Watch the new season of Amazon Original series The Wheel of Time now on Prime Video. New episode weekly.
Save with Used - Good
$29.86
FREE delivery Tuesday, March 18 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon
Sold by: Bradshaw Collective
$29.86
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Book in Good Condition. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine and cover may show signs of wear. Cover has signs of shelving and some wear and tear on the cover. 100% GUARANTEE! Including Fast shipping with Amazon Prime, Guaranteed tracking number, and Amazon’s hassle-free return policy. Book in Good Condition. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine and cover may show signs of wear. Cover has signs of shelving and some wear and tear on the cover. 100% GUARANTEE! Including Fast shipping with Amazon Prime, Guaranteed tracking number, and Amazon’s hassle-free return policy. See less
FREE delivery Tuesday, March 18 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Saturday, March 15. Order within 16 hrs 13 mins.
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$29.86 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$29.86
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
$29.87
A well-cared-for item that has seen limited use but remains in great condition. The item is complete, unmarked, and undamaged, but may show some limited signs of wear. Item works perfectly. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine is undamaged. A well-cared-for item that has seen limited use but remains in great condition. The item is complete, unmarked, and undamaged, but may show some limited signs of wear. Item works perfectly. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine is undamaged. See less
FREE delivery March 20 - 27. Details
Or fastest delivery March 17 - 20. Details
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$29.86 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$29.86
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Ships from and sold by Jenson Books Inc..
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Larry W. Swanson
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Brain Architecture: Understanding the Basic Plan 1st Edition

by Larry W. Swanson (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 17 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$29.86","priceAmount":29.86,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"29","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"86","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"k5GNrUkNqAPKpPYeUasia66N9ofCqAjaWTktxj8425irxx5xldA2TG3rHwmxJwGvK0PTVF9fiT%2BNB%2FnkiENAEl%2FPDQv2edi4VRGd3N7s7At2mFg9zwiV4EHuOcDldA%2BkI2ajuvzjvzLKmpHI43kKy12EuM827INYBlD1qO865gQivaYw0keCHmxrIXNO9xpq","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$29.87","priceAmount":29.87,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"29","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"87","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"k5GNrUkNqAPKpPYeUasia66N9ofCqAjaZkcin4jrZaF%2BNlSpFpo80wvRaoMflDl7KqApXDat0vH2zqNEYJGekygav1vaYTratG%2FSmNdbnAtPmADxIRHyb8MCzVDBr5BOldjUuC4XWIUe9%2FhRTlpbdHcJSEnp3%2FQY82wOsviPm3sUT72BfG5IdaI2V6IlGcHH","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Depending on your point of view the brain is an organ, a machine, a biological computer, or simply the most important component of the nervous system. How does it work as a whole? What are its major parts and how are they interconnected to generate thinking, feelings, and behavior? This book surveys 2,500 years of scientific thinking about these profoundly important questions from the perspective of fundamental architectural principles, and then proposes a new model for the basic plan of neural systems organization based on an explosion of structural data emerging from the neuroanatomy revolution of the 1970's
The importance of a balance between theoretical and experimental morphology is stressed throughout the book. Great advances in understanding the brain's basic plan brain have come especially from two traditional lines of biological thought- evolution and embryology, because each begins with the simple and progresses to the more complex. Understanding the organization of brain circuits, which contain thousands of links or pathways, is much more difficult. It is argued here that a four-system network model can explain the structure-function organization of the brain. Possible relationships between neural networks and gene networks revealed by the human genome project are explored in the final chapter.
The book is written in clear and sparkling prose, and it is profusely illustrated. It is designed to be read by anyone with an interest in the basic organization of the brain, from neuroscience to philosophy to computer science to molecular biology. It is suitable for use in neuroscience core courses because it presents basic principles of the structure of the nervous system in a systematic way.
Previous slide of product details
  1. ISBN-10
    0195105052
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0195105056
  3. Edition
    1st
  4. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  5. Publication date
    October 31, 2002
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    8.2 x 0.6 x 5.5 inches
  8. Print length
    288 pages
  9. See all details
Next slide of product details

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Brain architecture reeks of complicated neuroanatomy, an obtuse nomenclature, and little function; but Brain Architecture is different. To provide readers with an elementary knowledge of the nervous system, Larry Swanson combines a historical and a broad, comparative biological approach." --Science

Book Description

This book is designed for anyone with an interest in the basic organization of the brain.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; 1st edition (October 31, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0195105052
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0195105056
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.2 x 0.6 x 5.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Larry W. Swanson

Larry W. Swanson

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
17 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book provides an informative and easy-to-read description of the brain organization. They find it educational and interesting, with a succinct yet captivating tone. The text is readable and includes key words in an italicized glossary. Readers appreciate the historical gems that lend anecdotal dynamism to the work.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

Information qualityReadabilityDynamism
7 customers mention "Information quality"5 positive2 negative

Customers find the book provides an informative and easy-to-read description of brain organization. It distills reams of detail into instructive paragraphs. The text is educational and interesting, with chapters 4 through 9 providing essential information that lays the foundation for topic-specific reading. Readers find it one of the most interesting neuroscience books they have read.

