FOREWORD
How was this book written?
What is this book about?
CHAPTER ONE
THE GIANT NEURAL NETWORK
1.1 Neurons produced for connection
1.2 Basic neuronal functions: firing and synaptic transmission
1.3 The nerves crisscrossing the body
1.4 Neural structures of the brain
-1.4.1 In the beginning were the nuclei
-1.4.2 The mysterious cerebellum
-1.4.3 The all-covering cerebral cortex
-1.4.4 A doubled structure—Two of almost everything
-1.4.5 Pyramidal neurons and minicolumns
-1.4.6 Grey matter, white matter
-1.4.7 Why is the surface grooved?
-1.4.8 An example of how neural pathways work: vision processing
CHAPTER TWO
HOW NEURONS WORK—FIRING AND SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION
2.1 Basics
-2.1.1 Water everywhere
-2.1.2 Salty mineral water
-2.1.3 Resting potential—the electric voltage that animates the cell
-2.1.4 Homeostasis and allostasis
-2.1.5 Leakage ion channels and ‘energy eating’ pumps
2.2 Firing and what makes it happen
-2.2.1 The game of synaptic transmissions which proceeds to firing
__Different weightings
__One single transmission is far not enough
-2.2.2 Action potential—the end of the game
-2.2.3 Nerve impulse—the chain reaction of action potentials along the axon
-2.2.4 Firing patterns—one impulse is often far not enough
2.3 The role of myelin—making the impulse move fast
-2.3.1 Larger pipe—higher speed
-2.3.2 Myelin sheath and Schwann cells
-2.3.3 Oligodendrocytes
-2.3.4 The secret of the myelin sheath—why does transmission speed up?
2.4 Astrocytes and other glial cells
-2.4.1 What are glial cells?
