Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind - Phantoms in the Brain

Science writing is not an easy job. And that is particularly why this book succeeds at two levels - content & lucidity.

Dr. Ramchandran is a very erudite man. But read this book & you'll find all the esoteric concepts of neuroscience are well within your grasp. Dr. Ramchandran visits & revisits the various parts of the brain & its interconnections in just about every discourse in this book, & by the time you're finished reading it, you'll have a good general idea of how it all works together.

But what if it does not? In what different ways can it fall out of place? This book is the doctor's account of his various cases, & as he dissects the minds of his patient (& as he jokingly mentions at the beginning of the book), the investigation is indeed reminiscent of a detective novel - Holmes', as the doctor would like to believe. Generally, the doctor would propose multiple solutions or hypotheses, & then clinically eliminate them given the our current knowledge of neurosciences. Where it is not possible to form a fact-based theory, he is not afraid to speculate based on pure reasoning, & it is kind of the irreverence that he brings to neurosciences that ultimately forms the basis of his astoundingly simple experiments.

The cases range from well-known aberrations to bizarre ones. The part-of-the-body & the corresponding brain map that he uses to explain phantom limbs reads phenomenally simple, except that nobody thought about that before the good doctor. You read about the left hand trying to strangulate oneself & the right hand coming to the rescue. You read about folks who have no recognition of the left side of their bodies & their worlds, about those that live in stunning denial of their paralyzed limbs, about memories that last a few minutes, about creating different memory objects for the same person, about visions of God, & laughter that kills.

If you're interested in neurosciences, you should definitely put this one on your list.

Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind

S!

`Phantoms in the Brain' is a highly accessible look at how the brain works via the study of various neurological disorders. It looks at topics such as phantom limbs, limb neglect, visual disorders, underlying consciousness and way more besides. The writing style is extremely easy to read and completely engaging. The author uses numerous anecdotes and fascinating case studies to illustrate various points and you could quite easily read this book for these insightful glimpses into the human mind alone, the fact that it is backed up by sound science and imparts knowledge is a happy bonus in some respects. There are some illustrations used throughout to clarify particular points and there are even some minor experiments you can try on yourself to see how certain aspects of your brain work. If the human brain has even remotely interested you, or if you're a fan of popular science books, then I'd suggest you read this book. It is clear to read, engaging and makes for fascinating reading. Well worth a look.

Dedicated to Stephen A. Haines whose reviews inspired me to read some amazing science books and who will be greatly missed.

Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.

"What we call rational grounds for our beliefs are often extremely irrational attempts to justify our instincts. "
Thomas Huxley
VS Ramachandran shot to prominence with his explanation for the "phantom limb syndrome" (which occurs when people continue to vividly experience the amputated part of their body). VSR found that the experience of the phantom limb arises because the brain area which normally controls the (now amputated) limb gets invaded by neurons from neighbouring regions of the brain. Thus when the region formerly devoted to sensing the arm is invaded by neighbouring neurons which respond to face stimulation, the amputee feels his arm when he is stroked across the face. A striking example of such remapping was found in a man who experiences during sexual intercourse the orgasms in his phantom foot - since genitals are in the brain's body map right next to the foot, the nerve cells from the genital area take over the region formerly occupied by the "foot neurons" resulting in migration of the orgasm into the phantom foot. This makes one wonder about the basis of foot fetishes in normal people....
There are many intriguing chapters on blindsight, the concept of "self" and the issue of qualia, so beloved of neurophilosphers. Where the book is at its strongest, however, is when R. draws directly on his clinical experience. He tells scores of amazing stories of patients with symptoms and syndromes which affected their perception, conceptualization, self-awareness and self-knowledge. This book succesfully shows us that conscious mind is simply a thin facade for the (mostly unconscious "self") - that there is a huge gray space between seeing and knowing, of which we are completely unaware.
One especially intriguing issue is that of religious experience. It has been long known that people with temporal lobe epilepsy often "find God". Temporal lobes of the brain are the interface between perception and action and what strikes R. is the closeness between emotional centers of the brain (such as the amygdala), centers devoted to memory (the hippocampus) and sensory areas of the temporal cortex. An epileptic fit might "kindle" - reinforce - connections between these brain areas so that communication between them would be increased and people would experience all events (as well as themselves) as imbued with deep significance. Everything in the universe would be seen as conscious and be "carried by a universal tide to the shores of Nirvana". In contrast, a patient with Cotard's syndrome feels so emotionally remote from the world that he will actually make the absurd claim that he is dead or that he can smell his flesh rotting. What this book provides us with, therefore, is an intimate peek into how fragile our reality constructs are and how grateful we should be to these few pounds of gelatinous flesh for the constant reality checks (and un-checks) that they provide us with.
There are other fine popular books by prominent brain scientists(Damasio, Churchland, LeDoux and Crick come to mind). I think Ramachandran surpasses them all with his extraordinary experimental ingenuity and curiosity which drive him far away from the ivory tower of clinical science and all the way down to the greener pastures inhabited by psychoanalysis and religion.

