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Brain Architecture: Understanding the Basic Plan (Medicine), by Larry W. Swanson
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Depending on your point of view the brain is an organ, a machine, a biological computer, or simply the most important component of the nervous system. How does it work as a whole? What are its major parts and how are they interconnected to generate thinking, feelings, and behavior? This book surveys 2,500 years of scientific thinking about these profoundly important questions from the perspective of fundamental architectural principles, and then proposes a new model for the basic plan of neural systems organization based on an explosion of structural data emerging from the neuroanatomy revolution of the 1970's.
The importance of a balance between theoretical and experimental morphology is stressed throughout the book. Great advances in understanding the brain's basic plan have come especially from two traditional lines of biological thought-- evolution and embryology, because each begins with the simple and progresses to the more complex. Understanding the organization of brain circuits, which contain thousands of links or pathways, is much more difficult. It is argued here that a four-system network model can explain the structure-function organization of the brain. Possible relationships between neural networks and gene networks revealed by the human genome project are explored in the final chapter.
The book is written in clear and sparkling prose, and it is profusely illustrated. It is designed to be read by anyone with an interest in the basic organization of the brain, from neuroscience to philosophy to computer science to molecular biology. It is suitable for use in neuroscience core courses because it presents basic principles of the structure of the nervous system in a systematic way.
- Sales Rank: #8706502 in Books
- Published on: 2002-10-31
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 5.40" h x .90" w x 8.30" l,
- Binding: Hardcover
- 288 pages
Review
"Larry Swanson, one of the great contemporary students of brain anatomy, has given us a broad overview of the structure and function of the brain using insights from embryology and from evolutionary comparison to highlight the principles that govern the anatomical substrates of behavior. This book will be read avidly by both students and practicing scientists."--Eric R. Kandel, M. D., Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
"Neuroanatomy is usually associated with boring memorization and dense terminology. But Swanson has brought the subject to life by focusing on the principles that underlie brain structure and function. These principles, illuminated by an historical perspective and placed in an evolutionary context, actually constitute a theory of brain. This book's logical organization, intellectual sweep, and clear writing made it a joy for me to read."--Charles F. Stevens, M.D., Ph.D., Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Salk Institute for Biological Sciences
"This short book deserves wide readership. It could serve both as a general introduction for the undergraduate and as a means to widen one's horizon for the experienced researcher."--Jan Voogd in Science
"I was pleasantly surprised by the comparative and evolutionary approach used to introduce the major concepts, and I was drawn in by the historical context in which the story is told...a clearly written and logically organized overview of the major functional subsivisions of the vertebrate nervous system, accompanied by a commentary on historical views of brain function. It will be a welcome addition to the libraries of students and anyone interested in the basic organization of the brain."--Nature Neuroscience
About the Author
Larry W. Swanson is at University of Southern California.
Most helpful customer reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful.
Needs more diagrams, images and discursive flair
By John Harpur
Often the fit between research scholarship and effective writing skills is difficult to achieve. This book is an example of that unevenness that really should be caught by a good editor. Personally I found the text educational, interesting and peppered with historical gems that some lent anecdotal dynamism to the work. However, the illustrations are largly drawn from historical works, which is quaint but not particularly helpful given modern research requirements. The diagrams in the book are uninspiring grayscale shapes. I didn't find them informative.
The book really kicks off in Chapter 4, The Basic Vertebrate Plan. Disappointingly, Swanson's potentially mouth opening discussion of four rival brain architectures is too abrupt and tails off into vagueness. Its overall tenor is not helped by very plain diagrams of their components. The upside is that he covers the evolution in historical thought very well - of interest to any historian of science. Given my needs (computational modelling) the book was very adequate but only because I had already tucked From Neuron to Brain under my belt a few months previously.
The first few chapters cover neuroembryogenesis and the theories of neural plate development. After that, the book takes off through the vertebrate brain and four main systems (behaviour, motor, cognitive and sensory). it concludes with a brief chapter on learning and damage repair. The book drives home some points clearly and simply, such as the separate development of motor and sensory ganglion cirucits. Sometimes the descriptions are clouded by the author's view that conventional descriptors in human anatomy are the wrong way round (or just plain wrong). For instance, the anterior-posterior axis in humans is also called the rostrocaudal axis by neuroembryologists. This illustrates one of Swanson's bugbears, viz, that studies of human brain architecture have not made more of comparative neuroanatomy studies. I have no expertise to comment on this issue, but I did question its immediate relevance to the central text.
