Neuroscience [with CD-ROM]

by Dale Purves

A classy introductory text to how the nervous system works highlighting the challenges, controversies, and uncertainties in neuroscience. The 15 contributors (neurobiology, Duke U. Medical Center) extend both their talents in neuroscience and teaching in a systematic outline of the nervous system's organization, neural signaling, sensation and sensory processing, movement and its central control, brain development, and complex brain function including discussions of cognition, sleep, and sexuality. Includes quality color illustrations and photographs.

Genres: Neuroscience, Science, Textbooks, Psychology, Nonfiction, Reference, Biology

773 pages, Hardcover

First published November 17, 1996

About the author

Dale Purves (born March 11, 1938) is Geller Professor of Neurobiology Emeritus in the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences where he remains Research Professor with additional appointments in the department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, and the department of Philosophy at Duke University. He earned a B.A. from Yale University in 1960 and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1964.

Reviews

[Liam O'Leary · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, having studied MSci Neuroscience and now being a PhD student, this is the best general neuroscience textbook for undergraduate/graduate neuroscience students.

That said, while it excels for molecular neurobiology and systems neuroscience, it is weaker at computational, cellular and behavioural neuroscience. I think it beats Kandel in its content layout and structure: Kandel reads like an electronic manual with little emphasis on what is functionally important detail and also lacks in wide level reflection. If you want a directory of neuroscience facts get Kandel, if you want a more coherent understanding of important concepts and where they might lead get this.

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One can never really be 'done' with a science textbook insofar as they become outdated by the time you finish them and you forget what you read at the beginning by the time you have reached the end.

But I felt like reviewing this in case someone actually came on GoodReads looking for textbook recommendations. Ultimately, if you are good at science, you will rarely if ever need to buy a textbook, as you needn't use it after the first year as your work will become more dependent on original research (readin papers). This is because one cannot really be critical of textbook information without consulting the original source information, and part of the point of science education is to demonstrate ways in which you can perceive and pursue your own scepticism of knowledge.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

(updated 8/25/10)
Many medical schools, including the one where I teach, use this as the standard neuroscience-survey textbook for both medical and graduate students. It is generally well-written, highly authoritative, and very well-illustrated. There are 3 or 4 other textbooks that are used by some schools for the same purpose; in general, the others are much longer and somewhat more challenging to read.

I would recommend this book as a very good introduction to the field of neuroscience, with coverage of everything from single neurons and synaptic transmission, to brain systems (sensory, motor, limbic/emotional, cognitive), to a smattering of neurology and psychiatric disease.

It will be most useful for those who need or wish to have a working knowledge of brain structure and function, and their relationship to behavior, cognition, and disease. It is not light reading by any means, but it is probably the best combination of concise and comprehensive coverage in this field.

(8/25/10 update)
The book includes a password for the downloadable brain-tutoring program, Sylvius 4. This program can be very useful as an adjunct, visual aid to the book. We recommend it to medical and graduate students as another way to learn the material (we also provide a lot of visual aids through the proprietary Blackboard system). I tell students to look at every resource and decide what will work best for them – the goal is to get a sense of the 3-dimensional relationships of the brain structures. Many students (and instructors) use Sylvius 4 extensively, and it is certainly worth taking the time to check it out.

However, for most readers I would recommend the following visual aids for starters – these are more accessible in terms of content, and more user-friendly than Sylvius 4.

For a very useful, cool-graphics version of the human brain, I recommend the free iPhone/iPad app, 3D Brain, by the Dana Foundation and Cold Spring Harbor Lab. You can find it in the iTunes app store, or link to it from here:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/3d-bra...

Alternatively or in addition, I highly recommend the Cold Spring Harbor website on modern neuroscience, called Genes to Cognition. It includes an online version of 3D Brain, and a wealth of other information in a user-friendly format:

http://www.g2conline.org/

[DJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a nasty habit of mistaking naming for explaining, but it served the purpose of introducing an egghead physicist/mathematician to the messy biological world of neuroscience. If nothing else, its convincing evidence that neuroscience needs theorists.

If (Amount of jargon) > (Space in a human brain),
then FindTheorists.

