An incredible and captivating guide to one of the most mysterious and least understood organs in our body

Modern neuroscience began with an explosion during railroad construction on September 13, 1848, in Vermont. As a result of the accident, a metal rod pierced the head of twenty-five-year-old foreman Phineas Gage, entering his skull under his left eye and exiting through the crown. Phineas not only survived but also rode a wagon to a stunned doctor. After the accident, he traveled for a long time, working as a stagecoach driver in Chile. However, his personality had changed so much that his friends and acquaintances unanimously declared, 'He's no longer Gage.' This incident clearly demonstrates the importance of our brain's contribution to shaping our personality. Over the next 170 years, scientists not only studied it exhaustively but also attempted to change human personality, eating habits, and sexual preferences through a variety of experiments. This is not to say they were unsuccessful. This book by renowned science journalist, science popularizer, and Enlightener Prize winner Asya Kazantseva recounts astonishing research, unusual experiments, and astonishing discoveries that have proven that our brain is as material as all other organs in our body. It can be studied and manipulated in various ways. But all this sometimes leads to completely unexpected consequences.

Abstract

Why do psychologists and neuroscientists compare falling in love to drug addiction? Can we live without a brain, or at least without some of its parts? Why do we need sleep? What should we do to get to work more easily and be less distracted each day? How does a German football team victory affect life satisfaction? How far is modern science from creating cyborgs that combine living organs with robotic implants? How do neurons work? Can we change some of our character traits through neurostimulation, and is it worth it? Asya Kazantseva's book is a true guide to the fascinating and incredible history of our brain, filled with fantastic experiments, unexpected discoveries, and astonishing facts. The book itself, despite its serious scientific significance, is written not only in an easy and accessible manner, but also with incredibly subtle humor, making reading a truly captivating experience.