Collection Development "Neuroscience": It's All in Your Head

Hardly a newscast airs today without some reference to the brain, whether in terms of brain health or more broadly in terms of how people think and why they act the way they do. Just this past summer, for example, a report from researchers at the University of Washington made headlines when it claimed that popular videos like the “Baby Einstein” series, which are designed to stimulate infant brains, actually have a detrimental impact on language development in babies and toddlers.

The dynamic and rapidly expanding field of neuroscience traditionally has involved the study of the nervous system from a biological/medical standpoint. But in recent years the science has become multidisciplinary, attracting researchers from computer science, psychology, sociology, philosophy, and even the humanities. For instance, the growing subfield of social neuroscience draws on the social sciences to examine the biology behind social interactions and behavior, while cognitive neuroscience meshes psychology and neuroscience to explore how neural circuitry produces cognitive functions like emotions or perception. And the field's history is just as rich and fascinating, with ancient roots that extend back to the Egyptians.

For public and college libraries, developing a well-rounded, balanced, and broadly accessible collection of books, periodicals, DVDs, and web sites on this highly technical and academic subject can be challenging. The following bibliography provides a general listing of recent titles, mostly nonmedical, that demonstrate neuroscience's breadth. Since any of the new subfields (neurobiology, neuropsychology, etc.) that are developing on an almost daily basis are worthy of a collection development article of their own, this compilation aims to serve as a starting point from which librarians can build more specialized collections, depending on their patrons' interests and information needs.

Most collections would benefit from one or two good general neuroscience textbooks. These provide an excellent overview of the field and can serve as a reference for the more focused titles that will make up the bulk of the collection. There are also a number of excellent textbooks on practically every subfield of neuroscience as well as larger and more expensive reference sets that would be appropriate for academic libraries and public libraries with larger budgets.

The main publishers in this area are Dana Press and MIT Press. Sponsored by the Dana Foundation, a philanthropy with interests in brain science, immunology, and arts education, Dana Press specializes in popular science titles aimed at general readers, such as the forthcoming The Neuroscience of Fair Play(Dec.) by Donald W. Pfaff. MIT books tend to be a bit more technical and academic. Both of these publishers' catalogs are available on their web sites. For DVDs, Davidson Films has a five-part neuroscience series, narrated by experts in the field and aimed at psychology undergraduates.

To find reviews or identify major authors, librarians can check out the online bookstore of Neuroscience News, which includes product descriptions, excerpts from published reviews, and customer comments. Another good resource is the Medical Library Association's Consumer and Patient Health Information Section's (CAPHIS) newsletter, which often includes book reviews of materials aimed at consumers.

As in other scientific fields, new research and developments often quickly date neuroscience texts. Weeding, however, should be done carefully. Many of the general titles listed below can be kept because they outline the development of the field and may even become seminal works. In the same respect, older titles by prominent authors such as Stanley Finger, Eric R. Kandel, and Oliver Sacks may also be retained. Books that contain medical advice and textbooks, however, should be evaluated regularly for accuracy and currency.

All the titles selected below are accessible to general readers, although some are more academic. Starred [*] titles are essential for all public and academic libraries.

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REFERENCE
The Dana Guide to Brain Health. Dana, dist. by Univ. of Chicago. 2006. ed. by Floyd E. Bloom, M.D. & others. 744p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-932594-10-2. pap. $25 with CD-ROM.
Compiled by three leading brain experts with contributions from over 80 physicians, this volume is divided into four broad sections, covering brain development, brain health, and 72 major neurological and emotional conditions. A broad and affordable overview on the topic; for public and smaller academic libraries. (LJ 12/02)

Turkington, Carol. The Encyclopedia of the Brain and Brain Disorders. 2d ed. Facts On File. 2002. 384p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-8160-4774-1. $75.
With over 800 concise, jargon-free entries that address topics ranging from aging to vitamin deficiency, this is an excellent one-volume ready-reference for public and community college libraries. Academic and medical libraries may want to consider the four-volume Encyclopedia of the Human Brain (Academic, 2002). [Facts On File will publish the third edition in June 2008.—Ed.]

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TEXTBOOKS
Bear, Mark F. & others. Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain. 3d ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2006. 928p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-7817-6003-4. $104.95 with CD-ROM.
The leading undergraduate textbook on the biology and physiology of the brain assumes no science background, making this an excellent resource for students and general readers. Richly illustrated and filled with value-added components like sidebars, self-quizzes, and resource CDs. 

Kandel, Eric R. & others. Principles of Neural Science. 4th ed. McGraw-Hill. 2000. 1414p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-8385-7701-1. $115.
First published in 1981, this well-written, richly illustrated textbook remains the core, comprehensive introduction to the study of the brain. The fourth edition includes a new chapter on genes and behavior. Although aimed at medical and graduate students, it is accessible to educated readers.

