Networks of the brain /

"We live in the age of networks," this book begins, but not really--we live in an age of recognition and analysis of networks. From amazingly intricate biochemical clockworks of individual cells to the extraordinary complexity of ecological systems, networked interrelationships both surround and lie within humans. From ancient natural systems to electronic social networks, one thing unites all levels of organization--the human brain, which allows scientists to study the dynamic architecture of natural and artificial networks, and is itself the most fascinating network anywhere. Artificial neural networks are computational models used to understand complex relationships and identify patterns in data. They are modeled after biological neural networks that are almost infinitely more complex, but with modern computational tools, network theory is now being turned around to analyze brain complexity. In this book, Sporns (Indiana Univ., Bloomington) provides an eloquent, nonmathematical overview of brain complexity, including functional neuroanatomy and its evolutionary origins, dynamic activity patterns, the role of environment in shaping neural networks, and the functional effects of development and disease. This engaging, comprehensive analysis will surely spark new dynamic activity in neuroscience research. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and researchers/faculty. M. S. Grace Florida Institute of Technology