Rhythms of the Brain

by Gyorgy Buzsaki

Overview

This book provides eloquent support for the idea that spontaneous neuron activity, far from being mere noise, is actually the source of our cognitive abilities. In a sequence of "cycles," György Buzsáki guides the reader from the physics of oscillations through neuronal assembly organization to complex cognitive processing and memory storage. His clear, fluid writing-accessible to any reader with some scientific knowledge-is supplemented by extensive footnotes and references that make it just as gratifying and instructive a read for the specialist. The coherent view of a single author who has been at the forefront of research in this exciting field, this volume is essential reading for anyone interested in our rapidly evolving understanding of the brain.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199885305
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	08/03/2006
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	7 MB

About the Author

György Buzsáki is a Board of Governors Professor of Neuroscience at Rutgers University. His primary research interests are in brain oscillations, sleep and memory, and with more than 200 papers published on these topics, he is among the top 250 most-cited neuroscientists. Dr. Buzsáki is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and honorary member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and he sits on the editorial boards of several leading neuroscience journals.

Table of Contents

Prelude.
Cycle 1. Introduction.
Cycle 2. Structure defines function.
Cycle 3. Diversity of cortical functions is provided by inhibition.
Cycle 4. Windows on the brain.
Cycle 5. A system of rhythms: from simple to complex dynamics.
Cycle 6. Synchronization by oscillation.
Cycle 7. The brain's default state: self-organized oscillations in rest and sleep.
Cycle 8. Perturbation of the default patterns by experience.
Cycle 9. The gamma buzz: gluing by oscillations in the waking brain.
Cycle 10. Perceptions and actions are brain state-dependent.
Cycle 11. Oscillations in the "other cortex:" navigation in real and memory space.
Cycle 12. Coupling of systems by oscillations.
Cycle 13. The tough problem.
References.

Editorial Reviews

"György Buzsáki's Rhythms of the Brain is an excellent compendium on the rapidly expanding research into the mechanisms and functions of neuronal synchronization. Buzsáki presents such synchronization as a binding glue that integrates many levels of neuroscientific investigation with one another and with neighboring disciplines...Buzsáki manages to elegantly integrate insights from physics, engineering, and cognitive psychology with contributions from cellular, systems, cognitive, and theoretical neuroscience."—Science

"This is definitely an intriguing book that provides a comprehensive review of current knowledge on brain rhythms...this book is worth the time."—Doody's

"In Rhythms of the Brain, György Buzsáki does a remarkable job of summarizing a vast body of literature on the topic...The book is a 'must read' for anyone interested in understanding the functioning of large and complex brain circuits."—Nature

"What makes this book so valuable is its range; Buzsáki has a worldly intellect, open to information from any discipline that provides insight, while insisting on a rigorous distinction between fact and baloney...Perhaps the greatest value of Rhythms of the Brain is that it provides a starting point for students and scientists who see the importance of this field and want to get a solid overview."—Nature Neuroscience

"In this entertaining monograph the author addresses issues related to the genesis of brain rhythms and their contribution to the "invisible operations of the brain"...one of the most thought-provoking and fun books in neuroscience that I have read in some time."—Mathematical Reviews

"Highly original exposition of a broad swathe of modern neuroscience. Indeed, it brings together so many apparently disparate strands, and levels on the reductionistic scale, that it deserves a must read score, especially for neuroscientists looking to get an up-to-date and challenging exposition of many of the big questions, even if they are not fundamentally interested in oscillations per se...If sharp wave ripples, associated with consummatory behavior in rodents, have the same connotations in humans, they too will likely occur in the readers brain as a reward for the attention this book deserves."—Neuron

"The book is beautifully written...This book is seriously recommended for those who truly wonder about the brain and its function."—Neuroscience

From the Publisher