The brain : what everyone needs to know

193 Pages·2017·1.388 MB·English

by  Wenk, Gary Lee

i
THE BRAIN
WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW®
ii
iii
THE BRAIN
WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW®
GARY L. WENK
1
iv
3
Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford.
It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship,
and education by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered
trademark of Oxford University Press in
the UK and certain other countries.
“What Everyone Needs to Know” is a registered trademark of
Oxford University Press.
Published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States of America.
© Oxford University Press 2017
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the
prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly
permitted by law, by license, or under terms agreed with the appropriate
reproduction rights organization. Inquiries concerning reproduction outside
the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department,
Oxford University Press, at the address above.
You must not circulate this work in any other form
and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer.
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Names: Wenk, Gary Lee, author.
Title: The brain : what everyone needs to know / Gary L. Wenk, PhD.
Description: New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2017] |
Series: What everyone needs to know |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016030741 (print) |LCCN 2016042204 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780190603397 (pbk. : alk. paper) |
ISBN 9780190603403 (hardcover : alk. paper) | ISBN 9780190603410 (UPDF) |
ISBN 9780190603427 (EPUB)
Subjects: LCSH: Brain. | Neuropsychology. | Brain—Psychophysiology.
Classification: LCC QP376 .W46 2017 (print) | LCC QP376 (ebook) |
DDC 612.8—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016030741
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Paperback printed by LSC Communications, United States of America
Hardback printed by Bridgeport National Bindery, Inc.,
United States of America
v
For Jane
vi
vii
CONTENTS
PREFACE  XIII
Introduction  1
1 What is a memory?  5
How are memories made?  6
Do I need to pay attention?  7
Why do I forget some things but not others?  8
How are memories recalled?  9
Do memories last forever?  10
What is amnesia?  11
How does the brain create a memory?  12
Why are patients with Alzheimer’s disease so forgetful?  15
How is the memory loss treated?  16
What does a memory look like?  18
How does nicotine influence brain function?  19
2 Why do I feel this way?  21
What is fear?  23
Why are close- talkers so frightening?  27
viii
viii CONTENTS
What is depression?  27
How is depression treated?  29
Why do you sleep so poorly when you are depressed?  31
Why is depression so common?  32
What is the role of serotonin in depression?  32
What is bipolar disorder?  34
What is schizophrenia?  36
Why do schizophrenics hear voices?  38
Are dolphins schizophrenic?  39
How is schizophrenia treated?  40
3 How do food and drugs influence my brain?  41
Why do plants affect the human brain?  42
How do we become addicted to specific foods and drugs?  44
Can I blame it on my parents?  45
Why am I addicted to caffeine?  47
What should I eat to feel better?  48
How do I stop eating so much food?  50
Is there a good time of day to eat?  51
What about carbohydrates?  52
What about fats?  54
How does obesity affect brain function and development?  55
Why do I like to eat?  56
Why do I crave fat and sugar?  59
Are we born destined to become obese?  59
How do my gut bugs keep my brain healthy?  60
Can a good diet make you smarter?  61
What about an apple a day? 63
Will you lose weight by eating these fruits?  64
Are spices good for my brain?  65
ix
CONTENTS ix
How do flavonoids benefit us?  66
Eat chocolate!  67
Brain toxins in the diet  70
4 Why do I sleep and dream?  73
What is sleep?  73
Why is sleep so important?  74
What other daily rhythms do I experience?  75
What happens when I disrupt these rhythms?  76
How are eating and sleeping related?  78
How does your brain control its rhythms?  78
Why do I sometimes wake up paralyzed?  80
Why do some people act out their dreams?  81
What happens when I am dreaming?  81
Why do I sometimes dream that I am being buried alive?  83
Are children’s dreams different?  83
What is a lucid dream?  84
How long do dreams last?  85
Does it matter what time I get up or go to bed?  85
Does it matter who I sleep with?  86
Why do I need that morning cup of coffee?  86
Can I get too much sleep?  87
What if I do not get enough sleep?  88
What happens to sleep with aging?  89
5 How does the brain age?  91
When does age- related senescence begin?  92
When am I going to die?  92
How can I live longer?  93