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الدماغ والألم

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يشير ريتشارد آمبرون - أستاذ علم الأمراض والتشريح وبيولوجيا الخلية - في هذا الكتاب إلى أحدث التطورات في علم الأعصاب من أفكارٍ جديدة حول الأسس العصبية البيولوجية للألم، حيث يؤكّد أنّ الألم ليس مجرد إحساس مبهم الأسباب، بل استجابة عبقرية لما يُصيب الإنسان، تتوسطها مساراتٌ عصبية نوعية محددة بدقّة.
كما يتطرق إلى العديد من أشكال الطب البديل؛ مثل الخلطات العشبية أو أساليب تصحيح القوى غير المتوائمة أو المتضاربة داخل الجسم، والتي حققت بعض النجاح بسبب ظاهرة تعرف باسم (تأثير الدواء الوهمي) حيث يتراجع ألم المريض إذا اعتقد واهماً أنّ العلاجَ حقيقيٌّ.
ويوضح المؤلف ما تتّبعه المجتمعات الشرقية من سبلٍ مختلفة لعلاج الألم عن طريق التأمل الذي ادعى ممارسوه منذ آلاف السنين أنّه تدريبٌ تدريجي للعقل يساعد على تخفيفه، ورغم التشكيك الكبير الذي قوبلت به هذه الادعاءات، فقد أظهرت الدراسات الحديثة أن التأمل له أساس راسخ في علم الأعصاب وأن قدرة ممارسيه على تعديل الألم إرادياً توفّر بديلاً مهماً للأدوية المسكنة عند علاج الألم المزمن.
يُعد هذا الكتاب مرجعاً ثميناً يلجأ إليه الأشخاص الذين يسعون إلى فهم خيارات العلاج المتاحة لهم. إلى جانب ما فيه من وجهات نظر مثيرة للاهتمام حول علم نفس الألم والفلسفة.

320 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2022

30 people are currently reading
324 people want to read

About the author

Richard Ambron

2 books1 follower
Richard Ambron is emeritus professor of pathology, anatomy, and cell biology at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, where he codirected the clinical anatomy course for first-year medical and dental students. For forty years, he directed a laboratory that investigated the molecular bases of nerve regeneration and the molecular pathways responsible for pain.

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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Claudia.
1,013 reviews780 followers
November 6, 2021
"But the pain-" he said. "Pain", she sniffed. "A human can override any nerve in the body."

This is not a quote from this book, it's from Dune , but it fitted here almost perfectly. Human brain can override pain indeed - different paths, different cases, to different extent, but the possibility exists.

Perceiving pain is, in a very high degree, due also to awareness. It's fascinating to learn how complex is the relation between pain and brain, why some people perceive it in a smaller degree than others, why those with a missing limb still feel pain in it, and why no feeling of it will hinder your survival.

The author debates also the effect of placebo, analgesics, opioids and other substances, hypnosis, acupuncture, mindfulness, and how they work on pain relief. It is also demonstrated that psychological pain is as real as physical one, and in same cases even more intense.

For me it was not an easy read due to specialized medical terms, but I took my time, because the subject is highly interesting. I think if it had more examples or experiments it could appeal to a larger audience; in this format, it reads more like a medical journal, with latest developments in the field. Nonetheless, if the subject is of interest, it is worthy of your time.

>>> ARC received thanks to  Columbia University Press  via NetGalley 
Profile Image for Akbar Madan.
196 reviews38 followers
February 17, 2023
تلك علاقة تتحدد من خلال علم الاعصاب وما توصل له العلم من مستجدات علمية سواء كان على مستوى التكوين العصبي في جسم الانسان أو الوظائف المنوطة بذلك التكوين ، الألم هو الانذار الذي صنعه جسم الانسان لتنبيه الدماغ عن الاختلال الذي يحدث في جميع أعضاء جسم الانسان ، وهذا الانذار " الألم " يتغيّر شدته ومدته الزمنية حسب اقتضاء الحاجة الى اصلاح العطل ، هذه العلاقة الرائعة والذكية جدا بين الدماغ والألم تعلمنا كيف لنا أن نصنع التكيف في آلامنا الاجتماعية والنفسية ، فلكل مشكلة بحسب شدتها ومدتها علاجاً وأهتماماً يختلف كلما أختلف ذلك الألم ، وتعلمنا من ذلك ان طول مدة الألم وشدته هي حاجة ضرورية للاستشفاء منه .
هذا الدماغ الذي وصفناه بالذكي في علاقته بالألم هو نفسه غبي جدا فهو في مثل جميع انواع السرطان لا يوجد أي ألم أو منبه لوجودها وانتشارها ، ففي الوقت الذي وضع برنامج دقيق جدا من الأعصاب الكاشفة لأصغر خدش أو وخزة دبوس والذي تعادل نسبة خطورته على بقاء واستمرار الانسان تقريباً 0.01 ألا ان هذا النظام العالي الدقة يعجز عن كشف معضلة تضع حدًا لاستمرار الانسان وكأن هذا الخلل العظيم في دماغنا يعمل بعكس وظيفته الاساسية التي خلق من أجلها وهي ضمان استمرار وبقاء الانسان في الحياة , كما هي النسبة اذا ما قلنا ان غاية خلق الكون هو الانسان نفسه ، الذي خلق بعد 13.7 مليار سنة ، فعمر البشرية 200 - 300 ألف سنة على أفضل تقدير مقارنة بعمر الكون لا يتجاوز نسبة 0.01 .
تبقى علاقة الدماغ بالألم علاقة في غاية التعقيد ، فبحسب دراسات حول الشبكة العصبية للإنسان فإن محددات الألم تتواجد في الدماغ نفسه وبذلك تلعب بعض الممارسات التأملية والدينية دوراً بارزاً في تخفيف أو تجاهل الألم ، مما يمنح الوعي الإنساني سيطرة مباشرة على نفسه ، إلا أن هذه الممارسات في جانب آخر تعمل من خلال تغييب الوعي على اعتبار أن الألم مرتبط بعلاقة قد تكون سبببية أو علائقية بالوعي نفسه والممارسات هي جزء من تغييب الوعي والدخول إلى منطقة اللاوعي المنفصلة عن الألم ، وعليه تعمل جميع المخدرات والمسكنات الدور نفسه وهي مواد طبيعية كتلك المعتقدات والتصورات الماوراء طبيعية .
Profile Image for Jaime.
1,804 reviews310 followers
December 9, 2021
This is a good book that explores the relationship between pain, the brains perception of pain, and why different methods of pain relief may work or fail. Well organized and easy to read.
Profile Image for Judy.
294 reviews6 followers
November 26, 2021
My rating is actually more stars than you can possibly imagine. Much like the sky.

