Rhythms of the Brain

Front Cover
Oxford University Press, Aug 3, 2006 - Medical - 464 pages
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.
 

Contents

Introduction
3
Structure Defines Function
29
Diversity of Cortical Functions Is Provided by Inhibition
61
Windows on the Brain
80
A System of Rhythms From Simple to Complex Dynamics
111
Synchronization by Oscillation
136
The Brains Default State SelfOrganized Oscillations in Rest and Sleep
175
Perturbation of the Default Patterns by Experience
206
The Gamma Buzz Gluing by Oscillations in the Waking Brain
231
Perceptions and Actions Are BrainState Dependent
262
Oscillations in the Other Cortex Navigation in Real and Memory Space
277
Coupling of Systems by Oscillations
334
Tough Problems
357
References
373
Index
433
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About the author (2006)

Gyorgy Buzsaki 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. Buzsaki 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.

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