The Brain

Inspired by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) exhibit in New York City, Brain: the Inside Story, this book guides readers through a remarkable exploration of evolution that incorporates physical and behavioral ancestral records, compares the human brain's evolution to that of other mammals and organisms, and describes how sensory perception engages the nervous system, influencing brain development and evolution. In examining the brain's molecular responses, reflexive reactions, emotional responses, and memory, DeSalle (curator, Sackler Inst. for Comparative Genomics, AMNH) and Tattersall (curator, emeritus, anthropology, AMNH) use clear examples from the exhibit as well as humor. They cover the impact of language and linguistic development, the visual system, the hominid's use of tools, the development of complex social communities, and the importance of a diet enriched by animal fat and protein in enlarging the hominid brain.