As the book runs through the main human brain systems, it becomes a bit thin in places. More pages are needed to elaborate complex principles and theories than the book affords. In his discussion of the cognitive system, Swanson argues that the grouping of components in the cerebral hemispheres is buried in a miasma of different and conflicting naming schemes. It is better to take guidance from embryology, he argues, in determining brain regionalisation schema. This promise of simplifcation, which would make any brain texts more readable at least, is undermined by the supporting diagrams. Time and again, interesting and intriguing hypotheses and critiques are let down by the lack of high quality visuals. It is a great pity, given the standards of other texts.
I must admit that I found this book interesting and Swanosn definitely stamps his 'own outlook' on the material. However, I was relieved I had digested something substantially more graphical in the area before reading this book.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
Brain Architecture- An informative book explaining basic brain form and function
By Sarah Wetherington
"Brain Architecture: Understanding the Basic Plan" provides an informative and easy-to-read description of the structure and function of the human brain. While this book could serve as an introductory lesson to the human brain, it is also a great refresher for anyone with prior knowledge in the field of neuroscience. I would highly recommend this book to any person with an interest in introductory neuroscience, as well as any student searching for a clear description of both the basic form and function of the human brain.
Synopsis and Opinion:
Swanson divides the book into eleven chapters, and he provides three appendices as well as a glossary at the end. Overall, Swanson outlines the cellular composition of the nervous system, spatial relationships of its basic parts, and the network arrangement of its four basic functional systems. He claims that this view and description is "classical neuroscience" (219).
Chapter 1 is an informative introduction to how the brain works, and Swanson describes three biological perspectives, which include comparative, embryological, and theoretical approaches. In this chapter, he emphasizes the importance of Aristotle's initial work in the study of the basic structural organization of the nervous system, stating that some would argue Aristotle's Historia Animalium (History of Animals) as the finest textbook of animal biology ever written.
Chapter 2 outlines simple nervous systems, starting with unicellular organisms and detailing important milestones in architecture throughout evolutionary history. This chapter allows the reader to develop both a greater appreciation for and understanding of the complexity of the current human nervous system. Swanson distinguishes among sensory, motor, and interneurons, describing the role and importance of each in the human nervous system. He includes a discussion on the polarity of dendrites and axons, as well as amacrine processes and activity. He provides examples of protozoa, sponges, jellyfish, and hydra to support his claims. He explains that even protozoa, which are simple unicellular organisms, display "three classes of remarkably sophisticated behavior." This chapter concludes with a brief overview, emphasizing the fact that the complexity of nervous system organization, rather than individual neurons, has "evolved dramatically" over time (26).
Chapter 3 focuses on centralization and symmetry of ganglia and nerves in the nervous system. Swanson compares bilaterally symmetrical flatworms, segmented worms, and more evolved vertebrates. He focuses on polarity and regionalization, and concludes with a brief overview of topics discussed throughout the chapter.
Chapter 4 begins the meat of the book, explaining the basic vertebrate plan and nervous system topology. Swanson includes diagrams of the fundamental body plan as well as embryologic development. He describes early stages of mammalian development and includes a pictorial representation of the formation of a trilaminar embryonic disc in humans. He compares dorsal views of the neural plate of a shark to that of a human, and he outlines the formation of the neural tube. Swanson provides diagrams of both the three- and five-vesicle stages of the neural tube. He describes the development of the peripheral nervous system, as well as different neuron cell types and groups. Swanson provides a fate map of the embryonic ectoderm, showing both neural and somatic components. A brief overview at the end of the chapter emphasizes the importance of having commonly accepted boundaries and names of the nervous system, for they "provide a vocabulary for describing locations...[and] they are used for constructing maps" (76). Swanson asserts that an understanding of this vocabulary is an essential precursor to learning the wiring of the nervous system.
Chapter 5 discusses the brain and control of behavior via the motor system. Swanson says that the motor system is modulated by inputs from three systems, including the cognitive (for voluntary control), sensory (for reflex control), and intrinsic (for behavioral state control) systems. In this chapter, Swanson provides an introduction to the Four System Network Model and explains how the systems are interrelated.
Chapters 6 through 9 each detail one of the four systems, which include motor, behavioral state, cognitive, and sensory. Each chapter outlines the physiological importance of the system, as well as the functional mechanisms that allow for control of behavior. While Chapter 6 includes an overview at the end of the chapter, Chapters 7 through 9 do not. However, each chapter has clearly labeled subtitles throughout, allowing the reader to efficiently locate specific topics of interest.
