A fascinating cornucopia of new ideas, based on fundamentals of neurobiology, psychology, psychiatry and therapy, this book extends boundaries of current concepts of consciousness. Its eclectic mix will simulate and challenge not only neuroscientists and psychologists but entice others interested in exploring consciousness. Contributions from top researchers in consciousness and related fields project diverse ideas, focused mainly on conscious nonconscious interactions: 1. Paving the way for new research on basic scientific - physiological, pharmacological or neurochemical - mechanisms underpinning conscious experience (‘bottom up’ approach); 2. Providing directions on how psychological processes are involved in consciousness (‘top down’ approach); 3. Indicating how including consciousness could lead to new understanding of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, dementia, and addiction; 4. More provocatively, but still based on scientific evidence, exploring consciousness beyond conventional boundaries, indicating the potential for radical new thinking or ‘quantum leaps’ in neuroscientific theories of consciousness. (Series B)

This edited volume includes five chapters detailing recent advancements in neuroscience research. Chapter One provides a comprehensive overview of the role of caspase in neurological diseases. Chapter Two discusses both the beneficial and neurotoxic effects of β-Sitosterol β-D-Glucoside. Chapter Three describes technological innovations in therapy for childhood apraxia of speech, including the verbal motor learning method. Chapter Four details the neuroprotective properties of glycosaminoglycans. Lastly, Chapter Five elucidates the role of the hippocampal network in the brain.

The journey of Mind Sciences in India has been through the peaks and troughs. It is generally accepted that no other cultural tradition except Indian has given so much attention to the matters of mind and consciousness. Yet, recognition to the sciences studying mind like psychology as a scientific discipline came in very late. There were only a handful of universities in India which had independent departments of psychology or neuroscience at the time of Indias independence. In the last few decades, mind sciences in the country have picked up steam resulting in major discussions and interactions across disciplines like psychology, neuroscience and computer science. This book examines the expanding horizons of the mind sciences.

This compilation provides some updates in the field of neuroscience research. Chapter One collects up-to-date research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and elucidates the temporal development of this disorder. Chapter Two explains the role of lipid peroxidation in the development of hydrocephalic astrogliosis. Chapter Three is devoted to the effect of pyrimidine derivatives on changes in mitochondrial function in rats under conditions of permanent cerebral ischemia. Chapter Four investigates the relationship between PTSD and the brain's spatio-temporal dynamics through an experimental study on mice. Chapter Five provides an overview on studies to treat social cognition disturbances in mental disorders such as schizophrenia with transcranial direct current stimulation and discusses its neurobiological mechanisms. Finally, Chapter Six deals with the role of nucleosome ensembles in the control of the visual apparatus as a neuro controller in the operative work of the brain as a whole.

The authors' of this book discuss the most recent advances in neuroscience research. The chapters include updated information on clinical and technical implementation of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in stroke imaging; association between word display and executive functioning; the connectivity between the cerebellum and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG); the identification and validation of EEG, MRI and SPECT biomarkers for diagnosing, monitoring progression and predicting the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD); an examination of the leptin receptor, a drive of adult neurogenesis that may treat Alzheimer's disease; the language of neurons and their clinical applications such as in deep brain stimulation; the use of folic acid and its intake by pregnant women to support both physiological changes in the mother and the optimal growth and development of the fetus and offspring; examples of the continuum of shapes and sizes of different dendritic spines, from simple to complex, observed in the human brain; an examination of spastic diplegia, the most common form of cerebral palsy; and the identification of new mechanisms of pharmacological effects of certain neurotropic peptides.

A neurologist and Zen practitioner clarifies the benefits of meditative training, drawing on classical Buddhist literature and modern brain research. In Zen-Brain Horizons, James Austin draws on his decades of experience as a neurologist and Zen practitioner to clarify the benefits of meditative training. Austin integrates classical Buddhist literature with modern brain research, exploring the horizons of a living, neural Zen. When viewed in the light of today, the timeless wisdom of some Zen masters seems almost to have anticipated recent research in the neurosciences. The keen attentiveness and awareness that we cultivate during meditative practices becomes the leading edge of our subsequent mental processing. Austin explains how our covert, involuntary functions can make crucial contributions to the subtle ways we learn, intuit, and engage in creative activities. He demonstrates why living Zen means much more than sitting quietly indoors on a cushion, and provides simplified advice that helps guide readers to the most important points.

A neuroscientist and Zen practitioner interweaves the latest research on the brain with his personal narrative of Zen. Aldous Huxley called humankind's basic trend toward spiritual growth the "perennial philosophy." In the view of James Austin, the trend implies a "perennial psychophysiology"—because awakening, or enlightenment, occurs only when the human brain undergoes substantial changes. What are the peak experiences of enlightenment? How could these states profoundly enhance, and yet simplify, the workings of the brain? Zen and the Brain presents the latest evidence. In this book Zen Buddhism becomes the opening wedge for an extraordinarily wide-ranging exploration of consciousness. In order to understand which brain mechanisms produce Zen states, one needs some understanding of the anatomy, physiology, and chemistry of the brain. Austin, both a neurologist and a Zen practitioner, interweaves the most recent brain research with the personal narrative of his Zen experiences. The science is both inclusive and rigorous; the Zen sections are clear and evocative. Along the way, Austin examines such topics as similar states in other disciplines and religions, sleep and dreams, mental illness, consciousness-altering drugs, and the social consequences of the advanced stage of ongoing enlightenment.