Whatever she did, Sandra Blakeslee did an excellent job in making the book readable and enjoyable

Dr. Ramachandran has the gift of genuis, to be able to notice significant things and make them comprehensible to the layman.

In reviewing some of his more interesting cases over the years, Ramachandran demonstrates just how specific defects of the brain can give us illuminating glimpses into the workings of mind. And so, in exciting, easy to read chapters like "The Secret Life of James Thurber" we encounter the mystery of man who -- due to vision problems -- begins to see his world inhabited by cartoon characters. The answer to why such a phenomenon would occur is is just as intriguing as Thurber's use of it in becoming a cartoon artist.

In "Through the Looking Glass" Ramachandran discusses what happens a stroke causes some of its victims to "forget" half their body.

In "The Unbearable Likeness of Being" Ramachandran turns his attention to a disorder wherein people come under the illusion that beloved family members are actually imposters. In this case, like the one before it, the nature of the "forgetting" says important things about how our brains process reality and what effect that has our sensations of self.

At the end of his book, Ramachandran joins the discussion of consciousness. It's a critical discussion because consciousness becomes to some subtext for soul. In this way, this book could serve as an excellent introduction to other works dealing with the "is consciousness an illusion issue"...excellent both because of its comprehensibility and also its commitment to the idea that in this field, as all other scientific endeavors, we need to let the evidence (and not our predispositions) direct us.

Neurology and the field's bizarre unsolved problems are some of the most fascinating and intriguing things. I love reading and pondering on such things as "the Phantom Limb" - experiencing pain in amputated limbs, "Somatoparaphrenia" - the perception that one's limb(s) belong to someone else, "Cotard's syndrome" - the perception that one is dead, "Anosognosia" - the inability to perceive that one has physical defects, dispite obvious evidence to the contrary. These are just some of the intriguing and bizarre neurological syndromes/problems discussed in this book by a pioneering Neurologist (V.S. Ramanchandran) who is credited with performing the world's first sucessful "phamtom limb amputation". Read this book to find out how he was able to do it not with medication or surgery, but with a simple box and a mirror. Some have told me that you have to have at least a masters degree in a scientific field to understand this book. I do not get that impression however. I do think that at least a rudimentary understanding of biology would be helpful, but it's not necessary. This book can be read and enjoyed by any reasonably intelligent adult.

Reading books like this and pondering on the material herein helps us to appreciate the complexity of the human mind.

phantoms in the brain is written by dr. ramachandran who is a neuro scientist. when i first picked up the book intrigued by its best-seller status and the attractive blurb, i wondered if i would comprehend half of what the good doctor had to say about the brain and how it worked. well, for one, you dont need to be a brain surgeon to be able to get into, comprehend and thoroughly enjoy this fabulous book that reveals fascinating insights into the work of the brain.

the best part of the book is that dr.ramachandran treats his subject matter with a very light touch and keeps the tone constantly entertaining, engaging and lucid. this is like listening to your favourite uncle or grandfather tell you exciting bizarre and out of the world stories, except that dr.ramachandran adds to it startling insights into the working of the brain.

dr. ramachandran explains how one doesnt have to be a reseacrh assistant in a modertn lab to try out some of the elarnings, giving examples of how one can experiment with things found around your living room. reading the book one feels that this is the kindly doctor who you remember very fondly as a child. dr. ramachandrtan displays a fabulous sense of humour.