Chapter 6 focuses on the motor system, which coordinates external and internal behaviors. Swanson defines motoneuron classes in the three major division of the motor system, which include somatic, autonomic, and neuroendocrine. Next, Swanson uses the example of flexion to introduce individual pools of motoneurons and the coordinated activity of pools. Finally, Swanson describes pattern initiators and controllers, such as drive and motivation, as well as cerebellar control of motor coordination and learning.
Chapter 7 focuses on the behavior state system, which is responsible for intrinsic control of sleep and wakefulness. Swanson describes circadian rhythms and the day-night cycle, as well as the reproductive cycle and modulation of the behavioral state.
Chapter 8 discusses the cognitive system, which plays an important role in thinking and voluntary control of behavior. Here, a diagram of cerebral cortex regionalization shows that the fundamental organization is relative straightforward. Next, Swanson explains cortical cellular organization, cortical projections, and the cerebral nuclei.
Chapter 9 details the sensory system, which includes inputs from the environment and the body. Swanson first explains the evolution and development of sensory neurons, followed by summarizing sensory neuron function and pathways. He then outlines forebrain and ganglion cell sensory systems, concluding the chapter with insight on relevance of this system to pain, pleasure, emotion, and mood.
Chapters 10 and 11 serve as conclusions to the overall message of the book. Swanson discusses modifiability of the nervous system, including learning, stress, cycles, and damage repair and regrowth. Swanson concludes that functional and genomic systems of the brain are both important in different respects, and he explains the relationship between the two.
Three appendices, A, B, and C, follow the last chapter, and they focus on describing position in the animal body, naming and classifying nervous system parts, and methods for analyzing brain architecture, respectively. Throughout the book, key words are italicized, and they are included in a glossary after the appendices.
Style and Structure:
This book is educational and well written, and it is suitable for any person interested in neuroscience. Swanson explains the basic principles of the central nervous system in a succinct yet captivating tone throughout the book.
Chapters 2 and 3 seem somewhat lengthy and a bit too detailed, as they do not directly relate to the primary focus of the book. While it is important to have a basic understanding of the historical significance of past research and evolutionary changes that led to current structure and function, this is not the primary focus of the book (as indicated by the title). Thus, the reader should note that while this historical analysis is necessarily important, the remainder of the book provides far more detail relevant to the architecture and basic plan of the brain.
Overall, Swanson effectively communicates complex topics for readers of any neuroscience background. While the book is somewhat slow to start, chapters 4 through 9 provide essential information that lays the foundation for an understanding of brain form and function. Every chapter has subtitles that allow for efficient reference and topic-specific reading, and chapters 2 through 6 include overview summaries at the end of the chapter.
Interesting Quotes:
"As a matter of fact, there is not even a list of basic parts that neuroscientists agree on, let alone a simple and clear account of what each part does." (2)
"Neurons in all animals can be divided into three fundamental types: sensory, motor, and interneurons." (26)
"Even unicellular organisms such as protozoa display three classes of remarkably sophisticated behavior that are, in fact, common to all higher animals because they are essential for survival: ingestive (or appetitive), defensive and reproductive." (37-38)
"The map we have outlined in this chapter illustrates the basic structural plan of the vertebrate central nervous system based on what little is known..." (76)
"Taken as a whole, the circuitry outlined...for the motor system is organized as a network and not a strict hierarchy because of the cerebellum and its input-output relationship." (136)
"The key to understanding the cerebral hemisphere lies in the arrangement of the structure-function regionalization map of the cerebral cortex." (180)
"Perhaps the greatest hope for repairing the damaged adult nervous system lies in understanding the cell and molecular biology of nervous system development." (218)
For Potential Readers:
This book is an essential find, as it provides a clear, basic outline of the human nervous system. Students will benefit from the author's informative tone, simplistic descriptions, and organized presentation. Professors and researchers could use this book as both a personal reference and teaching tool.
Although there is no "correct" way to read the book, I would highly suggest reading it through completely at least once. The Table of Contents provides chapter titles and subtitles within each chapter, so specific topics of interest can be easily located for reference. The most important information regarding actual brain structure and function is located in Chapters 4 through 9, so special emphasis should be placed on these sections.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
I love this book.
By xangelpointe92
The quotes and anecdotes in the beginning of each chapter are nice; the diagrams are helpful; and the information is structured in a way that's easy to read.
See all 11 customer reviews...
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