Neurobiologie

The pursuit of happiness is one of the most common and enduring quests of human life. It's what drives us to get a job, fall in love, watch stand-up comedy, go to therapy, have questionable obsessions, and come home at the end of the day. But where does happiness come from, and why do we need it so much? Is lasting, permanent happiness possible-or should it be? And what does any of this have to do with the brain?In this delightful sequel to Idiot Brain, Dean Burnett explores these questions from a neuroscientific perspective. He combines the latest research and theories about how the brain works with interviews and contributions from relevant individuals, such as relationship experts, psychology professors, comedy writers, celebrities, millionaire gurus, and pretty much anyone else involved in bringing about happiness in others. Distinguished by Burnett's signature wit and curiosity, Happy Brain elucidates our understanding of what happiness actually is, where it comes from, and what exactly is going on in our brains when we're in a cheery state. Humorous and enlightening, Happy Brain explores a fascinating aspect of modern neuroscience and, in the process, reveals something about what it means to be human.

Die Fortschritte der Medizin sind beeindruckend - und dennoch leiden viele von uns an "Leib und Seele". Wie kann das sein? Gerald Hüther, Gehirnforscher, Vorstand der Akademie für Potentialentfaltung und Bestsellerautor geht der Frage nach, weshalb uns das beste und teuerste Gesundheitssystem der Welt nicht gesünder macht: Weil jeder Heilungsprozess, auch wenn er von der modernsten Medizin unterstützt wird, letztlich immer ein Selbstheilungsprozess des Körpers ist. Anhand der Funktionsweise des Gehirns macht der Autor auf bemerkenswert einfache und überzeugende Weise verständlich, wie sehr unsere Selbstheilungsfähigkeit durch liebloses Verhalten sich selbst und anderen gegenüber unterdrückt wird. Weil sich Lieblosigkeit in unserer, von ökonomischen Zwängen beherrschten, globalisierten und digitalisierten Welt zunehmend ausbreitet, werden immer mehr Menschen nicht nur seelisch sondern auch körperlich krank. Gerald Hüther schlägt einen ebenso wirksamen wie leicht begehbaren Weg vor, den jede und jeder Einzelne ab sofort beschreiten kann, um aus dieser Verirrung herauszufinden.

Unterhaltend und fundiert: Ein Pageturner über die HirnforschungDie Hirnforschung macht rasante Fortschritte, aber nur selten treten wir einen Schritt zurück und fragen uns, was es heißt, ein Lebewesen und Mensch zu sein. Der renommierte Neurowissenschaftler David Eagleman nimmt uns mit auf die Reise durch das Gewirr aus Milliarden von Hirnzellen und Billionen von Synapsen - und zu uns selbst. Das sonderbare Rechengewebe in unserem Schädel ist der Apparat, mit dem wir uns in der Welt orientieren, Entscheidungen treffen und Vorstellungen entwickeln. Seine unendlich vielen Zellen bringen unser Bewusstsein und unsere Träume hervor. In diesem Buch baut Bestsellerautor David Eagleman eine Brücke zwischen der Hirnforschung und uns, den Besitzern eines Gehirns. Er hilft uns, uns selbst zu verstehen. Denn ein besseres Verständnis unseres inneren Kosmos wirft auch ein neues Licht auf unsere persönlichen Beziehungen und unser gesellschaftliches Zusammenleben: wie wir unser Leben lenken, warum wir lieben, was wir für wahr halten, wie wir unsere Kinder erziehen, wie wir unsere Gesellschaftspolitik verbessern und wie wir den menschlichen Körper auf die kommenden Jahrhunderte vorbereiten können.Ausstattung: mit farbigen Abbildungen

'Wenn Sie nur ein Buch über unser Denken lesen könnten ...' ZEIT ONLINE Der Bestseller des Nobelpreisträgers Daniel Kahneman schärft den Blick für die blinden Flecke unseres Denkens.Wie treffen wir unsere Entscheidungen? Warum ist Zögern ein überlebensnotwendiger Reflex, und warum ist es so schwer zu wissen, was uns in der Zukunft glücklich macht? Daniel Kahneman, Nobelpreisträger und einer der einflussreichsten Wissenschaftler unserer Zeit, zeigt anhand ebenso nachvollziehbarer wie verblüffender Beispiele, welchen mentalen Mustern wir folgen und wie wir uns gegen verhängnisvolle Fehlentscheidungen wappnen können.Zusammen mit diesem Klassiker ist auch der Nachfolgeband NOISE Pflichtlektüre für Entscheidungsträger. In NOISE widmet sich Daniel Kahneman im Speziellen den Verzerrungen der menschlichen Urteilskraft.

Alles neuro oder was?Warum vergessen wir etwas? Und erinnern uns nur, wenn wir dorthin zurückgehen, wo es uns eingefallen ist? Warum erinnern sich alte Menschen präzise an weit Zurückliegendes - aber nicht an gestern? Kann man mit regelmäßigem Gedächtnis-Training der Gefahr vorbeugen, an Alzheimer zu erkranken? Und wieso hat eine Nervenzelle eine Vorliebe für die Schauspielerin Jennifer Aniston?Der mehrfache Gedächtnisweltmeister und Hirnforscher Boris Nikolai Konrad gibt einzigartige Einblicke in die geheimnisvolle Welt von Erinnern und Vergessen und präsentiert Erstaunliches, Verblüffendes und Wissenswertes über unser Gedächtnis. Seine Botschaft: Ein gutes Gedächtnis ist erlernbar!