Ramachandran is that rare human - with a great faculty for logic and the humility to accept that it doesnt explain everything. read this book to appreciate it.

The author V.S. Ramachandran, or Rama for short, utilizes what is missing to tell us about what is really there. He uses the presence of a small, mostly unnoticeable blind spot we all share as a window to inform us on the neurological processes involved with the mysterious process of sight. He utilizes knowledge gained from the abnormal behavior of patients whose brains are damaged in specific areas to tell us about the functions of those specific areas and what thought processes are related in the brain. This technique of introducing dysfunctions found in fascinating patients to involve the reader in a discussion of the brain is illuminating and helpful. This is an example of an effective book on popular science, where the author utilizes clear, easily understood examples that can be readily perceived by the reader to explain more complicated ideas. This wouldn't be enough if the complicated ideas didn't involve topics as fascinating as consciousness, `the self', religious belief, delusions, denial and other processes within the brain. If you are interested at all in how your brain works, then you must read this book.

This is one of the greatest neuro books you could read as either a scientist or just someone with a moderate interest in the way we work. When I picked up this book I was definitely the latter. The story of how a cardboard box and a mirror are capable of curing a baffling and painful disorder made me look at the brain in a whole new light. It went from a lump of flesh between your ears to this incredibly dynamic and seemingly autonomous creature within each of us. The book is written in a way that is understandable and entertaining to someone who hasn't taken a science class since 10th grade biology, while never talking down to the reader either.
When I picked up this book, I was a 19 year old kid waiting tables. Now I am a 23 year old neurobiology major at a major university assisting in major neurological research.
And for that, I have Dr. Ramachandran to thank. Even if you don't spontaneously transform into an enormous nerd like I did, I promise you you will always be glad you picked this book up.

Edit: two years after I wrote this review, I am in medical school and am seriously considering becoming a neurologist. I still regularly recommend this book to classmates and they always come back to me with enthusiastic rave reviews. In fact, I wrote about this book in my medical school application essay! Obviously this book can have some pretty profound effects.

As a great fan of Oliver Sack's similar books, I was fascinated and delighted to read "Phantoms in the Brain". Ramachandran is profoundly philosophical in his approach to mind/brain questions, rigorously empirical in his quest for answers, and tremendously skilled at conveying the breadth and depth of his work, and others', to an interested lay readership. PiB is popular science writing of the first order. In the introduction to PiB, Ramachandran remarks that one of the reasons he decided to write this book was because he felt a sense of responsibility to the taxpayers who ulitmately underwrite his research. Acting on this sense, Ramachandran has, in my view, emerged as one of the great popularizer's of science. In PiB (and elsewhere), he has given the public a deep and rigorous account of the workings of the human mind, to the extent (limited, as Ramachandran himself acknowledges) that they are currently understood, given his readers an enormous amount to ponder, and encouraged future researchers to join the fray. I hope other scientists, across the disciplinary spectrum, follow Ramachandran's lead. (Many, of course, have. How exciting it will be when so many more do too.) READ PiB!! And recommend it far and wide. I know I will.