As a person suffering from CRPS and having studied medicine on my own for over 40 years, I find this book to be THE BEST book ever written on how the brain sees pain. The brain is our computer and, when we're in pain, it reacts. A section of our brain lights up with its signal. We feel pain.

This book is written so that everyone can understand it. You don't need a college education to enjoy this book. All you need is an interest in the brain or want help figuring out why you have the pain you do.

We all have pain at some points in our life. Some of us have chronic pain. Don't you want to learn more about the brain and pain? Well, here's the book! You will love it! A perfect gift for everyone over the age of 15. Treat yourself!

Thank you, Richard, for writing this incredible book. It's living in my home where I will now be able to reference it as I write my book on living with pain.

Pick it up!!!!!!
Profile Image for Debbie.
3,631 reviews87 followers
January 22, 2022
"The Brain and Pain" explains how the human body senses pain and the parts of the brain involved with suppressing, increasing, or even caring about the pain. The author used scientific language and expected you to remember what each technical term meant so you could understand what he explained later. The target audience seemed to mainly be people who are developing drug interventions (as he explained potential pathways to target), but he did talk about how meditation, placebo, and hypnosis can change how we experience pain. He described in detail how the body senses an injury on your skin, then he talked about visceral pain. He talked about how current drugs work to suppress pain, what we know about chronic pain, and the challenges faced when developing a pain drug. Overall, the book was very informative. I learned some interesting things that anyone can do to help with pain.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Profile Image for حيدرة أسعد.
Author 6 books49 followers
August 11, 2023
الترجمة ممتازة. العرض جيد جدًا. يحتاج إلى قارئ شغوف بالموضوع، ولديه أرضية علمية أساسيّة كي يستطيع البناء عليها.
Profile Image for Kat.
1,707 reviews29 followers
November 18, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. All of the opinions given are my own and have been given nothing for my review.
154 reviews2 followers
February 16, 2022
I received an advance copy of this publication from NetGalley in exchange for a candid review.

This was an informative discussion of the state of the neuroscience of pain. It was written at a level that would likely be a bit technical and inaccessible for a reader without a strong background or interest in biology and neuroanatomy. Certainly, the authors did a commendable job of attempting to keep the neuroscience relatively focused on the essential elements, but it's still fairly dense in terms of brain regions and physiology for a casual reader.

There was some apparent skepticism about psychology and nonpharmacological treatments for pain, but on balance, the authors do a nice job of taking a holistic, biopsychosocial approach to the topic.

Overall, I would recommend the book, with the caveat that it's geared toward those with a decent science background.
Profile Image for Chris M..
250 reviews7 followers
August 3, 2025
If reviewing based on the information within the book, it is one of the most detailed books written about the latest research trends within understanding pain management. The author also discusses the basic principles behind pain on the molecular and cellular level. Those with a background in medicine, physiology or neuroscience will find the material interesting and maybe a refresher on some concepts. If you’re a casual science reader, this book is more technical than others written about pain, but not totally inaccessible.
958 reviews5 followers
March 8, 2022
As a person with chronic pain,, I found this book interesting though rather technical to read. There are no magic solutions here unfortunately, but it's interesting to learn more about how the brain perceives pain.
Profile Image for Paperwitches ♡.
207 reviews14 followers
April 11, 2022
A great look by a master of nuerology and the study of perception on pain and effects. This is a great look into the human brain and psyche, as well as a well written one. I am a social worker, and used this to give me some perspective. I highly reccommend it!
440 reviews1 follower
September 28, 2022
Pain seems to be an inevitable part if human existence. The author makes the case for a scholarly and very thorough study of pain science. It starts with the history of pain science with the ancient Greeks through modern times. A fascinating read.
Profile Image for Rebekka.
64 reviews4 followers
May 24, 2023
This book is very informative on how the body interprets pain, I found this very helpful working within the mental health sector and the way the brain processes pain.
Profile Image for Mohanad.
171 reviews14 followers
May 19, 2024
ممتاز رغم سوء الإخراج الداخلي للكتاب.
Profile Image for Morgan.
68 reviews
March 17, 2025
Ah, this book brought some much needed neurological perspective on pain. As a sufferer of long-term whiplash pain, I have had so many battles with my body, with others and proving that my pain was real, with flare-ups and set backs, and so much more. Chronic pain sucks. But it’s so validating learning about all the biological and neurobiological reasons for long-term pain. I wish I’d found this book years ago when I was just beginning my chronic pain journey.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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