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GENERAL BOOKS
Andreasen, Nancy C. The Creating Brain: The Neuroscience of Genius. Dana, dist. by Univ. of Chicago. 2005. 197p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-932594-07-2. $23.95.
Neuroscientist/psychiatrist Andreasen examines the neural roots of creativity in an informal, clear style. Included are exercises to foster creativity in children and adults. 

Bennett, Maxwell & others. Neuroscience and Philosophy: Brain, Mind, and Language. Columbia Univ. 2007. 232p. ISBN 978-0-231-14044-7. $25.50.
To illustrate the philosophical issues surrounding cognitive neuroscience, this volume presents the conflicting views of three established philosophers and a prominent neuroscientist. While not light reading, it is a good introduction to this dynamic subfield. 

Bloom, Floyd E., M.D. Best of the Brain from Scientific American: Mind, Matter, and Tomorrow's Brain. Dana, dist. by Univ. of Chicago. 2007. 243p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-932594-22-5. $25.
This collection of essays drawn from Scientific American and Scientific American Mind offers an excellent, readable overview of the latest brain research since 1999. (LJ 5/15/07)

Carter, Rita. Mapping the Mind. Univ. of California. 2000. 224p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-520-22461-2. pap. $25.95.
With over 150 black-and-white and color illustrations, medical journalist Carter's volume offers a unique look at the geography of the brain, including where concepts like fear and addiction are located. (LJ 2/15/99)

Doidge, Norman, M.D.The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science. Viking. 2007. 448p. ISBN 978-0-670-03830-5. $24.95; pap. Dec. 2007. ISBN 978-0-14-311310-2. $16.
Research psychiatrist Doidge draws on actual case histories to demonstrate that the brain is not “hardwired” but can change and adapt to external and internal events. An accessible study of neuroplasticity. (LJ 2/15/07)

Edelman, Gerald M. Second Nature: Brain Science and Human Knowledge. Yale Univ. 2006. 224p. ISBN 978-0-300-12039-4. $24; pap. Nov. 2007. ISBN 978-0-300-12594-8. $13.
Nobel prize winner Edelman examines the brain in terms of physiology, consciousness, and knowledge. 

Fleischman, John. Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science. Houghton. 2004. 96p. illus. ISBN 978-0-618-49478-1. pap. $8.95.
No neuroscience collection is complete without the story of Phineas Gage, the 1848 Vermont railroad worker who survived 11 years after an explosion drove a 13-pound rod through his brain. This compelling YA account will appeal to adults as well; neurologist Antonio Damasio also touches on this incident in his 1994 Descartes's Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain.

Foundations in Social Neuroscience.MIT. 2002. 1357p. ed. by John T. Cacioppo & others. ISBN 978-0-262-53195-5. pap. $62.
This collection of 82 core articles, many from Science and Nature, offers a broad, dynamic introduction to the emerging field of social neuroscience. 

Gluck, Mark A. & Catherine E. Myers. Gateway to Memory: An Introduction to Neural Network Modeling of the Hippocampus and Learning. MIT. (Issues in Clinical & Cognitive Neuropsychology). 2000. 464p. ISBN 978-0-262-07211-3. $62.50; pap. 2001. ISBN 978-0-262-57152-4. $27.
This introduction to brain computer models by a Rutgers University neuroscientist and psychologist covers computation models of the hippocampus and its interactions with the rest of the brain. For academic and larger public libraries. 

Johnson, Steven. Mind Wide Open: Your Brain and the Neuroscience of Everyday Life. Scribner. 2004. 288p. ISBN 978-0-7432-4165-6. $25; pap. 2005. ISBN 978-0-7432-4166-3. $15.
Discover columnist Johnson explores the everyday questions of neuroscience by taking readers on a voyage through his own brain. 

Kosslyn, Stephen M. & Olivier Koenig. Wet Mind: The New Cognitive Neuroscience. Free Pr: S. & S. 1995. bibliog. index. 624p. ISBN 978-0-02-874085-0. pap. $27.95.
Writing for the general reader, psychologists Kosslyn (Harvard) and Koenig (Univ. of Geneva) offer an excellent introduction to mind and brain structure, or how the brain produces intelligence. (LJ 5/15/92)

Linden, David J. The Accidental Mind: How Brain Evolution Has Given Us Love, Memory, Dreams, and God. Belknap: Harvard Univ. 2007. 236p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-674-02478-6. $25.95.
Neuroscientist Linden argues that the brain is not an optimized machine but rather a pieced-together mess that gives humans some of their most cherished traits like the ability to love. 

Minsky, Marvin. The Emotion Machine: Commonsense Thinking, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of the Human Mind. S. & S. 2006. 400p. illus. ISBN 978-0-7432-7663-4. $26; pap. Nov. 2007. ISBN 978-0-7432-7664-1. $16.
Artificial intelligence pioneer Minsky examines the human imagination and common sense in this provocative book that challenges current thinking about the way humans think. 

