The Human Brain

This chapter on the human brain provides an overview of basic biological mechanisms that underlie brain function. The chapter covers a broad set of different components facilitating cognitive function, and the different scales they are operating on. Specifically, consideration is given to the anatomical, genetic, chemical, and electrophysiological aspects of the brain. In addition, the chapter discusses some aspects of postnatal neurodevelopment, human senses, and modern physics-based models of brain function. The selection of material concentrates on what is most relevant to consumer neuroscience, where the presentation emphasizes conceptual insights while keeping physical, chemical, and cell biological details to a minimum. In addition, the chapter provides a short overview of the history of brain science from past to present, acknowledging that there is no unifying theory at present that can fully explain the complex functioning of neuronal systems.