cortex that will provide a link between the physiological description and the computer model. This book meets that need by combining anatomy, physiology, and modeling to achieve a quantitative description of cortical function. The material is presented didactically, starting with descriptive anatomy and comprehensively examining all aspects of modeling. The book gradually leads the reader from the macroscopic cortical anatomy and standard electrophysiological properties of single neurons to neural network models and synfire chains. The most modern trends in neural network modeling are explored.

A new edition of the lavishly illustrated guide to brain structure and function This atlas is an outstanding single-volume resource of information on the structure and function of specific areas of the brain. Updated to reflect the latest technology using 3 Tesla MR images, this edition has been enhanced with new functional MRI studies as well as a new section on diffusion tensor imaging with three-dimensional reconstructions of fiber tracts using color coding to demonstrate neural pathways. Highlights: Glossary of neuroanatomic structures and definitions provides the reader with a foundation in structures, function, and functional relationships High-quality images are divided into five sections, including Sagittal MRI views, Axial MRI views, Coronal MRI views, Fiber-Tracking Diffusion Tensor Imaging, and Three-Dimensional MRI views Icons rapidly orient the reader with the location of each view or the diffusion pathway This book eliminates the need to sift through multiple books for the current information on the structure and function of the brain. It is invaluable for clinicians in radiology, neuroradiology, neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, psychology, neuropsychology, and neuroanatomy. The atlas is also ideal for medical students, nursing students, and individuals seeking to gain a firm understanding of human brain anatomy and function.

This textbook provides an overview of pain management useful to specialists as well as non-specialists, surgeons, and nursing staff.