One way of studying the brain is to destroy parts of it in laboratory animals, and see how performance is affected. Obviously we cannot conduct similar experiments on humans. We can, however, learn a lot about human brain function by studying the behavior of people who have suffered brain damage through trauma or disease.
Dr. Ramachandran spends his time studying such patients. His book, Phantoms In The Brain, is filled with case studies from his experiences. A significant section of the book discusses the problems of patients with phantom limb syndrome. Why does the brain continue to think an amputated limb is still present? When a patient's brain reacts as if an amputated hand is in a continually clenched position, causing much pain, how can the brain be fooled into unclenching the hand? Why does shaving sometimes feel like your amputated arm is being stimulated?
Damage to various brain centers creates an amazing number of strange maladies. Damage to a visual area can cause "blindsight', where the patient cannot see an object, but can point out where it is. And, yes, what about the limbic system? Damage to certain areas in this system can cause various religious experiences. Then there's anosognosia. A stroke may leave one whole side of a patient paralyzed, yet the patient thinks that there is nothing wrong with him.
This book is the perfect adjunct to reading a basic book on brain function. That's not necessary, though, as it is totally accessible to the layman, and should keep the reader spellbound. Such works also impress upon me that the brain is the mind. Damage to that vital organ can change who we are.

As an old machine designer I know that one way to find out what function a part plays in a machine is to take it out and see how the machine works without it. In this fascinating book Dr. Ramachandran does the same thing with the human brain, except in the reverse manner. He selects people with unusual sensory or operating defects and tries to assign their causes to specific physical damages that exist in their brains. In the process he does a marvelous job of explaining the convoluted workings of the human brain.

His examples are quite fantastic. A man who thinks his left arm belongs to a cadaver which the interns put in his bed and a woman who can correctly insert an envelope through a mail slot she cannot see are just two examples. It becomes obvious that the reality of the universe we perceive lies entirely in our brains. The unasked question then is, if our brains were different would our perceived reality also be different? If so, how can we be certain what is the actual reality?

A very readable book, making allowance for brain nomenclature, is a must read for anyone interested in the workings of the mind.

(The writer is the author of "The Way of the Butterfly: A Scientific Speculation on God and the Hereafter," and of "Christianity Without Fairy Tales: When Science And Religion Merge.")

There are clearly alot of books out there about the field of neuroscience; just a quick browse around the site and you can find everything from confirmations of metaphysical ability to nitty-gritty medical details about the human brain. When I set out to read this book, I was looking for something realistic but approachable, and that is exactly what I found. Ramachandran convinces me of his extensive experience while still keeping me entertained and enthusiastic about the topic at hand. One thing that was a bit frustrating was the tendency of the author to not be specific in language at times when it may well be crucial; when he refers to a "path" in the brain, it is sometimes unclear whether he means a certain set of synapses firing, certain groups of neurons working, or whether he simply can't be any more specific.
You will probably be excited and intrigued by the specific case studies that he mentions in the book; many seem unbeleivable, and that is really what gives the book its fascination factor. But at the same time, the author manages to slip in technical details and theories and keep your interest. The notes section, while appropriately supplemental to the text, can be a little repetitive. I found on more than one occasion that I flipped eagerly to the notes to get a fuller picture, flipped back, and found that the notes were saying something that was almost identical to the next sentence of the text itself.
All in all, I would say that this is a fine book for the curious layperson, however I can guess that a hardcore professional would find it to be fluff.

You don't even have to be involved in the healthcare profession, all you have to do is be interested in the workings of the brain.
This book is filled with examples of how the brain works - how a stroke will lead a woman to neglect and even deny the existence of of the non-functioning part of her body. How you can do experiments with your own "blind spots" and watch how your brain supplies the missing information. It explains how different traumas affect the brain and the outcomes of this trauma.
But it's told in an engaging humorous way, on a personal level by somebody who is absolutely fascinated by what he (and she) find out about the workings of the brain. You don't have to sit with the medical dictionary by your side, pausing every few sentences to look up a term. Medical terms are explained in laymen's language so you always know exactly what is being discussed.
But it's not an easily absorbed book. It makes you think about how psychology and physical trauma to the brain are interrelated.
It may, depending on your own history, make you nod in recognition at various diagnosis. You won't want to read this all in one setting because you will need time to process the information.
But if you're interested in how the brain works, if you're willing to stretch your reading a bit, this is a great book to read. I recommend it highly.

