Aranzio's Seahorse and the Search for Memory and Consciousness : The Search for Memory and Consciousness

In the final volume of his historical neuroscience trilogy, prize-winning author Alan J. McComas recounts the research that led to recognition of the hippocampus, a structure deep within the brain, as being primarily responsible for memory. This intriguing and exciting account includes observations on patients with memory loss as well as insights from ingenious laboratory experiments. Using several arguments in support, McComas suggests that it is the electrical impulse activity of neurons in the hippocampus that creates consciousness and that the latter is, in fact, the ever-changing sequence of short-term memories. He show us how a deeper knowledge of the hippocampus can help us develop a fuller understanding of Alzheimer's disease and other disorders of memory and behaviour, including 'long COVID. Lavishly illustrated, Aranzio's Seahorse will be of value not only to neuroscientists, psychologists, and philosophers but to all those interested in the workings of the brain and in the history of its exploration. Prologue Contents Note to Reader Introduction The Journey that Led to the Book The Undisturbed Seahorse A Portentous Crossing Graduate Studies at Montreal Neurological Institute Bold Surgeon and Compliant Patient Triumph and an Unprovoked Attack The Path to Psychiatry A Trip to Australia Taking Stock Visual Focus Enter the Giant Sea Slug Human Neurons— Success and Disappointment Understanding Pain Return of the Slug Polish Insights Continuing Excitation in Norway Revelation on Gower Street Mathematics and the Hippocampus 1980: Departures Hidden Faces More than a Headache Unexpectedly, a Grid A Telephone Call Death and Disorder Jennifer Aniston Discovered New Cells or Not? Neurons that Glow Summary Preamble Definition of Consciousness Theories of Consciousness Recognition of the ‘Limbic System’ Anatomy of the Limbic System Clinical Evidence of Hippocampal (Limbic) Involvement in Consciousness Animal Evidence Consistent with Consciousness Generation in Limbic System (rather than Cortex) Additional Evidence against the Cerebral Cortex as Alternative The Evolutionary Argument The ‘Minimum Time’ Argument for Consciousness Clive Wearing and Henry Molaison Reconsidered Role of the Amygdala Role of the NonHippocampal Cortex Back to the Hippocampus The Numbers Game Speculations on Spatial Maps and Other Issues Final Note: The MultiTasking Hippocampus Recapitulation and Synthesis Epilogue Acknowledgements Completing a neuroscience trilogy, prize-winning author Alan McComas recounts the research that led to the hippocampus, a structure deep within the brain, as being primarily responsible for memory. The intriguing and exciting account includes observations on patients with memory loss as well as insights from ingenious laboratory experiments. Using several arguments, McComas suggests that it is the electrical activity of neurons in the hippocampus that creates consciousness and that the latter is, in fact, the ever-changing sequence of short-term memories. With its many illustrations and referenced sources 'Aranzio's Seahorse' will be of value not only to neuroscientists, psychologists and philosophers but to all those interested in the brain and in the history of its exploration. Its relevance for a fuller understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders of memory including 'long' COVID is obvious