Bibliograph

The tale of the dueling neurosurgeons, the history of the human brain as revealed by true stories of trauma, madness, and recovery, Sam Kean

Type

Label

The tale of the dueling neurosurgeons, the history of the human brain as revealed by true stories of trauma, madness, and recovery, Sam Kean

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 383-395) and index

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The tale of the dueling neurosurgeons

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

870336349

Responsibility statement

Sam Kean

Sub title

the history of the human brain as revealed by true stories of trauma, madness, and recovery

Summary

Early studies of the human brain used a simple method: wait for misfortune to strike--strokes, seizures, infectious diseases, horrendous accidents--and see how victims coped. In many cases their survival was miraculous, if puzzling. Observers were amazed by the transformations that took place when different parts of the brain were destroyed, altering victims' personalities. Parents suddenly couldn't recognize their own children. Pillars of the community became pathological liars. Some people couldn't speak but could still sing. Sam Kean explains the brain's secret passageways and recounts forgotten tales of the ordinary people whose struggles, resilience, and deep humanity made modern neuroscience possible.--From publisher description

Table Of Contents

Gross anatomy. The dueling neurosurgeons -- Cells, senses, circuits. The assassin's soup ; Wiring and rewiring ; Facing brain damage -- Body and brain. The brain's motor ; The laughing disease ; Sex and punishment -- Beliefs and delusions. The sacred disease ; "Sleights of mind" -- Consciousness. Honest lying ; Left, right, and center ; The man, the myth, the legend

Target audience

adult

resource.variantTitle

Dueling neurosurgeonsHistory of the human brain

Classification