This book arrived on my desk at a time when I wondered about the existence of a good summary text delineating brain anatomy accurately and clearly and then discussing associated functions in a concise and consistent manner. I believe that those familiar with the field will admit that this is a highly complex area and I must confess that after reading the book I felt that one needs to look no further for such a purpose.
The book's approach is anatomy- rather than function-led but behavioural considerations are embedded on this structure. As a textbook, it may appear relatively short even as a summary of its subject matter (241 pages). It is, however, remarkably comprehensive spanning across 14 chapters. Upon opening it, the reader should not expect to see colourful diagrams or text boxes focusing on various discussion points. Instead, the book's clear format – stripped from any form of flourish – and its simplified presentation is ideal for facilitating understanding of key points and aiding navigation throughout the text. The reader is likely to find this approach very convenient for locating those sections of immediate interest and extracting important information.
The text begins with a brief overview of terminology and central nervous system (CNS) structure followed by a histological/neurochemical primer. These are succeeded by chapters on the four lobes, the basal ganglia, diencephalon, brainstem, limbic system and interhemispheric connections. The focus on each anatomical division appears to reflect its complexity and often the volume it takes up within current behavioural neuroscience research. For instance, there are three chapters on the limbic system – a complex and heavily studied area, while the occipital and parietal lobes are discussed within one, medium-length chapter. Each chapter generally begins with an introduction which is simultaneously a summary of the anatomical and operational features of the CNS divisions under scrutiny. Significant focus has been placed on anatomical networks and cross-chapter references are also provided where necessary. With consistent use of various terms and clear explanations, this book manages to clarify the language of neuroscience rather than complicate matters further. In addition, the reader will encounter various real-life clinical vignettes throughout the text which describe changes in function following some form of brain injury. All these characteristics add to the user-friendliness of the book and are instrumental in enabling comprehension.
There is an additional content feature which is, however, of more limited use: at the end of most chapters there is a section on how anatomical areas discussed previously relate to various psychiatric conditions (e.g. schizophrenia). Although this is informative to some extent, the same disorder is often discussed within different chapters which can prove somewhat confusing; however, use of the subject index should help circumvent this.
The field of CNS anatomy and function is becoming increasingly complex as new research findings arise and terminology remains inconsistent. This book presents a valuable contribution in the direction of greater clarity and consistency. Future editions may benefit from some additional features such as summaries at the end of each chapter with a ‘take home’ message and even a simple table where anatomical areas/networks are mapped against neuropsychological and behavioural functions they are involved in.
For this introductory textbook, the reader would not need to possess much prior knowledge in the field. In fact, exactly because of its clarity and succinctness it presents an excellent starting point altogether. For the same reasons, it will also function as a useful quick reference and indicate paths of further reading for pursuing a deeper understanding in aspects of CNS anatomy and functionality. The third edition is up to date with current research and each chapter contains extensive reference lists. All these reasons are likely to make it essential reading for trainees but the book may also appeal to several groups of professionals (academic or clinical) including neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists, neuropsychiatrists, neurologists and neuroscientists, especially early in their career.
