Through the case history of Phineas Gage, a 19th century Vermonter who had an iron bar driven through his brain and lived, the book examines what is known of brain function.

"A neurologist regales readers with extraordinary stories of the brain under siege. Our brains are the most complex machines known to humankind, but they have an Achilles heel: The very molecules that allow us to exist can also sabotage our minds. Here are true accounts of unruly molecules and the diseases that form in their wake, from total loss of inhibitions to florid psychosis to compulsive lying. Cognitive neurologist Sara Manning Peskin demystifies...

"Let's say you set out to learn a new subject or skill, and you succeed. That's great. You've added to your knowledge and abilities. But it's limited to just that one thing you've learned. Now imagine that instead, the skill you learn is...how to learn. Once you know how to learn-smarter, faster, and better-you can apply it to anything. You can learn to master your mindset or your motivation, or use the methods to pick up martial arts, music, marketing,...

"Author of the iconic bestsellers This Is Your Brain on Music and The Organized Mind, Daniel Levitin turns his keen insights to what happens in our brains as we age; why we should think about health span, not life span; and, based on a rigorous analysis of neuroscientific evidence, how you can make the most of your seventies, eighties, and nineties today, no matter how old you are now"--

Describes the functions of the brain as the control system of the body and the nervous system, with a focus on learning and remembering as well as problems that can occur within the brain.

Understanding the brain is one of the biggest challenges facing scientists. We still don't know how the brain creates thoughts! Newquist peels back the layers of the brain to explain what it's made of, how it works, and how to make your brain work for you. From eyeballs to neurons, vivid illustrations show pieces of its complex structure. The historical chapter details how Egyptians scooped out the brains of mummies, and how phrenology developed....

While doing research as a medical student at Yale and then as a resident and faculty member at Harvard, Dr. Brizendine discovered that almost all of the clinical data on neurology, psychology, and neurobiology focused exclusively on males. In response to the need for information on the female mind, Brizendine established the first clinic in the country to study and treat women's brain function. At the same time, The National Institutes of Health began...

Reveals every aspect of the human brain's anatomy and how it functions with extraordinary clarity. Fully updated to include the latest cutting-edge technology and research, such as brain implants and stimulation, how memory works, and the far-reaching changes that take place in the brain during early life.

Introduces the brain and its makeup, its function within the nervous system, brain diseases, and how to keep the brain healthy.

"Now, Brizendine uses her unique ability of making science approachable to offer an empowering vision of the years in a woman's life that have too often been ignored or misunderstood and creates a positive new framework for this life stage. She never uses the words perimenopause or menopause, with their suggestions of obsolescence. She guides women to become more of who they are and who they want to be in the second half of life. After analyzing the...