Neurobiological Effects of Sex Steroid Hormones describes the neurobiological basis for the understanding of how sex steroid hormones, oestrogen and testosterone, interact with parts of the brain. The contributors have all made significant advances in the understanding of how these steroids regulate neural function, and how this activity is translated into reproductive behaviours necessary for the propagation of the species. This book covers a broad range of topics, extending from the molecular and cellular processes, through the action of steroids on neurotransmission, all the way to defining the brain circuitry involved in both male and female behaviour. This volume presents a snapshot of the rapidly advancing field of reproductive neuroendocrinology by the investigators who are most intimately involved with the discoveries.

Pragmatist Neurophilosophy:American Philosophy and the Brain explains why the broad tradition of pragmatism is needed now more than ever. Bringing pragmatist philosophers together with cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists, this volume explores topics of urgent interest across neuroscience and philosophy from the perspective of pragmatism. Discussing how Charles Peirce, William James, John Dewey, and George Mead benefited from their laboratory-knowledge, contributors treat America's first-generation pragmatists as America's first cognitive scientists. They explain why scientists today should participate in pragmatic judgments, just as the classical pragmatists did, and how current scientists can benefit from their earlier philosophical explorations across the same territory. Looking at recent neuroscientific discoveries in relation to classical pragmatists, they explore emerging pragmatic views supported directly from the behavioral and brain sciences and describe how "neuropragmatism" engages larger cultural questions by adequately dealing with meaningful values and ethical ideals. Pragmatist Neurophilosophy is an important contribution to scholars of both pragmatism and neuroscience and a timely reminder that America's first generation of pragmatists did not stumble onto its principles, but designed them in light of biology's new discoveries.

Tight junctions between epithelial and endothelial cells form selective barriers and paracellular channels and regulate paracellular transport of solutes, immune cells, and drugs. More specifically, tight junctions consist of proteins that laterally interconnect neighboring cells of epithelia and endothelia. Certain proteins seal the tight junction, so that a nearly impermeable barrier develops, whereas others form channels that allow for permeation between the cells. Recent investigations have focused on tight junction proteins, belonging to the claudin family (claudins-1 to -27 in humans) and the newly defined group of TAMP (three proteins: occludin, Marvel-D2, and tricellulin).  Barriers and Channels Formed by Tight Junction Proteins I showcases work in this area clustered around three major themes: the molecular properties of tight junctions, for example, the role of the claudin family of proteins and the formation of ion and charge-selective channels; the regulation of tight junction and barrier functions via genetic mechanisms and scaffold protein mediation; and the functional role of the tight junction in various tissues, such as the skin, lungs, endothelia, and nervous system NOTE: Annals volumes are available for sale as individual books or as a journal. For informatio.n on institutional journal subscriptions, please visit http://ordering.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/subs.asp?ref=1749-6632&doi=10.111/(ISSN)1749-6632. ACADEMY MEMBERS: Please contact the New York Academy of Sciences directly to place your order (www.nyas.org). Members of the New York Academy of Science receive full-text access to the Annals online and discounts on print volumes. Please visit http://www.nyas.org/MemberCenter/Join.aspx for more information about becoming a member.  

This text discusses the important role of steroids and neuropeptides in the regulation of behavior. The guiding principle behind the discussion is the concept of using good model animal systems to help us to understand how hormones influence the brain. The book emphasizes that steroids, and peptides or neuropeptides affect behavior by acting directly on the brain, and that common neural circuits underlie a variety of different central motive states. The first chapter focuses on developmental periods and sexually dimorphic behaviors; the second discusses sodium and water appetite, and ingestion; the third deals with appetite, food selection and ingestion. The fourth chapter examines how hormones influence parental behavior; the fifth is on fear and stress. The last chapter deals with biological clocks and endogenous rhythms. Senior undergraduate and graduate students in neuroscience, endocrinology, and physiology will find this text a useful guide to the role of hormones in behavior.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects millions of patients worldwide and arises from the concurrent action of multiple pathophysiological processes. The power of mathematical analysis and computational modeling is increasingly utilized in basic and clinical epilepsy research to better understand the relative importance of the multi-faceted, seizure-related changes taking place in the brain during an epileptic seizure. This groundbreaking book is designed to synthesize the current ideas and future directions of the emerging discipline of computational epilepsy research. Chapters address relevant basic questions (e.g., neuronal gain control) as well as long-standing, critically important clinical challenges (e.g., seizure prediction). Computational Neuroscience in Epilepsy should be of high interest to a wide range of readers, including undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty working in the fields of basic or clinical neuroscience, epilepsy research, computational modeling and bioengineering.

Clear, concise, prescriptive steps for improving memory loss and keeping the brain young—from one of the world's top memory experts.<BR><BR>Everybody forgets things sometimes—from your keys to your lunch date to the name of an acquaintance. According to Dr. Gary Small, the director of the UCLA Center on Aging, much of this forgetfulness can be eliminated easily through his innovative memory exercises and brain fitness program—now available for the first time in a book. Using Small's recent scientific discoveries, The Memory Bible can immediately improve your mental performance. One of the ten commandments that Dr. Small has pioneered to improve your memory immediately is LOOK, SNAP, CONNECT:<BR><BR>1: LOOK: actively observe what you want to learn<BR>2: SNAP: create a vivid snapshot and memorable image<BR>3: CONNECT: visualize a link to associate images<BR><BR>In addition, Dr. Small's comprehensive program includes a "brain diet" of memory-enhancing foods and a list of the most effective drugs, as well as a workbook with a weekly and daily calendar. Remember, as Dr. Small says, "Great memories are not born, they are made."