false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172220790m/151132.jpg 151132 3 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 <I>The Synaptic Self</I>. 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. <p> 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. <p> 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. <I>--Liane Thomas</I> 1362868 2002 Synaptic Self: How Our Brains Become Who We Are total:94|5:22|4:41|3:25|2:4|1:2| 94 359 253 14 4 0 false false Sun Mar 15 07:51:23 -0700 2009 Sun Feb 15 19:56:45 -0800 2009 Sun Mar 15 07:51:23 -0700 2009 So far, the most interesting (and new, to me) part is the section regarding what neuroscience knows about emotional responses in the brain directly effecting memory, regardless of the consciousness of the stimuli. The brain's "subconscious"...more...]]> 4 0 false false Thu Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat May 03 13:49:56 -0700 2008 Mon Sep 21 17:40:43 -0700 2009
The book has definitely armed me with a significa...more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 06 09:51:09 -0700 2007 Tue Aug 18 13:35:21 -0700 2009 more...]]> 2 0 false false Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Thu Feb 28 21:06:56 -0800 2008 Sun Mar 30 19:24:03 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Jul 14 14:55:02 -0700 2009 Sat Jul 25 09:50:25 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Aug 07 15:42:06 -0700 2009 Tue Aug 18 22:58:07 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Jul 12 06:18:18 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 01 07:22:32 -0700 2009 more...]]> 0 0 false false Tue Apr 21 09:07:49 -0700 2009 Wed May 27 05:51:07 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sat Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2003 Fri Feb 08 11:48:46 -0800 2008 Fri Feb 08 11:51:55 -0800 2008 I applaud his open-minded and flexible approach to all the complex workings of mind and brain, and recommend this book highly to anyone who is s...more...]]> 3 0 false false Tue Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed May 27 17:35:43 -0700 2009 Tue Aug 25 17:16:58 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Tue Jun 24 13:49:28 -0700 2008 Tue Jun 24 13:49:28 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005 Mon Jan 21 12:33:10 -0800 2008 Tue Jan 29 20:50:55 -0800 2008 4 0 false false Wed Feb 06 18:34:51 -0800 2008 Wed Feb 06 18:35:30 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Fri Mar 14 10:49:34 -0700 2008 Fri Mar 14 10:50:00 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Sun Nov 22 19:57:43 -0800 2009 Sun Nov 22 19:57:43 -0800 2009 5 0 false false Thu Nov 19 17:31:58 -0800 2009 Thu Nov 19 17:31:58 -0800 2009 4 0 false false Mon Nov 16 03:19:01 -0800 2009 Mon Nov 16 03:19:01 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Fri Nov 13 21:17:32 -0800 2009 Fri Nov 13 21:17:32 -0800 2009 3 0 false false Thu Nov 12 17:46:34 -0800 2009 Thu Nov 12 17:46:34 -0800 2009 4 0 false false Sun Nov 08 07:44:44 -0800 2009 Sun Nov 08 07:44:44 -0800 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=151132