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Synaptic Self: How Our Brains Become Who We Are

by: Joseph LeDoux

: Synaptic Self: How Our Brains Become Who We Are
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 612.82
EAN: 9780142001783
ISBN: 0142001783
Label: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 416
Publication Date: January 28, 2003
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Release Date: January 28, 2003
Sales Rank: 21029
Studio: Penguin (Non-Classics)



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Editorial Review:

Product Description:
In 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.

Amazon.com Review:
A middle-aged neuroscientist walking down Bourbon Street spots a T-shirt that reads, 'I don't know, so maybe I'm not.' This stimulus zooms from eyes to brain, neuron by neuron, via tiny junctions called synapses. The results? An immediate chuckle and (sometime later) a groundbreaking book titled The Synaptic Self. To Joseph LeDoux, the simple question, 'What makes us who we are?' represents the driving force behind his 20-plus years of research into the cognitive, emotional, and motivational functions of the brain.

LeDoux believes the answer rests in the synapses, key players in the brain's intricately designed communication system. In other words, the pathways by which a person's 'hardwired' responses (nature) mesh with his or her unique life experiences (nurture) determine that person's individuality. Here, LeDoux nimbly compresses centuries of philosophy, psychology, and biology into an amazingly clear picture of humanity's journey toward understanding the self.

Equally readable is his comprehensive science lesson, where detailed circuit speak reads like an absorbing--yet often humorous--mystery novel. Skillfully presenting research studies and findings alongside their various implications, LeDoux makes a solid case for accepting a synaptic explanation of existence and provides to the reader generous helpings of knowledge, amusement, and awe along the way. --Liane Thomas



Customer Reviews
Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - Magnificent in its Simplistic Approach to the Self
LeDoux provides a fascinating take on the big question facing researchers of the brain: "What makes ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - The Guide to Nearly Everything About YOU!
This book is a miniature bible of the brain. It is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing and persuasive ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - A Worthwhile Read
I came upon this book by chance and with curiosity, and I did not know any background behind this work. "Synaptic ... Read More


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars - Good review
If you have a degree in Neurobiology, the first half of this book will drag horrifically for you. However, I recall ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Excellent resource
If you want to learn how the synapses in the brain work, this is an excellent book to read. I particularly liked the ... Read More

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Copyright ©2003, Mark Carey.