In This Guide
The Brain and Neuroscience Basics
The Functions and Structure of the Brain
The Latest Brain and Neuroscience Research
Blogs about Brain and Neuroscience Issues
Teaching Kids and Teens about the Brain and Neuroscience
Improving Brain Fitness and Health
Buying Neuroscience Textbooks and Other Brain Reference Material
Community Links in Science of the Brain
Science of the Brain: How the Mind Works
It may seem like the Internet has an overwhelming number of links but it’s really quite simple compared to the human brain, which has roughly 1,000 trillion connections—about the same as the number of leaves on all the trees in a rainforest. Nevertheless, trying to navigate the Web in search of precisely what you’re looking for can make you feel like you’re lost in the forest. There are countless sites on brain structure, brain function, and brain fitness. You’ll see brain images of every type as well as photos of actual human and animal brains from every angle and perspective. There are plenty of teaching tools including games, experiments, labs, and lesson plans. You’ll even find a host of blogs about the brain. Using this guide to brain science on the Web can give you a “head” start.
Educators: Click here to sign up for our education newsletter.
Educators: Click here to sign up for our education newsletter.
Expand All Guide SectionsThe Brain and Neuroscience Basics
The U.S. government declared the 1990s the “Decade of the Brain,” and the amount and ... read more »
The Functions and Structure of the Brain
There is such a wealth of information on the Internet on the topics of neuroanatomy (brain ... read more »
The Latest Brain and Neuroscience Research
Although scientists are only beginning to scratch the surface, new technologies are helping to ... read more »
Blogs about Brain and Neuroscience Issues
If you don’t have the time or interest to pore over abstracts or dryly written academic ... read more »
Teaching Kids and Teens about the Brain and Neuroscience
More and more teachers—from elementary to college level—are posting their curricula ... read more »
Improving Brain Fitness and Health
With life expectancy on the rise, it’s becoming increasingly important to preserve cognitive ... read more »
Buying Neuroscience Textbooks and Other Brain Reference Material
Not only can you find brain models of varying complexity but the range of different types of “neuro” texts is even greater. There are books about the brain for laymen, students, scientists, and researchers; textbooks and journals; and human interest stories about disorders, behavior, and unusual brain and mind phenomena. To help you sift through it all and find the resources you’re looking for, we’ve rounded up the best sites on the Web to purchase brain models, neuroscience texts, and even brain-shaped gummy candy.
Dulcinea's Insight
- The old adage that you can’t judge a book by its cover may sound cliché, but it’s a good rule to follow when searching for books about the brain and neuroscience on the Internet. You’ll find books filled with brain teasers, books containing first-hand accounts of people living with brain abnormalities, books written for the casual scientist with a curiosity about the brain and neuroscience, and books targeting physicians or medical students with terminology so complex it will make your brain spin. So before you whip out your credit card and prepare to make a purchase based on an interesting-sounding title, be sure to first determine the book’s target audience.
- If you’re looking to avoid the boredom of dry, scientific information about the brain, try instead searching for books or DVDs that tell stories. You’ll find a great deal of valuable scientific information embedded in interesting and fascinating recounts of real medical case studies or personal accounts of brain-related phenomena.
- Be sure to do some comparative shopping before purchasing items such as brain models. If your objective is to study neural networks, for example, you’ll need to spring for a fairly pricey model. But, if you’ll be using the model just for demonstration, there are plenty of excellent replicas available for a fraction of the cost.
Dulcinea's Picks
Neuroscience Arena
sells books, e-books, textbooks, and journals for researchers, instructors, and students. Browse the large selection of behavioral, cognitive, developmental, and social neuroscience texts, or sign up for the free e-newsletters announcing the release of new books and journals.
CogNet
, a site of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has an extensive collection of books, journals, conference materials, and other brain and neuroscience reference materials from The MIT Press. Click on the title of a book for a brief summary and the table of contents. In order to purchase items, you’ll need to subscribe to CogNet ($195/year).
Brain Fitness Channel
offers an annotated list of books on the topic of brain plasticity and its effects on behavior, mental state, and conscious thought, along with links to purchase each book. The books provide compelling information for laymen about the mind and various ways in which we can control and alter our own thoughts, feelings, and performance.
The Centre for Neuro Skills
has a store stocked with DVDs, newsletters, brain models, and journal articles. One caveat: the focus of all resources is traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, many include valuable information about the brain. Be sure to read the brief product summaries before making a purchase to ensure that the resource includes the desired topics.
Red Reef Publication’s “Resources for the Brain Sciences”
provides a wealth of resources with products specifically designed for use by students of every educational level from elementary school to graduate and medical school. Find brain models and dissections, books, study guides, and software. On the lighter side, the site also offers a selection of brain novelty items.
Neuro-Mart
sells a vast assortment of products that, aside from a nice selection of brain models, are more for fun than for education. Looking for gummy brains, a brain Frisbee, DNA earrings, or a brain gelatin mold? Navigate directly to Neuro-Mart to access all sorts of fun brain items.
© 2010 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
