Description
Finger's (Washington U., St. Louis, Missouri) impressive 1994 text is reprinted here in a hefty but affordable paperback that will be welcome to students of the history of science as well as the interested reader. Many b&w illustrations accompany the text and each chapter concludes with a lengthy list of bibliography. The history is divided into six parts that consider the evolution of the theory of localization of function; the history of each of the sensory systems; the history of sleep, dreaming, and the emotions; the brain's higher functions, including the neurobiology of learning and memory disorders; cerebral dominance and laterality phenomena; and a survey of brain damage treatments. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Read More
With over 350 illustrations, this impressive volume traces the rich history of ideas about the functioning of the brain from its roots in the ancient cultures of Egypt, Greece, and Rome through the centuries into relatively modern times. In contrast to biographically oriented accounts, thisbook is unique in its emphasis on the functions of the brain and how they came to be associated with specific brain regions and systems. Among the topics explored are vision, hearing, pain, motor control, sleep, memory, speech, and various other facets of intellect. The emphasis throughout is onpresenting material in a very readable way, while describing with scholarly acumen the historical evolution of the field in all its amazing wealth and detail. From the opening introductory chapters to the concluding look at treatments and therapies, this monumental work will captivate readers fromcover to cover. It will be valued as both an historical reference and as an exciting tale of scientific discovery. It is bound to attract a wide readership among students and professionals in the neural sciences as well as general readers interested in the history of science and medicine.
Read Less