Rama is a brilliant, world renowned neuroscientist. Phantoms recounts personal experience and personal, sometimes humorous observations, and could be read for these qualities alone. It is a great book because of what it has to say. The subject is how the brain works from a conceptual viewpoint, with a focus on consciousness. Typically, the behavior of patients with brain damage suggest hypothesis, and these hypothesis are investigated by additional experimentation, as well as by brain imaging, which can detect which neurons are firing in response to stimuli. The physiology of the brain is considered, but only to the extent necessary to the narrative. A warning to the reader: the book is disarming in that some very difficult material is presented in a wonderfully simple and engaging style; this is not a book to be read in one sitting. I would have benefited from more material in the last chapter on what is the essence of conscious perception; while the ideas are exciting, I need more examples to pin them down. To nitpick, I think Rama. slights the artistic capabilities of animals, and is a little condescending, and perhaps not very knowledgeable, about psychiatry. He makes fun of evolutionary psychology, but also makes use of it.

Diabetes: Sugar-Coated Crisis: Who Gets it, Who Profits and How to Stop it

This is a marvelous book, far deeper than most pop science and much more entertaining than any book I've read that reaches for such profound truths. I've been a health science writer for years -- see my books The Art of Getting Well and Diabetes: Sugar-coated Crisis on the store - and I've always taken a mind/body/social/environmental view. I thought my holistic approach gave a pretty complete picture. But Phantoms in the Brain showed me there is far more.

V.S. Ramachandran was born in India and received his higher education in England. He is better able than anyone I've read to integrate Eastern and Western visions of reality.

The book actually moves from West to East. The author starts by looking at different structures within the brain, what they do, and how they interact. He shows us connections that only become visible when they go wrong, for example in phantom limb pain. About half the people who lose an arm or leg to surgery or accident feel the limb is still there. About half of those people experience moderate to severe pain in the missing limb. What could cause this bizarre and troubling symptom?

Ramachandran explains where phantom limb pain comes from and describes some creative ways he has tried to help the brain accept the loss of the missing limb and stop the pain. In the process, he demonstrates that all pain, indeed all sensations, are illusions. They are created by the brain from various sensory data, memory, thoughts and feelings, and may have very little relationship to what is happening in the outside world. It's science proving the Buddhist concept that the world is an illusion and explaining how the illusion is created. It's also very helpful knowledge for people living with chronic pain, which I write about quite often, as you can see at [...]

He explores many other fascinating brain malfunctions - brain-injured people who come to believe their parents are impostors, people for whom the left side of the world does not exist, blind people who can reach out and grab an object they are not consciously aware of seeing.

Most interesting to me is a chapter called "Is God in the Limbic System?" and the last chapter, "Do Martians See Red?" These chapters explore questions that come very close to the meaning of life. Our limbic systems (located in the temporal lobes of the brain) are apparently developed to "see God" or experience "Nirvana." You can create those experiences for someone by stimulating the correct part of the limbic system with an electrode. Why should this be? How did it evolve and what does it mean?

I have my own theory about this - that Nirvana is actually the way life really is, so of course our older "reptile brains" (the limbic system) can perceive it that way. But even if this isn't true, it's a fascinating question. The final chapter asks whether, if our sensations our illusions, our sense of being separate selves is an illusion too. This thought brings science and spirituality so close together that I feel I can embrace them both at the same time.

This is definitely a book worth reading. It's written at a fairly simple level, fully understandable by a high school graduate. The footnotes give a lot of other fascinating tidbits. In fact, I think I'll go read it again now.

All through graduate school I knew that neuropsychology was not my area. I couldn't remember the important parts of the brain or what they did very well (and I sometimes still can't remember) and it all just seemed so complicated. Since I know it's one of my weak areas I decided to read more neurology and neuropsychology works, and this was the first book I found. I'm glad that I started with this book - it's very easy to understand yet highly informative at the same time. It's written in a very entertaining way, like a good lecture. I think this would be a great book for a graduate neuro class or even a higher level undergraduate class. Keep in mind that it's very dense, meaning that it's packed with information and doesn't give the reader many breaks from being cognitively engaged. Interestingly some of the chapters are also thought-provoking on a philosophical level (as much of psychology is), so keep that in mind as you're reading as well.

