 High Bridge, a division of recorded books, presents Understanding the Brain, from Cells to Behavior to Cognition, by John E. Dowling, read by Mike Chamberlain. Preface What makes us human and unique among all creatures is our brain. Perception, consciousness, memory, learning, language, and intelligence all originate in and depend on the brain. The brain provides us with wondrous things, from mathematical theories to symphonies, from automobiles and airplanes, to trips to the moon. But when it goes awry, we are undone. Over the past century, our understanding of the brain has raced forward, yet those who study the brain are still scratching the surface, so to speak. What is the mind, after all, and how does it relate to brain function? Most neuroscientists believe the mind originates in brain function, but at the moment, no one can define adequately what we mean by mind. Consciousness is a particularly elusive subject, though philosophers and others endlessly talk about what it means. As a neurobiologist, I am forever peppered with questions about the brain and brain function. This is especially true for friends who know about the exciting discoveries in the brain sciences, yet witness the consequences of mental illness, aging, or brain injury, and want to know more about new drug therapies for treating these problems. No field of medicine is untouched by the advances in the brain sciences, especially as we have come to realize how much the course of a disease, and even its outcome, perhaps, can be affected by brain function and mental state. Good body, sound mind, is a two-way street, each is profoundly affected by the other. This book is intended to answer many of the questions about neuroscience I am often asked. At the same time, I hope to convey to the general listener the essence and vitality of the field, the progress we are making in understanding how brains work, and to describe some of our strategies for studying brain function. Whenever possible, I try to relate topics to something relevant, such as a disease or a consequence of brain function. Much wonderful work in the field is ignored, to keep the book manageable, and I hope, interesting. The first four chapters provide the nuts and bolts necessary for an up-to-date understanding of the brain. The remainder of the book dips into aspects of brain function, vision, perception, language, memory, emotion, and consciousness, seemingly more relevant to cognition and how the brain creates mind. But if an in-depth understanding of these topics is to be gained, the nuts and bolts are the key. Sample complete. Ready to continue?