The root of thought : unlocking glia - the brain cell that will help us sharpen our wits, heal injury, and treat brain disease

Until recently, neuroscientists thought glial cells did little more than hold your brain together. But in the past few years, they've discovered that glial cells are extraordinarily important. In fact, they may hold the key to understanding intelligence, treating psychiatric disorders and brain injuries and perhaps even curing fatal conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lou Gehrig's Disease. In **The Root of Thought**, leading neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Koob reveals what we've learned about these remarkable cells, from their unexpected role in information storage to their function as adult stem cells that can keep your brain growing and adapting longer than scientists ever imagined possible. Ranging from fruit flies to Einstein, Koob reveals the surprising correlation between intelligence and the brain's percentage of glial cells - and why these cells' unique wavelike communications may be especially conducive to the fluid information processing human beings depend upon. You'll learn how crucial glial cells grow and develop... why almost all brain tumors are comprised of glial cells and the potential implications for treatment... even the apparent role of glial cells in your every thought and dream! Cover Contents Chapter 1: Cities and Highways Chapter 2: Dust Settles on the Battlefield Chapter 3: I Sing the Body Electric Chapter 4: Meet the Astrocyte Chapter 5: Riding the Calcium Wave Chapter 6: Hey Neuron, It’s Me, Glia Chapter 7: Developing Relationships Chapter 8: The Time Machine Chapter 9: Sing a New Song Chapter 10: Albert Einstein’s Abundant Astrocytes Chapter 11: I Dream of Glia Chapter 12: Gliadegenerative Disease Chapter 13: Don’t Insult Me Chapter 14: The Seething Breeding Glioma Chapter 15: Cities and Highways Revisited Acknowledgments About the Author Index A B C D E F G H I J-K L M N O P Q-R S T V W-X-Y-Z 1 The adolescent genome "Ninety percent of your brain cells are glial cells - and, until recently, scientists thought they did little more than hold your brain together. New research reveals that they might hold the key to understanding intelligence, treating psychiatric disorders and brain injuries, and maybe even curing Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lou Gehrig's disease. In The Root of Thought, brain scientist Andrew Koob reveals what we've just learned about these remarkable cells, telling an amazing scientific story that is transforming our understanding of the human brain."--Jacket Superanno In The Root Of Thought, Brain Scientist Andrew Koob Reveals That Story. You'll Learn What Glial Cells Are, How They Function, And How They May Help Explain Everything From Intelligence And Creativity To Imagination And Dreams. Then, Koob Reveals The Tantalizing Clues About Glial Cells That Could Eventually Lead To Cures For Brain Injury, Psychiatric Disorders, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig's Disease, And Even Brain Cancer.