Ramachandran's ability to captivate is partly due to his sense of humour, which in itself is a welcome change from the numbing factual recitations plaguing books about the brain. But the primary reason why the book is hard to put down is the investigative approach. Each chapter explores some fundamentally challenging behaviour of the brain, and since each of us require this information to a greater or lesser extent, the unravelling of the sometimes surreal situations and their resolution by simple experiments of logic is fascinating. Ramachandran uses very little other than an ingenious approach, and whether all of the basic experiments are solely his or not is irrelevant, since they are only the building blocks on which he bases his deductions. It could do with some colour illustrations, but it doesn't pretend to be that sort of a book. It's a good read, so just go and buy it!

This is without a shadow of a doubt a very important book, written with a lot of humour by a true humanist.
To name a few very important topics: this work proves incontestably that the brain doesn't work like a computer. It stresses the essentiality of an evolutionary perspective. It shows that the self is an illusion and that every human brain possesses a genetically fixed innate human body image. It shows that our observations are based on comparisons and not on absolute values.
It poses crucial questions like: is there a place for God in the brain and could we really surgically take God out of it?
And last but not least, it gives a solution for one of the oldest philosophical problems on which numerous authors spent thousands of pages: the body/mind problem. Prof. Ramachandran proves correctly that the body/mind duality is a translation problem.
These are only a few items treated in this superbly written rich scientific exploratory expedition of the brain. A must read.

Well, maybe it doesn't explain that much. But if you've ever wondered why your sister was an atheist and your brother claims to see visions, you'll find an explanation here. Dr. Ramachandran does go into great detail about the "oddities" we perceive in other peoples' characters, and how they may be explained by biology. I would have given the book four and a half stars if I had the option--the book would have lost half a star for redundancy. The author tends to repeat himself; however, it doesn't detract too much from readability (and enjoyability). This book is an easy read--I read it on a coast-to-coast airplane flight and it saved me from watching a mind-numbing (no pun intended) movie. I'd recommend skipping whatever fiction you were about to pick up, and exploring your brain a bit with this book. You'll never look at your brother, the prophet, the same again.

This work, from one of the top neuroscientists around, is a fascinating look at various neurological problems and their implications for brain function. The book starts out with a description of phantom limbs and associated pain, and it offers a very convincing argument for the underlying processes that lead to these phenomena. Then as we continue to read, other phenomena are outlined, followed by intriguing explanations. As a doctoral physical therapy student, this book never ceased to hold my attention. I think most people would find it to be very interesting, although certain references to specific brain structures may go over the heads of many readers (cingulate gyrus, amygdala, hippocampus). If you would like to get the most out of this book without a functional knowledge of neuroanatomy keep an atlas of the brain nearby so you can have a visual picture to go with the names of these structures. All-in-all this is a must read for anybody with an interest in brain function, as it contains solid, original insights into the workings of the human mind. The brain is the final frontier of science, and more advances are being made than ever in our understanding of its inner workings.

Ramachandran's ability to captivate is partly due to his sense of humour, which in itself is a welcome change from the numbing factual recitations plaguing books about the brain. But the primary reason why the book is hard to put down is the investigative approach. Each chapter explores some fundamentally challenging behaviour of the brain, and since each of us require this information to a greater or lesser extent, the unravelling of the sometimes surreal situations and their resolution by simple experiments of logic is fascinating. Ramachandran uses very little other than an ingenious approach, and whether all of the basic experiments are solely his or not is irrelevant, since they are only the building blocks on which he bases his deductions. It could do with some colour illustrations, but it doesn't pretend to be that sort of a book. It's a good read, so just go and buy it!