[Fede]

"800-sivuinen helkkarin hyvä textbook" - H

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This neuroscience textbook does an incredible job of explaining entry level concepts to readers with a mid range of scientific experience. My knowledge going into this read was a single college biology course and I was able to comprehend most, if not all, of the material the first read. The book is incredibly accessible which is what draws many professors and scholars alike to recommend the work. I myself speak praises of the clarity with which the presented knowledge can be absorbed rapidly through the use of diagrams and explanations. Unlike most textbooks, this one is compelling, well written, and most importantly understandable. As a neuroscience scholar, consider this a required foundation reading. The ebook is readily accessible as well which provides multiple platforms for distribution.

[Luke Meakin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book covering everything from the minute aspects of the brain such as individual cells and processes to the study of collective systems and processes that extend over millions of cells (Systems Neuroscience).

Incredibly well written and detailed with a multitude of extra resources offered for further reading and research around all subjects presented in the book.

Aimed at students towards the end of their undergraduate degree/postgraduate level as quite specific and heavy with regards to depth of material. That being said, any reader can learn lots from this book if one is willing to be patient with adapting to medical and scientific language.

[Sara]

I don't care, I basically read this mf cover to cover and it nearly killed my soul, it counts.

[Mobina golsefatan · Rating 5 out of 5]

بسم الله
کتاب خیلی مناسبی برای ورود جدی به نوروساینس هست. بسیار بسیار راحت‌تر از کندل خوانده می‌شه ولی کمی طول می‌کشه که به ادبیاتش و منطقش عادت کنید.
من این کتاب رو به عنوان منبع اصلی دوره‌ی نوروساینس مقدماتی خواندم و درطول دوره امتحان‌های سختی ازش گرفته شد. برای همین تاکید می‌کنم که در کتاب‌های اینچنینی، غیر از متن کتاب، فیگرها خیلی حرف‌ برای گفتن دارند

اگر فرصت دارید می‌تونید کندل رو هم نگاه کنید در حین خواندن این کتاب اون خیلی مفصل‌تره. (کندل منبع دوم ما بود)

[Frank Solomon · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are newer versions of this book available, with more up-to-date studies. But, this edition is most often quoted, in my experience.

Lots of interesting things here. I was most interested in the sleep research.

[Samantha Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great textbook for guiding students through the complexities of neuroscience. With the rapid evolution of knowledge in the field this it offers a grounding to help students evaluate new information. It's well organized making it easy to use for quick referencing. The source material cited is another wealth of information.

[Iván Leija · Rating 4 out of 5]

Como estudiante de psicología su lectura fue un reto muy enriquecedor. Es a veces no confuso sino prolijo en la cantidad de detalles, los cuales saturan las páginas y reducen el espacio con el que contarían las ideas principales. Los diagramas e ilustraciones son muy útiles.

[Chase Mackey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best introduction to the topics in the Neurosciences, as opposed to Kandel's "Principles of Neural Science." Purves et al. take the student through the various levels of analysis, from the molecular to the systems level, cover complex functions and their associated theoretical frameworks, all with a strict adherence to the evidence. This evidence based work allows the student to do some amount of critical thinking, resembling what one actually does in reading research in peer-reviewed academic journals.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very heavy on anatomy, which was challenging but taught me a new way to think. Would've liked more on cognition and higher-order processes, but I think that's my fault for misunderstanding where neuroscience is on that right now and what the primary research goals and acceptable evidence consist of.

[Sueper · Rating 3 out of 5]

While many of my colleagues do not care of this textbook, I thought it was quite good for someone with no background in neuroscience, and very little biology and physiology. I'm sure I will continue to use it as a reference.

[Yas · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the top best books for a beginner to intermediate neuroscience enthusiasts that goes through the nervous section from one neurons to the network of the nervous system, the brain and even medical cases. Great illustrations with detailed information and labeled diagrams.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was at first a foreign language book for me. I really had to study the scientific language to make any sense of it, but that study led to a great appreciation for neuroscience.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, probably the best textbooks I've ever had. Very helpful!

[Christian Romero]

Leyendo el capitulo de Motor

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely, the best one for the study of nervous system applied to neuroscience.

[DongJae Ryoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Niyonsenga Theogene]

to be a good reader

[Christine Walsvick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many words! The pictures could be better.