How to Build a Human Brain

“This book facilitates a dynamic approach to learning by taking us on a journey of not only the brain’s anatomy, but also how it works at a cellular level, and very importantly, how the brain develops. The reader learns about how a brain is ‘built’ by mother nature, and what makes it ‘tick’.” —Rudi Coetzer, Honorary Professor at Bangor University and Swansea University, UK and Clinical Director with Brainkind How to Build a Human Brain takes a developmental approach to understanding brain structure and function. It guides readers through the evolution of the human brain, from its cellular building blocks, up to hind brain structures and functions, and through to neocortex and associated functions. In doing so, it enables students to develop a comprehensive knowledge of the relationship between brain networks and functions, neural underpinnings of functional problems seen after neuropathology, and neuroanatomy. Written in an engaging style, each chapter follows a blueprint format with subsections on issues like 'damage and repair' and 'faulty wiring' as the brain is ‘built’ across the course of the book. The author includes illustrative case studies and entertaining fast fact boxes to highlight the real-word relevance of each brain structure being examined. This textbook offers an accessible reference for students of neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology, and biological psychology. Lynne Barker is Associate Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience at Sheffield Hallam University, UK where she also serves as Neurocognitive Theme Lead for the Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology and is a co-locator at The Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre. Her research focuses on technological innovation and new diagnostic techniques, biomarkers and interventions in concussion, stroke, traumatic brain injury and movement disorder conditions. She is currently leading a team investigating the microbiome in relation to neuropathological conditions and her team was a shortlisted winner of the 2023 Longitude Prize on Dementia.