Abstract

Meet the inhabitants of the brain in this reader-friendly introduction to what it is and how it works.

Residents include Frederick Foresight (the frontal cortex), Mayor of Cephalton-upon-Ridge, who is the `big picture' person responsible for planning and decision-making; Sage Seahorse (the hippocampus), who has an astonishing memory for times, names and places; Annie Almond (the amygdala), the community's alarm system who is always on the alert; and many other fellow citizens. Each character is introduced and their appearance, role and key functions in the brain explained. The authors also show what happens when things go wrong in the brain, and illustrate the work using examples of classic clinical cases.

This book provides an immediate and entertaining way for anyone to gain a basic understanding or to refresh their knowledge of the inside workings of the brain.

Kenneth Nunn is a specialist in paediatric neuropsychiatry. He was Emeritus Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the Children's Hospital, Westmead, Sydney, Australia, and Senior Child and Adolescent Consultant in Justice Health, New South Wales. He was previously Professor of Child Psychiatry at the University of Newcastle, New South Wales. Tanya Hanstock is Doctor of Clinical and Health Psychology and Senior Clinical Psychologist at The Bipolar Program, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Australia. She is also Conjoint Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle and Adjunct Lecturer at the University of New England, Armidale, Australia. Bryan Lask was Emeritus Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at St George's, University of London, UK, Medical Adviser and Research Director at the Huntercombe Hospital Group, UK, and Visiting Professor at the Regional Eating Disorders Service, Ulleval University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

Linn Iril Hjelseth was born in 1981 and grew up in the north of Norway. She has been drawing her whole life, and people are her great interest. She studied art and film for two years, and then psychology for a year. She is currently finishing her bachelors degree in Visual Art and Design, and has spent one semester in Iceland, collecting inspiration. She has her first solo exhibition in summer 2007.