Broken Brains

This is a great little book, which manages to be brief without being superficial, and accessible yet maintaining scientific rigour, written in an entertaining narrative style.' - Andrew Young, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, University of Leicester, UK "Ian Mitchell presents a novel approach to understanding the brain and behaviour. The anecdotes often refer to his wife's practice as a neurosurgeon, and there is a sense that the reader is sitting down over a cup of tea and chatting with the author." - Alexander Sumich, Reader in Biopsychology and Mental Health, Nottingham Trent University, UK

Drawing on real life examples and anecdotes from neurosurgery and neurobiology, this engaging introduction to brain function and dysfunction is ideal for those interested learning more about the brain in an accessible way. Ian Mitchell brings biological psychology to life with examples of real life applications of the theory.Our brains do amazing things: they determine our actions, our thoughts and our feelings. We may not always realise it, but the brain is central to the way we experience life. So what happens when brain circuits break? What are the consequences for our behaviour and personality? From Parkinson’s disease to Tourette’s syndrome, and depression to psychopathy, Broken Brains reveals the mysteries of brain function – and dysfunction. In this no-nonsense introduction, Ian Mitchell takes you on a tour through the sometimes devastating, and sometimes bizarre, effects of what happens when brains break down. Highly readable and packed with anecdotes and real examples from neurosurgery, it brings biological psychology to life, making it the perfect introduction to understanding the brain and what happens when things go wrong.