Overview
A major goal of this well-established textbook is to provide knowledge and understanding of neuroscience as a basis for clinical thinking. The strong emphasis on linking basic sciences with their clinical application has implications for the choices of which topics to treat in depth and which to treat more summarily - making this different from most other neuroscience textbooks. For example, topics of great practical importance like the cranial nerves, the autonomic nervous system, and pain are treated in depth. The book provides clear descriptions of brain structures and relates them to their functional properties by incorporating data ranging from molecular biology to clinical neurology and psychiatry. The focus is on fostering understanding of how the brain works rather than on the memorization of many details. Critical thinking is encouraged by providing information about the scientific basis for many "facts," and pointing out where the evidence is insufficient to reach final conclusions. The many two-color illustrations - based on the author's long experience in teaching medical students - make it easy to grasp complex structural and functional relationships.
The third edition goes further than the previous ones in integrating material from all fields of the neurosciences. Two new chapters have been included on the vestibular system and control of eye movements, and all other chapters have been thoroughly revised. Although new material has been added, the total length of the text is virtually unchanged due to careful re-writing and elimination of less important material. There are many completely new figures and numerous others have been redrawn to enhance clarity.
The book contains predominantly black-and-white illustrations, with some two-color illustrations.
Editorials
From The Critics
Reviewer: Celso Agner, MD, MS, MSc(Michigan Neurology Partners)Description: Brodal's neuroanatomy textbooks have enlightened neurologists, neuroscientists, and neurosurgeons around the world about the beauty of the predictability of the nervous system. This is a needed edition in the ever-changing field of neurosciences.
Purpose: The purpose is to address the main functions of the central nervous system through research data accumulated over the many years of study in the neurosciences. These are worthy objectives.
Audience: Neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychologists, and neuroscientists are the main targets for this book. The author is a well-known expert in the field and able to integrate complex concepts into straightforward pieces of information.
Features: The traditional presentation of the book corresponds to a unique anatomical writing style. The author synthesizes decades of research into simple words, complex concepts into graphics, neural networks into understandable connections. Few neuroscientists are able to do such a good job, in particular for an ever-changing yet fascinating field. The illustrations are superb and the price reasonable, although the book is priceless.
Assessment: This is an excellent purchase for general medical, neurological, and neurosurgical libraries.
Anthony J. Castro
This is the second edition of a book first published in 1992 that provides a comprehensive treatment of the structure and function of the nervous system. By design, presentation is primarily at the systems level, but sufficient background information at the cellular level (and to some extent molecular level) is presented. The author is particularly successful in providing appropriate depth of coverage, and occasional brief descriptions of the experimental basis for current concepts is well done. Reference to relevant clinical issues is common. This book clearly is intended for use by medical students, but it is also suitable for graduate students with interests in neuroscience. It would also serve as a valuable reference book for medical residents in the various neuroscience related clinical fields. The full page, single column layout with wide margins provided for notes is useful and pleasing. The book is well organized from cellular to regional to systems coverage and chapter designations are most appropriate, although I think the important special sense of equilibrium should merit its own chapter along with the vision, audition, and olfaction and taste chapters. The frequent use of highlighted boxes of additional information on topics of research of clinical and/or anecdotal interest is a nice enhancement. Key literature references are provided for each chapter. The illustrations are clear and straightforward, although they do not suffice for use as an atlas in most medical neuroscience courses. However, this is not a stated purpose of this book. The author has a comfortable and unambiguous style. The book appears to have a consistent depth of coverage throughout, unlike somemultiple author books. Where background information of a subject is incomplete and/or ambiguous, as is common in neuroscience, the author often indicates the uncertainty and presents a balanced view based on key background information. This is an excellent book.3 Stars from Doody