"...This is one of the most interesting neuroscience books I have read. It is a must buy for graduate students in mammalian neuroscience...." Read more

"...He describes early stages of mammalian development and includes a pictorial representation of the formation of a trilaminar embryonic disc in humans...." Read more

"...of each chapter are nice; the diagrams are helpful; and the information is structured in a way that's easy to read." Read more

"Very comprehensive, easy to understand introduction to the workings of the most mysterious organ, the brain." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and informative. They appreciate the clear writing style, italicized key words, and glossary. The book includes diagrams, images, and discursive flair.

"I found this book to be stimulating, informing, and very readable...." Read more

"...Throughout the book, key words are italicized, and they are included in a glossary after the appendices. Style and Structure:..." Read more

"...are helpful; and the information is structured in a way that's easy to read." Read more

"Needs more diagrams, images and discursive flair..." Read more

3 customers mention "Dynamism"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and stimulating. They appreciate the historical aspects that add anecdotal dynamism to the work. The book is written in a concise yet captivating tone throughout.

"I found this book to be stimulating, informing, and very readable...." Read more

"...of the central nervous system in a succinct yet captivating tone throughout the book...." Read more

"...Personally I found the text educational, interesting and peppered with historical gems that some lent anecdotal dynamism to the work...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Charles R. Watson
    5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant book for serious neuroscientists
    Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2004
    Verified Purchase
    I found this book to be stimulating, informing, and very readable. Larry shows his mastery of brain organisation by distilling reams of detail into instructive paragraphs. This is one of the most interesting neuroscience books I have read. It is a must buy for graduate students in mammalian neuroscience. Congratualtions Larry!
    7 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Sarah Wetherington
    4.0 out of 5 stars Brain Architecture- An informative book explaining basic brain form and function
    Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    "Brain Architecture: Understanding the Basic Plan" provides an informative and easy-to-read description of the structure and function of the human brain. While this book could serve as an introductory lesson to the human brain, it is also a great refresher for anyone with prior knowledge in the field of neuroscience. I would highly recommend this book to any person with an interest in introductory neuroscience, as well as any student searching for a clear description of both the basic form and function of the human brain.

    Synopsis and Opinion:

    Swanson divides the book into eleven chapters, and he provides three appendices as well as a glossary at the end. Overall, Swanson outlines the cellular composition of the nervous system, spatial relationships of its basic parts, and the network arrangement of its four basic functional systems. He claims that this view and description is "classical neuroscience" (219).

    Chapter 1 is an informative introduction to how the brain works, and Swanson describes three biological perspectives, which include comparative, embryological, and theoretical approaches. In this chapter, he emphasizes the importance of Aristotle's initial work in the study of the basic structural organization of the nervous system, stating that some would argue Aristotle's Historia Animalium (History of Animals) as the finest textbook of animal biology ever written.

    Chapter 2 outlines simple nervous systems, starting with unicellular organisms and detailing important milestones in architecture throughout evolutionary history. This chapter allows the reader to develop both a greater appreciation for and understanding of the complexity of the current human nervous system. Swanson distinguishes among sensory, motor, and interneurons, describing the role and importance of each in the human nervous system. He includes a discussion on the polarity of dendrites and axons, as well as amacrine processes and activity. He provides examples of protozoa, sponges, jellyfish, and hydra to support his claims. He explains that even protozoa, which are simple unicellular organisms, display "three classes of remarkably sophisticated behavior." This chapter concludes with a brief overview, emphasizing the fact that the complexity of nervous system organization, rather than individual neurons, has "evolved dramatically" over time (26).

    Chapter 3 focuses on centralization and symmetry of ganglia and nerves in the nervous system. Swanson compares bilaterally symmetrical flatworms, segmented worms, and more evolved vertebrates. He focuses on polarity and regionalization, and concludes with a brief overview of topics discussed throughout the chapter.

