Beynin Yaşamları

by John S. Allen, Devin Keleş (Translator)

İnsanlar beyinleri büyüdükçe daha zeki hâle geldiler. 2 milyon yıl kadar önce bazı insangiller bir şekilde kuyruksuz maymununkilerden daha büyük bir beyne sahip olacak şekilde evrimleşti ve bir milyon yılda beynin boyutu modern insanda görülen boyuta ulaştı.

Dil, bu süre içinde bir yerde, muhtemelen bir buçuk milyon yıl önce evrimleşti. Oysa modern insanı yansıtan maddi kültür yalnızca 100000 - 200000 yıl önceye dayanmaktadır. Farklı ayırıcı özelliklere sahip olsak da beyin ve ürettiği davranışlar bizi diğer kuyruksuz maymun ve primatlardan ayıran asıl şeylerdir.

John S. Allen'ın anlatmak istediği öyküyse, su, yağ ve proteinden oluşan bu 1,3 kilogramlık organın, bir memeli türünü bugün yeryüzünde baskın olan hayvana nasıl dönüştürdüğü.

Genres: Science, Neuroscience, Nonfiction, Brain

410 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Emir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though it had some interesting information to offer, I did not like how it was organized. Besides that it was quite hard to read, even for a brain enthusiast.

[Hal · Rating 2 out of 5]

You must really want to learn about this topic to read this book. There is far too much detail, especially about researchers going down the wrong fork of the road. There is some good stuff in the book, but it gets lost in the volume of text.

[Leif · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read scattered chapters, interested mainly by the neurobiological perspective on language use and development. Unfortunately, Allen's perspective in the last chapters shifts from an engaged and microscopic view to a more theoretical, macroscopic survey of the literature on language, brains, and minds; not the most innovative work, although well-described and thoroughly researched, what was lacking was the clear intervention of Allen himself as the locus of these arguments. Those things aside, there's plenty to stimulate you here if you're interested in a well-documented and fluidly written study on the subject.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather academic and moves in each chapter from an overview to highly specific. Fascinating though with some interesting tidbits. Don't get old. The brain starts to shrink at the age of 60 and an octogenarian brain is smaller than that of a 2 year old. And yes, size matters. Humans are the only primates who need assistance in childbirth, and the only primates whose babies are born facing the back of the body. This is due to bipedality and the need of the female pelvis to carry the weight of the torso which necessitates a twist in the birth pathway.

[David Gross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, but a bit over my head. If you don't know a gyrus from a sulcus, don't expect Allen to slow down to explain it to you. Ditto for numerous terms and concepts from all of the many disciplines he draws from to give his overview of the state of the art of knowledge about the evolution of the human brain. But if you're game for a mental stretch, or if you're already up on this field of study, this is a great way to get the lay of the land.

[Kelly Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this book for an Evolution of the Human Brain class, and it was pretty interesting. Some of it was over my head, but I had taken a class before on the human brain, so I knew most of the terms, and if there was one I didn't, I was able to ask my boyfriend who's a neuroscience major. Some interesting theories, and worth reading if you have an interest in brains and how they evolved into the way they are today.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my LJ review check out the following:

Science & Technology

[Sarah Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally excellent for brain evolution nerds and those who aspire to nerd out with us.