Constituents, organization and processes of the human brain
-
Anthony J. Hannan
Abstract
The human brain is an extraordinarily complex biological system underpinning cognition and experience. This complexity is evident at all levels, from genetics to molecular, cellular, network and systems constituents. This article provides an overview of these constituents, their organization and the processes in which they are engaged. We discuss the shaping influences of development and evolution, and describe the brain’s structure and function at several levels: cellular features, the organization of neurons into functional systems, the gross anatomy of the nervous system and the specific structural and functional properties of the cerebral cortex. There is considerable evidence that cortical activity – though not all cortical activity – is correlated with conscious experiences, but exactly which activities constitute consciousness is unclear.
Abstract
The human brain is an extraordinarily complex biological system underpinning cognition and experience. This complexity is evident at all levels, from genetics to molecular, cellular, network and systems constituents. This article provides an overview of these constituents, their organization and the processes in which they are engaged. We discuss the shaping influences of development and evolution, and describe the brain’s structure and function at several levels: cellular features, the organization of neurons into functional systems, the gross anatomy of the nervous system and the specific structural and functional properties of the cerebral cortex. There is considerable evidence that cortical activity – though not all cortical activity – is correlated with conscious experiences, but exactly which activities constitute consciousness is unclear.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Visual consciousness and binocular rivalry 1
- Constituents, organization and processes of the human brain 15
- Overview of visual system structure and function 37
- Early views on binocular rivalry 77
- Psychophysics of binocular rivalry 109
- Investigating the structure and function of the brain 141
- The neuron doctrine of binocular rivalry 167
- Functional neuroimaging of binocular rivalry 187
- Binocular rivalry, brain stimulation and bipolar disorder 211
- High-level modulations of binocular rivalry 253
- Binocular rivalry 281
- The future of binocular rivalry research 305
- Index 333
-
The stereoscopic viewer mentioned in this volume can be bought at http://www.3dstereo.com/viewmaster/svn-tmp.html
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Visual consciousness and binocular rivalry 1
- Constituents, organization and processes of the human brain 15
- Overview of visual system structure and function 37
- Early views on binocular rivalry 77
- Psychophysics of binocular rivalry 109
- Investigating the structure and function of the brain 141
- The neuron doctrine of binocular rivalry 167
- Functional neuroimaging of binocular rivalry 187
- Binocular rivalry, brain stimulation and bipolar disorder 211
- High-level modulations of binocular rivalry 253
- Binocular rivalry 281
- The future of binocular rivalry research 305
- Index 333
-
The stereoscopic viewer mentioned in this volume can be bought at http://www.3dstereo.com/viewmaster/svn-tmp.html