    Chapter 4 begins the meat of the book, explaining the basic vertebrate plan and nervous system topology. Swanson includes diagrams of the fundamental body plan as well as embryologic development. He describes early stages of mammalian development and includes a pictorial representation of the formation of a trilaminar embryonic disc in humans. He compares dorsal views of the neural plate of a shark to that of a human, and he outlines the formation of the neural tube. Swanson provides diagrams of both the three- and five-vesicle stages of the neural tube. He describes the development of the peripheral nervous system, as well as different neuron cell types and groups. Swanson provides a fate map of the embryonic ectoderm, showing both neural and somatic components. A brief overview at the end of the chapter emphasizes the importance of having commonly accepted boundaries and names of the nervous system, for they "provide a vocabulary for describing locations...[and] they are used for constructing maps" (76). Swanson asserts that an understanding of this vocabulary is an essential precursor to learning the wiring of the nervous system.

    Chapter 5 discusses the brain and control of behavior via the motor system. Swanson says that the motor system is modulated by inputs from three systems, including the cognitive (for voluntary control), sensory (for reflex control), and intrinsic (for behavioral state control) systems. In this chapter, Swanson provides an introduction to the Four System Network Model and explains how the systems are interrelated.

    Chapters 6 through 9 each detail one of the four systems, which include motor, behavioral state, cognitive, and sensory. Each chapter outlines the physiological importance of the system, as well as the functional mechanisms that allow for control of behavior. While Chapter 6 includes an overview at the end of the chapter, Chapters 7 through 9 do not. However, each chapter has clearly labeled subtitles throughout, allowing the reader to efficiently locate specific topics of interest.

    Chapter 6 focuses on the motor system, which coordinates external and internal behaviors. Swanson defines motoneuron classes in the three major division of the motor system, which include somatic, autonomic, and neuroendocrine. Next, Swanson uses the example of flexion to introduce individual pools of motoneurons and the coordinated activity of pools. Finally, Swanson describes pattern initiators and controllers, such as drive and motivation, as well as cerebellar control of motor coordination and learning.

    Chapter 7 focuses on the behavior state system, which is responsible for intrinsic control of sleep and wakefulness. Swanson describes circadian rhythms and the day-night cycle, as well as the reproductive cycle and modulation of the behavioral state.

    Chapter 8 discusses the cognitive system, which plays an important role in thinking and voluntary control of behavior. Here, a diagram of cerebral cortex regionalization shows that the fundamental organization is relative straightforward. Next, Swanson explains cortical cellular organization, cortical projections, and the cerebral nuclei.

    Chapter 9 details the sensory system, which includes inputs from the environment and the body. Swanson first explains the evolution and development of sensory neurons, followed by summarizing sensory neuron function and pathways. He then outlines forebrain and ganglion cell sensory systems, concluding the chapter with insight on relevance of this system to pain, pleasure, emotion, and mood.

    Chapters 10 and 11 serve as conclusions to the overall message of the book. Swanson discusses modifiability of the nervous system, including learning, stress, cycles, and damage repair and regrowth. Swanson concludes that functional and genomic systems of the brain are both important in different respects, and he explains the relationship between the two.

    Three appendices, A, B, and C, follow the last chapter, and they focus on describing position in the animal body, naming and classifying nervous system parts, and methods for analyzing brain architecture, respectively. Throughout the book, key words are italicized, and they are included in a glossary after the appendices.

    Style and Structure:

    This book is educational and well written, and it is suitable for any person interested in neuroscience. Swanson explains the basic principles of the central nervous system in a succinct yet captivating tone throughout the book.

    Chapters 2 and 3 seem somewhat lengthy and a bit too detailed, as they do not directly relate to the primary focus of the book. While it is important to have a basic understanding of the historical significance of past research and evolutionary changes that led to current structure and function, this is not the primary focus of the book (as indicated by the title). Thus, the reader should note that while this historical analysis is necessarily important, the remainder of the book provides far more detail relevant to the architecture and basic plan of the brain.

    Overall, Swanson effectively communicates complex topics for readers of any neuroscience background. While the book is somewhat slow to start, chapters 4 through 9 provide essential information that lays the foundation for an understanding of brain form and function. Every chapter has subtitles that allow for efficient reference and topic-specific reading, and chapters 2 through 6 include overview summaries at the end of the chapter.