-2.4.2 Astrocytes—the versatile helpers
2.5 Synaptic transmission
-2.5.1 The chemical synapse and its functioning
-2.5.2 Transmission at the chemical synapse
-2.5.3 Electrical synapses
-2.5.4 A comparison of electrical and chemical synapses
-2.5.5 Neuromodulation—axo-axonic and dendro-axon synapses
-2.5.6 Synaptic capacity changes and neuroplasticity
CHAPTER THREE
THE NEURON AS A CELL—GENOME, BUILDING BLOCKS, NUTRITION
3.1 The building blocks of life—the structure of human cells
-3.1.1 The substances that make up both our food and our body
-3.1.2 The structure of the neuron as a cell
-3.1.3 Enzymes and hormones
3.2 Proteins, genes
-3.2.1 Proteins’ structure and their production based on genetic coding
-3.2.2 Gene variants—polymorphism and mutants
-3.2.3 Factors that promote or inhibit gene expression
-3.2.4 The supply and recycling of amino acids
3.3 The fatty substances that make up the cell membranes and myelin sheaths
-3.3.1 The structure of the cell membrane
-3.3.2 Cholesterol and trans fats
-3.3.3 Omega fatty acids—DHA and other essential fatty acids
3.4 The body’s energy supply: glucose (blood sugar) and carbohydrates
-3.4.1 ATP—the energy molecule
__Mitochondria
-3.4.2 Vitamin B1
-3.4.3 Production of glucose from food
-3.4.4 Use of glucose in cells
-3.4.5 Consequences of low glucose levels
-3.4.6 How to maintain glucose supply to the brain
3.5 How the digestive system feels—feedback to the brain and the impact of digestive problems
CHAPTER FOUR
PROTECTION OF THE BRAIN—PROTECTIVE COVERING, BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER, IMMUNE SYSTEM
4.1 Built-in crash helmet—the skull bone and the meninges
-4.1.1 The skull—the outer layer of the helmet
-4.1.2 Meninges—the lining of the helmet
-4.1.3 Concussion
4.2 Floating in water—cerebrospinal fluid and the brain ventricles
-4.2.1 Brain ventricles
-4.2.2 The flow of the cerebrospinal fluid
-4.2.3 The ‘floating’ brain
-4.2.4 Hydrocephalus
-4.2.5 Lumbar puncture
4.3 Blood vessels in the brain and the blood-brain barrier
-4.3.1 The blood-brain barrier
-4.3.2 Stroke
-4.3.3 Fainting
4.4 Insensitive brain tissue, sore meninges
-4.4.1 Encephalitis
-4.4.2 Meningitis
-4.4.3 Headache
4.5 The immune system of the brain
-4.5.1 Microglial cells—the janitor and security supplier
-4.5.2 Psychoneuroimmunology—cognitive impairment and regeneration
4.6 How can we look inside the brain and see how it works?
-4.6.1 Examining the structure of brain tissue
__Beginnings
-4.6.2 Imaging techniques 1—live study of the brain tissue
__Tomography
__MRI
__DTI
-4.6.3 Imaging techniques 2—studying brain dynamics
__PET
__fMRI
__fNIRS
CHAPTER FIVE
NEUROPLASTICITY—A GREAT WONDER OF BRAIN FUNCTION
5.1 Neuroplasticity—from discovery to acceptation
-5.1.1 Discovering neuroplasticity
-5.1.2 The essence of neuroplasticity
5.2 Mechanisms of synaptic plasticity
-5.2.1 AMPA receptor trafficking
-5.2.2 Long-term potentiation (LTP) and NMDA receptors
-5.2.3 Changes in the size of the spines
-5.2.4 Trees do not grow to the sky—metaplasticity and perineuronal nets
-5.2.5 The changed structure becomes permanent—consolidation
-5.2.6 Long-term depression (LTD) and synaptic capacity
-5.2.7 Easier to relearn than to learn
5.3 Examples of plasticity
-5.3.1 The rearrangement of brain areas: an example
-5.3.2 Plasticity in the cerebral cortex
-5.3.3 Are all neurons active?
-5.3.4 The competitive nature of plasticity
-5.3.5 Brain injuries and the role of plasticity in rehabilitation
5.4 Implicit memory—motion control, reflexes
-5.4.1 Procedural memory—learning sequences of movements
-5.4.2 Sensitization and habituation
-5.4.3 Conditional reflex
5.5 Explicit memory—memory in the classical sense
-5.5.1 Types of memory
-5.5.2 The hippocampus and how it works
-5.5.3 What do we remember?
-5.5.4 Recalling memories
-5.5.5 The power of imagination
5.6 Chemical catalysts of neuroplasticity and memory
__Neurotrophins and BDNF
__Acetylcholine
__Noradrenaline
CHAPTER SIX
WAKEFULNESS, SLEEP, BRAINWAVES
6.1 What makes us fall asleep, and wake up?
-6.1.1 The ‘almost daily’ cycle
-6.1.2 Compounds of waking and wakefulness
__Orexin—the alarm clock
__Histamine
-6.1.3 Neurochemistry of falling asleep
__Melatonin
-6.1.4 Fatigue and recovery—adenosine and caffeine
6.2 Brainwaves
-6.2.1 What are brainwaves?
-6.2.2 Beta waves
-6.2.3 Gamma waves
-6.2.4 Alpha waves
-6.2.5 Theta and delta waves
__Sleep cycles
__Memory—theta waves in wakefulness
__Epilepsy—strong delta waves during seizures
-6.2.6 What does it mean if no brainwaves can be measured at all?
6.3 Methods for measuring brainwaves and their use
-6.3.1 Multichannel measurements
__Magnetoenchephalography
-6.3.2 Surgically insertable devices
-6.3.3 Simple measuring devices and neurofeedback
6.4 Neurostimulation, brain training devices
-6.4.1 Audio-visual stimulation, brain training devices
__Binaural sound
-6.4.2 Cranial electrotherapy stimulation
-6.4.3 Transcranial magnetic stimulation
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE FOUR HAPPY CHEMICALS
7.1 Neuromodulators and psychoactive substances
-7.1.1 Neuromodulators
-7.1.2 Psychoactive substances
7.2 Dopamine—the substance of motivation
-7.2.1 The dopamine system
-7.2.2 The neuromodulator effect of dopamine—the reward system of the brain
-7.2.3 Disorders of dopamine production
-7.2.4 How do we get addicted?
