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A History of the Brain: From Stone Age surgery to modern neuroscience
Andrew P. Wickens
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Description for A History of the Brain: From Stone Age surgery to modern neuroscience
Paperback. .
A History of the Brain tells the full story of neuroscience, from antiquity to the present day. It describes how we have come to understand the biological nature of the brain, beginning in prehistoric times, and progressing to the twentieth century with the development of Modern Neuroscience.
This is the first time a history of the brain has been written in a narrative way, emphasizing how our understanding of the brain and nervous system has developed over time, with the development of the disciplines of anatomy, pharmacology, physiology, psychology and neurosurgery. The book covers:
- beliefs about the brain in ... Read moreancient Egypt, Greece and Rome
- the Medieval period, Renaissance and Enlightenment
- the nineteenth century
- the most important advances in the twentieth century and future directions in neuroscience.
The discoveries leading to the development of modern neuroscience gave rise to one of the most exciting and fascinating stories in the whole of science. Written for readers with no prior knowledge of the brain or history, the book will delight students, and will also be of great interest to researchers and lecturers with an interest in understanding how we have arrived at our present knowledge of the brain.
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Product Details
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Place of Publication
Hove, United Kingdom
Shipping Time
Usually ships in 4 to 8 working days
About Andrew P. Wickens
Andrew P. Wickens is Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Central Lancashire, UK. His main area of expertise is in biological psychology and neuroscience.
Reviews for A History of the Brain: From Stone Age surgery to modern neuroscience
"In sum, Wickens' book is highly recommended. It captures a wealth of knowledge in a thorough, well-organized account of the organ which arguably holds the secrets to what it means to be human. Wickens should be lauded for his success in such an ambitious venture. It is likely that future brain research may render a great deal of our present ... Read moreunderstanding of the brain meaningless. However, as a statement of the sum of cultural-historical forces which led to our current understanding, Wickens' book is a fantastic tool."- Frank R. Faries, PhD Student (Philosophy), University of Cincinnati, Metapsychology "I have been looking for many years for a good introduction to the history of neuroscience – and now I have found it! This book is both comprehensive and accessible, and it comes highly recommended."- Jamie Ward, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, UK "A History of the Brain describes the fascinating narrative of how we have come to understand the workings of the brain and nervous system, and how notions of ourselves, and what it means to be human, have correspondingly changed over the millennia. Although there is no ending to this story, reading the ancient beginnings of it and the subsequent developments over the centuries helps to make sense of what we know of neuroscience today. I highly recommend this engaging book for the student of the history of psychology, history of science, and science itself." - David J Hardy, Loyola Marymount University, and University of California, Los Angeles, USA "I enjoyed A History of the Brain immensely, Wickens has a deep knowledge of both the current state of neuroscience and the many issues surrounding its historical development. The book provides a chronological re-telling of events while also identifying persistent conceptual and methodological issues in the field. The style is engaging and interesting, and it will appeal to academics from a variety of fields, as well as the general public."- Jason Buhle, Department of Psychology, Columbia University, USA "Written as a narrative, this engaging book chronicles the history of neuroscience from antiquity to the modern era. Wickens (senior lecturer, Univ. of Central Lancashire, UK) spent over a decade crafting this educational story intended for anyone with an interest in the human brain. He focuses more on conveying compelling tales from the past than dry scientific facts and writes in a refreshingly jargon-free manner... Overall, Wickens's book is a valuable and unique neuroscience resource. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers." - C. L. Iwema, University of Pittsburgh, for CHOICE, August 2015 "I have been looking for many years for a good introduction to the history of neuroscience – and now I have found it! This book is both comprehensive and accessible, and it comes highly recommended." - Jamie Ward, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, UK "A History of the Brain describes the fascinating narrative of how we have come to understand the workings of the brain and nervous system, and how notions of ourselves, and what it means to be human, have correspondingly changed over the millennia. Although there is no ending to this story, reading the ancient beginnings of it and the subsequent developments over the centuries helps to make sense of what we know of neuroscience today. I highly recommend this engaging book for the student of the history of psychology, history of science, and science itself." - David J Hardy, Loyola Marymount University, and University of California, Los Angeles, USA "I enjoyed A History of the Brain immensely, Wickens has a deep knowledge of both the current state of neuroscience and the many issues surrounding its historical development. The book provides a chronological re-telling of events while also identifying persistent conceptual and methodological issues in the field. The style is engaging and interesting, and it will appeal to academics from a variety of fields, as well as the general public." - Jason Buhle, Department of Psychology, Columbia University, USA "[Wickens] focuses more on conveying compelling tales from the past than dry scientific facts and writes in a refreshingly jargon-free manner. [...] Strewn throughout the book are numerous illustrations
including drawings, woodcuts, photographs, and diagrams
that add a richness of substance to the text by highlighting the historical context. Overall, Wickens' book is a valuable and unique neuroscience resource. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers." -C.L. Iwema, University of Pittsburgh, CHOICE "Wickens' volume is chronologically organized around historical periods and the theorists and empiricsts within these periods who defined as well as challenged contemporary dogma... Additionally, Wickens' book is written in narrative format... Wickens' narrative story does not end in the 1950s but continues to contemporary events... In other words, Wickens' text extends into 21st-century developments in the neurosciences and, particularly, the cognitive neurosciences. This book is jargon-free and intended for general readers as well as more serious students or researchers. This volume is highly recommended for undergraduate history of neuroscience courses, cognitive neuroscience, and the philosophy of mind." -Paul Tibbetts, University of Dayton, Quarterly Review of Biology Show Less
