Until recently, neuroscientists thought glial cells did little more than hold your brain together. But in the past few years, they've discovered that glial cells are extraordinarily important. In fact, they may hold the key to understanding intelligence, treating psychiatric disorders and brain injuries and perhaps even curing fatal conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lou Gehrig's Disease. In The Root of Thought, leading neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Koob reveals what we've learned about these remarkable cells, from their unexpected role in information storage to their function as adult stem cells that can keep your brain growing and adapting longer than scientists ever imagined possible. Ranging from fruit flies to Einstein, Koob reveals the surprising correlation between intelligence and the brain's percentage of glial cells - and why these cells' unique wavelike communications may be especially conducive to the fluid information processing human beings depend upon. You'll learn how crucial glial cells grow and develop... why almost all brain tumors are comprised of glial cells and the potential implications for treatment... even the apparent role of glial cells in your every thought and dream!

The root of thought : unlocking glia - the brain cell that will help us sharpen our wits, heal injury, and treat brain disease

Koob, Andrew, 1976-

Globe Fearon Educational Publishing

Upper Saddle River, N.J.: FT Press

Longman Publishing

Cengage Gale

Upper Saddle River, N.J, New Jersey, 2009

United States, United States of America

Upper Saddle River, N.J, c2009

1, FR, 2009

contains pen marking

"Ninety percent of your brain cells are glial cells - and, until recently, scientists thought they did little more than hold your brain together. New research reveals that they might hold the key to understanding intelligence, treating psychiatric disorders and brain injuries, and maybe even curing Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lou Gehrig's disease. In The Root of Thought, brain scientist Andrew Koob reveals what we've just learned about these remarkable cells, telling an amazing scientific story that is transforming our understanding of the human brain."--Jacket

186 p. : 24 cm
Cities and highways -- Dust settles on the battlefield -- I sing the body electric -- Meet the astrocyte -- Riding the calcium wave -- Hey neuron, it's me, glia -- Developing relationships -- The time machine -- Sing a new song -- Albert Einstein's abundant astrocytes -- I dream of glia -- Gliadegenerative disease -- Don't insult me -- The seething breeding glioma -- Cities and highways revisited
Includes bibliographical references and index

Superanno In The Root Of Thought, Brain Scientist Andrew Koob Reveals That Story. You'll Learn What Glial Cells Are, How They Function, And How They May Help Explain Everything From Intelligence And Creativity To Imagination And Dreams. Then, Koob Reveals The Tantalizing Clues About Glial Cells That Could Eventually Lead To Cures For Brain Injury, Psychiatric Disorders, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig's Disease, And Even Brain Cancer.

2023-06-28