Synaptic Self: How Our Brains Become Who We AreIn 1996 Joseph LeDoux's The Emotional Brain presented a revelatory examination of the biological bases of our emotions and memories. Now, the world-renowned expert on the brain has produced with a groundbreaking work that tells a more profound story: how the little spaces between the neurons—the brain's synapses—are the channels through which we think, act, imagine, feel, and remember. Synapses encode the essence of personality, enabling each of us to function as a distinctive, integrated individual from moment to moment. Exploring the functioning of memory, the synaptic basis of mental illness and drug addiction, and the mechanism of self-awareness, Synaptic Self is a provocative and mind-expanding work that is destined to become a classic. |
Contents
THE MOST UNACCOUNTABLE OF MACHINERY | |
BUILDING THE BRAIN | |
ADVENTURES IN TIME | 1682 |
SMALL CHANGE | 1730 |
THE MENTAL TRILOGY | 1783 |
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ability action activity allowing altered amygdala animals anxiety approach areas aspects associated axons basis behavior believed body brain called cells changes chapter chemical circuits classical conditioning cognitive conditioning connections consciousness damage discussed disorders dopamine drugs early edited effects electrical emotional especially et al example experience explicit fact fear feelings FIGURE findings functions GABA genes genetic given glutamate hippocampus human important influence inputs interactions involved kinds lateral leads learning less memory mental mind motivation nature neural neurons Neurosci nucleus occurs organism pathway patients performed person plasticity possible postsynaptic potential prefrontal cortex present Press presynaptic problem processing proposed proteins psychology rats receive receptors regions release response result role Science sensory shock showed similar situation sound specific stimulus studies subjects suggested synaptic task terminal theory things thinking thought transmission turn understanding University visual York