This is without a shadow of a doubt a very important book, written with a lot of humour by a true humanist.
To name a few very important topics: this work proves incontestably that the brain doesn't work like a computer. It stresses the essentiality of an evolutionary perspective. It shows that the self is an illusion and that every human brain possesses a genetically fixed innate human body image. It shows that our observations are based on comparisons and not on absolute values.
It poses crucial questions like: is there a place for God in the brain and could we really surgically take God out of it?
And last but not least, it gives a solution for one of the oldest philosophical problems on which numerous authors spent thousands of pages: the body/mind problem. Prof. Ramachandran proves correctly that the body/mind duality is a translation problem.
These are only a few items treated in this superbly written rich scientific exploratory expedition of the brain. A must read.

Well, maybe it doesn't explain that much. But if you've ever wondered why your sister was an atheist and your brother claims to see visions, you'll find an explanation here. Dr. Ramachandran does go into great detail about the "oddities" we perceive in other peoples' characters, and how they may be explained by biology. I would have given the book four and a half stars if I had the option--the book would have lost half a star for redundancy. The author tends to repeat himself; however, it doesn't detract too much from readability (and enjoyability). This book is an easy read--I read it on a coast-to-coast airplane flight and it saved me from watching a mind-numbing (no pun intended) movie. I'd recommend skipping whatever fiction you were about to pick up, and exploring your brain a bit with this book. You'll never look at your brother, the prophet, the same again.

This work, from one of the top neuroscientists around, is a fascinating look at various neurological problems and their implications for brain function. The book starts out with a description of phantom limbs and associated pain, and it offers a very convincing argument for the underlying processes that lead to these phenomena. Then as we continue to read, other phenomena are outlined, followed by intriguing explanations. As a doctoral physical therapy student, this book never ceased to hold my attention. I think most people would find it to be very interesting, although certain references to specific brain structures may go over the heads of many readers (cingulate gyrus, amygdala, hippocampus). If you would like to get the most out of this book without a functional knowledge of neuroanatomy keep an atlas of the brain nearby so you can have a visual picture to go with the names of these structures. All-in-all this is a must read for anybody with an interest in brain function, as it contains solid, original insights into the workings of the human mind. The brain is the final frontier of science, and more advances are being made than ever in our understanding of its inner workings.

Phantoms in the Brain is not only a marvelous narrative of the quirky facets of the brain and the mind, it is also a good illustration of the advances made in neurology over the past 30 years. Indeed if you take into account the extensive career of Freud, who was himself a neuro-anatomist prior to pursuing his medical profession, neurology and neuropsychology have well over a 150 years behind them.
In the book The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, written in the 1970 and reprinted a number of times since, Oliver Sacks illustrates peculiar neurological deficits arising from various insults to the brain, from tumors to strokes and seizures. Although he can pinpoint the areas of brain compromise that cause the patient's problems and, like Freud, give the reader some theory as to what aspect of the "self" is effected, he does little beyond this. In Phantoms of the Brain, Ramachandran recounts numerous colorful stories, but develops a theory of what level of brain function is the cause of the observed deficits, then proceeds to test his theory with further study, making the "self" a topic of research. In the true spirit of scientific research he publishes his findings and elicits input from fellows in the field. Where there is a discrepancy, he and others conduct further research to illuminate the findings and integrate the data into the overall theory. While he freely admits that a true science of the mind is in its infancy, he also points at the major advances made since Freud's work.
One of the things I found most unique about the author's style is that he points out the pertinent contributions in the works of other, often earlier researchers, particularly Freud. It seems to have become fashionable to treat Freud and his work with great disrespect, ignoring that he was a man of his times and very progressive in his thinking for that time. Not all of his work is useless, particularly that in neuro-anatomy, and as is often the case in science, as more research is done today it may be found that some of his theoretical work is less faulty than has been thought. Ramachandran gleans the traces of gold from the mine of Freud's work and integrates them into his own.
The author's writing style is conversational and clear. He appears to be a natural teacher, making the work obtainable for any person with average reading skills. It might make a good book for showing high school students how problems in science are outlined and tested, especially in health care sciences. It's colorful stories of people and their problems should arrest the attention of the high school student, perhaps orienting them to a career in science. For those interested in mind and consciousness, the book is a good example of the research being done by biologists-as opposed to artificial intelligence professionals and philosophers like Roger Penrose and Daniel Dennett-and makes it obvious that there is still a long way to go in this fascinating field.