Moreno, Jonathan D. Mind Wars: Brain Research and National Defense. Dana, dist. by Univ. of Chicago. 2006. 225p. ISBN 978-1-932594-16-4. $23.95.
Bioethics expert Moreno investigates the ties between neuroscience and national security, asking difficult ethical and national policy questions in a nontechnical and readable manner. (LJ 10/15/06)

Sacks, Oliver. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: And Other Clinical Tales. Touchstone: S. & S. 1998. 256p. ISBN 978-0-684-85394-9. pap. $14.
Neurologist Sacks (Awakenings) presents more than 20 of his fascinating cases involving patients who suffered from such disorders as amnesia and musical hallucinations. 

Social Neuroscience: People Thinking About Thinking People. MIT. 2006. 320p. ed. by John T. Cacioppo. ISBN 978-0-262-03335-0. $45.
With contributions from psychologists, neurobiologists, neurologists, and other professionals in a variety of disciplines, this volume examines social behavior and cognition.

Tancredi, Laurence R. Hardwired Behavior: What Neuroscience Reveals About Morality. MIT. 2005. 240p. index. ISBN 978-0-521-86001-7. $28.99.
Tancredi (psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine) draws on neurobiological research and presents actual clinical cases to show how the brain influences the ability to make moral decisions. Well written and highly accessible to general readers.

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HISTORY OF NEUROSCIENCE
Marshall, Louise H. & Horace W. Magoun. Discoveries in the Human Brain: Neuroscience Prehistory, Brain Structure, and Function. Humana. 1998. 336p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-89603-435-8. $79.50.
Tracing the development of neuroscience from its often bizarre beginnings to the emergence of the modern multidisciplinary field, this well-researched and -written history is valuable for its depth and breadth. 

Finger, Stanley. Origins of Neuroscience: A History of Explorations into Brain Function. Oxford Univ. 2001. 480p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-19-514694-3. pap. $39.95.
This scholarly but accessible history is packed with facts, personalities, and excerpts from original documents. Finger (neural sciences, Washington Univ.) profiles 19 neuroscience pioneers in Minds Behind the Brain: A History of Brain Pioneers and their Discoveries (LJ 1/00). 

Gross, Charles G. Brain, Vision, Memory: Tales in the History of Neuroscience. MIT. 1998. 273p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-262-07186-4. $67.50; pap. 1999. ISBN 978-0-262-57135-7. $28.
Gross (psychology, Princeton) energetically crafts five historical tales of neuroscience from the Egyptians to today. 

Zimmer, Carl. Soul Made Flesh: The Discovery of the Brain—and How It Changed the World. Free Pr: S. & S. 2005. 384p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-7432-7205-6. pap. $15.
After a brief early history, Zimmer focuses on the beginnings of modern brain science in 17th-century England, including the work of Thomas Willer, the “founder of neurology.” Dynamically written and scrupulously researched. (LJ 12/03)

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PERIODICALS
BMC Neuroscience. 2000. BioMed Central Ltd., Middlesex House, 34-42 Cleveland St., London W1T 4LB, UK. www.biomedcentral.com/bmcneurosci. ISSN 1471-2202.
This free, open access journal publishes peer-reviewed research articles. For academic collections.

Nature Neuroscience. 1998. m. $199. Nature Neuroscience, 75 Varick St., 9th fl., New York, NY 10013; 212-726-9319; www.nature.com/neuro. ISSN 1097-6256.
Committed to a broad readership, this multidisciplinary journal focuses on aspects of neuroscience from all fields. The editors also host the Action Potential: Nature Neuroscience blog.

Scientific American Mind. 2004. bi-m. $19.95. Scientific American, 800-333-1199; www.sciammind.com. ISSN 1555-2284.
With contributions from top researchers, a variety of topics, and an affordable rate, this is an excellent resource for all libraries. The web site includes the blog Mind Matters.

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WEB SITES
Neuroscience for Kids
faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html
Maintained by Eric Chudler (Univ. of Washington), this site for students and teachers features games and activities, a Q&A section, a newsletter, and links to books and magazines for different age groups.

Society for Neuroscience; www.sfn.org
SfN publishes The Journal of Neuroscience and provides a number of resources, including a searchable database, resources on the history of neuroscience, and news, as well as links to other references for educators, researchers, and the general public.

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DVDS
The Most Amazing Machine: Neuroscience & Behavior. 27 min. Intelecom. 2006. DVD $49.95.
This video uses case studies to explore the biology behind behavior and how the brain influences mood and cognition.

NOVA: Secrets of the Mind. 60 min. WGBH-Boston. 2001. ISBN 978-1-59375-675-8. $19.95.
From the popular PBS series, this DVD profiles V.S. Ramachandran, “the Sherlock Holmes of neuroscience,” whose patients help him discover how the brain works. A companion web site features interactive games.