    Interesting Quotes:

    "As a matter of fact, there is not even a list of basic parts that neuroscientists agree on, let alone a simple and clear account of what each part does." (2)
    "Neurons in all animals can be divided into three fundamental types: sensory, motor, and interneurons." (26)
    "Even unicellular organisms such as protozoa display three classes of remarkably sophisticated behavior that are, in fact, common to all higher animals because they are essential for survival: ingestive (or appetitive), defensive and reproductive." (37-38)
    "The map we have outlined in this chapter illustrates the basic structural plan of the vertebrate central nervous system based on what little is known..." (76)
    "Taken as a whole, the circuitry outlined...for the motor system is organized as a network and not a strict hierarchy because of the cerebellum and its input-output relationship." (136)
    "The key to understanding the cerebral hemisphere lies in the arrangement of the structure-function regionalization map of the cerebral cortex." (180)
    "Perhaps the greatest hope for repairing the damaged adult nervous system lies in understanding the cell and molecular biology of nervous system development." (218)

    For Potential Readers:

    This book is an essential find, as it provides a clear, basic outline of the human nervous system. Students will benefit from the author's informative tone, simplistic descriptions, and organized presentation. Professors and researchers could use this book as both a personal reference and teaching tool.

    Although there is no "correct" way to read the book, I would highly suggest reading it through completely at least once. The Table of Contents provides chapter titles and subtitles within each chapter, so specific topics of interest can be easily located for reference. The most important information regarding actual brain structure and function is located in Chapters 4 through 9, so special emphasis should be placed on these sections.
    8 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Laura Spence
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    The quotes and anecdotes in the beginning of each chapter are nice; the diagrams are helpful; and the information is structured in a way that's easy to read.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • John Harpur
    4.0 out of 5 stars Needs more diagrams, images and discursive flair
    Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2005
    Verified Purchase
    Often the fit between research scholarship and effective writing skills is difficult to achieve. This book is an example of that unevenness that really should be caught by a good editor. Personally I found the text educational, interesting and peppered with historical gems that some lent anecdotal dynamism to the work. However, the illustrations are largly drawn from historical works, which is quaint but not particularly helpful given modern research requirements. The diagrams in the book are uninspiring grayscale shapes. I didn't find them informative.

    The book really kicks off in Chapter 4, The Basic Vertebrate Plan. Disappointingly, Swanson's potentially mouth opening discussion of four rival brain architectures is too abrupt and tails off into vagueness. Its overall tenor is not helped by very plain diagrams of their components. The upside is that he covers the evolution in historical thought very well - of interest to any historian of science. Given my needs (computational modelling) the book was very adequate but only because I had already tucked From Neuron to Brain under my belt a few months previously.

    The first few chapters cover neuroembryogenesis and the theories of neural plate development. After that, the book takes off through the vertebrate brain and four main systems (behaviour, motor, cognitive and sensory). it concludes with a brief chapter on learning and damage repair. The book drives home some points clearly and simply, such as the separate development of motor and sensory ganglion cirucits. Sometimes the descriptions are clouded by the author's view that conventional descriptors in human anatomy are the wrong way round (or just plain wrong). For instance, the anterior-posterior axis in humans is also called the rostrocaudal axis by neuroembryologists. This illustrates one of Swanson's bugbears, viz, that studies of human brain architecture have not made more of comparative neuroanatomy studies. I have no expertise to comment on this issue, but I did question its immediate relevance to the central text.

    As the book runs through the main human brain systems, it becomes a bit thin in places. More pages are needed to elaborate complex principles and theories than the book affords. In his discussion of the cognitive system, Swanson argues that the grouping of components in the cerebral hemispheres is buried in a miasma of different and conflicting naming schemes. It is better to take guidance from embryology, he argues, in determining brain regionalisation schema. This promise of simplifcation, which would make any brain texts more readable at least, is undermined by the supporting diagrams. Time and again, interesting and intriguing hypotheses and critiques are let down by the lack of high quality visuals. It is a great pity, given the standards of other texts.

    I must admit that I found this book interesting and Swanosn definitely stamps his 'own outlook' on the material. However, I was relieved I had digested something substantially more graphical in the area before reading this book.
    5 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jessie Michelle Lopez
    5.0 out of 5 stars easy to understand introduction to the workings of the most ...
    Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Very comprehensive, easy to understand introduction to the workings of the most mysterious organ, the brain.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Drew Withington
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very informative book but in my purely personal opinion could ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Very informative book but in my purely personal opinion could have done with more depth on the structure and function of the human cerebral cortex e.g. no mention of Broca's Area, the main speech production area.
    Report
  • Raygray
    4.0 out of 5 stars Brain evolution
    Reviewed in Japan on February 15, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    The beginning chapters on the evolution of the brain and central nervous system were an interesting approach to explaining how the human brain came to be.

    In some places the book is heavy with technical terms that I wasn't so interested in. It's a big step above typical books on the brain intended for general readers. It's somewhere between a popular science book and a textbook.

    Don't expect to see the standard pictures showing the where the lobes of the brain are etc. Instead you can read about specific nuclei in specific areas and how they relate as a system.

    I bought this book as required reading for an M.I.T. neuroscience and behavior course.
    Report