-7.2.5 Psychoactive substances increasing dopamine levels
__Reuptake inhibitors
__Nicotine
7.3 Serotonin—the substance of contentment
-7.3.1 The serotonin system
-7.3.2 Psychoactive substances increasing serotonin levels
__MDMA
__Hallucinogens
-7.3.3 The treatment of depression
7.4 Oxytocin and vasopressin
__Oxitocin and vasoperessin as neuromodulators
7.5 Opiates—pain relief by neuromodulation
-7.5.1 Working mechanism at synapses
-7.5.2 Analgesic effect at the spinal cord
-7.5.3 Neuromodulation—opiates in the central nervous system
-7.5.4 The biochemistry of opiate addiction and withdrawal symptoms-
7.5.5 Psychoactive substances containing opioids
CHAPTER EIGHT
STRESS, ANXIETY, SEDATIVES
8.1 The stress response
-8.1.1 The amygdala and triggering the stress response
-8.1.2 The role of the autonomic nervous system in the stress response
-8.1.3 The role of cortisol in the stress response
-8.1.4 The effects of stress on the brain
-8.1.5 Chronic (long-term) stress
-8.1.6 Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder
-8.1.7 The freeze reaction
8.2 Sedatives: tranquilizers, sleeping pills, alcohol, gases
-8.2.1 Tranquilizers and sleeping pills
-8.2.2 Ketamine and other NMDA antagonists
-8.2.3 Alcohol
-8.2.4 Sedative gases
__Anesthetic gases
__Inhalants
8.3 Cannabinoids
-8.3.1 Endocannabinoids
-8.3.2 Substances in the cannabis plant: THC and CBD
8.4 Why not use psychoactive substances?
CHAPTER NINE
BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
9.1 Brain development in the womb
-9.1.1 Beginnings—the embryonic period (months 0-2)
-9.1.2 Neurogenesis peaks (months 3-5)
__Neurogenesis later in life
-9.1.3 Neural connections and functional development in the second half of pregnancy
__The formation of nerve fibers
__The death of neurons
__Functional development
-9.1.4 Adverse effects on the fetus
9.2 Brain development after birth
-9.2.1 Birth and the first hours after
-9.2.2 Schedules in childhood
__Synaptic pruning
__Harmful effects
-9.2.3 Adolescence and youth
9.3 The aging brain
-9.3.1 The mature adult brain—improvement and decline
-9.3.2 Ageing processes in nervous tissue
__Cell division stops
__Free radicals and antioxidants—a controversial theory
__Impaired authosphaghy and immune disfunction
__The effects of cellular aging on neural function
-9.3.3 Dementia—degenerative processes in the brain
__Alzheimer’s disease
__Other diseases associated with dementia
9.4 Nature versus nurture—an age-old dispute
-9.4.1 Twin studies—the role of genetics in brain development
-9.4.2 Nature and nurture—the interplay of hereditary predispositions and external factors
CHAPTER TEN
HOW TO KEEP THE BRAIN FIT?
10.1 Daily rhythm
-10.1.1 Controlling your activation level
-10.1.2 Sleep well, awake well, be well
10.2 Exercise, relaxation, meditation
-10.2.1 Get moving
-10.2.2 Get relaxed and relieve stress
__Muscle relaxation
__Monitoring and influencing internal organs
-10.2.3 Use meditation techniques
__Mindfulness
10.3 What can make us feel happier—even if we are not prone to it
-10.3.1 Baseline happiness level and hedonic adaptation
-10.3.2 Boosting the level of happiness
__Stop feeding negative emotions
__Be grateful for the good things you’ve got
__Nurture your human relationships
__Making most of opportunities
10.4 How to slow down the aging process?
LIST OF FIGURES