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Physiological Basis and Quantum Versions of Memory and Consciousness

Author: 
Year:
Pages:244
ISBN:0-7734-5746-1
978-0-7734-5746-1
Price:$179.95
This book on memory and consciousness arose out of a concern for there being a lack of understanding of the physiological processes which underlie consciousness. Knowledge related to the origin of consciousness is essential to many disciplines with an interest in human behavior but because brain damage often produces impaired consciousness it is especially important to neurologists, neurosurgeons and psychologists in managing patients. There have been major advances in how memory is stored and recalled in the cerebral cortex but how memory is very rapidly and transiently accessed during consciousness, as when the environment is swiftly visually scanned and recognized, is not understood. Therefore, a detailed physiological explanation of how memory is integrated with consciousness is necessary if consciousness is to be understood. The reader of this work is provided with a basic overview on the structure and function of neurons, their electrical behavior, the role of neurotransmitters, neural circuits, protein networks, etc. in the recording of information in the cerebral cortex. On this background of knowledge, an electrophysiological theory and quantum versions of consciousness are presented, demonstrating how sensory input can be very rapidly matched to memory and sustain a coherent state of consciousness.

Reviews

“Until his retirement, Dr Hudson was a practicing clinical neurologist and a researcher in fields as diverse as embryology, carbohydrate metabolism and the correlation of abnormal functions with pathological changes in the brain. In recent years he has applied this extensive background to consider some normal functions of the human brain, including the perception of pain. The present work is an exploration of the nature and interdependence of memory and consciousness, two functions of the cerebral cortex … This work should interest all who are trying to understand the neural substrates of awareness and experience.”– Professor John Kiernan and Professor Stephen M. Sims, The University of Western Ontario

“ ... These are topics which are quite timely and ones for which there has been an enormous amount of recent progress. This book has been written by a well-known and distinguished neuroscientist with a wealth of scientific and clinical experience ...” – Professor George Ebers, Radcliffe Infirmary

Table of Contents

Foreword; Introduction
1. The Evolution of the Neural Sciences
2. Neurons of the Cerebral Cortex
3. Properties of Axons, Dendrites and Synaptic Vesicles
4. Resting and Voltage-gated Ion Channels
5. Excitatory Neurotransmitters
6. Inhibitory Neurotransmitters
7. Electrical Behavior of Dendrites
8. Axon Targeting
9. Protein Signaling Complexes and Networks
10. Long-term Potentiation and Plasticity in Neurons
11. Processing of Memory
12. Development of Consciousness
13. The Final Challenge: Quantum Brain Models
References; Index