V.S. Ramachandran's novel "Phantoms in the Brain: Probing Mysteries of the Human Mind" highlights cases of bizarre neurological disorders which demonstrate the complexities of the structural design of the brain and how it is able to help us make decisions, control emotions, and construct a body image. Ramachandran claims that these disorders help gain insight on how normal brains work. His studies confirm the idea that the self consists of an illusion from the interactions of many brain functions.

The first few chapters of the book talk about what are known as phantom limbs. Several amputees feel as if their limbs still exist even after they have been removed. They can also often feel pain and movement in the limbs. One account is about Mirabelle, who was born without her two arms, but always felt distinct "phantom arms" that seemed about six inches shorter than her artificial arms. Another story was about Tom, who had a phantom arm that allowed him to wiggle his finger, reach out for objects, and pick them up. Particularly interesting is Ramachandran's use of mirrors to investigate a number of phenomenon using the mirrors in order to `trick' the brain into remapping areas involved in perception. He tested his new theory by noting that the maps of touch-sensitivity in the brain are not entirely continuous. For instance, in the regions responding to the face are right next to those responding to the fingers. He discovered that when the face of a patient with a phantom arm was touched, the patient felt the sensations in his phantom hand. These few particular accounts draw the readers into the novel right from the start of the novel making you want to read more.

Next, "Phantoms in the Brain" discusses the visual system, particularly hallucinations. People who are blind can hallucinate vividly in their blind spots, and can often times seem very realistic. It is because of this that the author argues that these patients are living proof of the strength of the often-underestimated "back propagation" channels in the visual system.

This novel also proceeds to explain "blindsight" by detailing the case of Diane. Diane was blinded from a carbon monoxide poisoning, however she was able to grab objects and perform high-level complex activities with them without being consciously aware that she is performing them.

He also discusses a phenomenon known as "hemi-neglect" which occurs when patients suffer from right-brain stroke. This leads these people to neglect everything on the left side. If given a plate of food, they will only eat from the right side. They will also only comb hair on their right side and might even run into objects on their left side. The world view as seen by the two sides and how they combine to give you the view and perspective you see is especially interesting.

The phenomenon of phantom pregnancies is also discussed. Mary visited her doctor one day when was nine months pregnant. She felt that labor was about to begin because the baby seemed to have started kicking. While the doctor examined her, he found that her abdomen was enlarged and very low, suggesting that the fetus had dropped. However, the doctor was not able to detect a heartbeat in the fetus. It was then clear that Mary was experiencing a case of pseudocyesis, which occurs when women develop all the signs and symptoms of pregnancy, but are not actually pregnant because they either dread pregnancies or they desperately want to get pregnant. All things about her body seemed normal except that there was no baby. The only cure to this was to simply tell Mary that her baby died during birth when the doctor put her to sleep to deliver the baby. Once she was told this, her abdomen immediately started to decrease in size. This particular story was the most interesting to me, because it fascinated me how just an intense longing for a child could actually lead to low levels of both prolactin-inhibition factor and follicle-stimulating hormone, leading to maternal symptoms.

Ramachandran says about his patients, "What I didn't realize when I began these experiments is that they would take me to the heart of human nature. For denial is something we do all our lives, whether we are temporarily ignoring the bills accumulating in our tray or defiantly denying the finality and humiliation of death" Ramachandran became truly engaged in the lives of these patients, motivating to write these enthralling stories about them.

Towards the end of the novel Ramachandran brings up the God Delusion. He states that religious experience involves the limbic system. Apparently people can have spiritual experiences during epileptic seizures that originate from the limbic system. They often have a feeling of a divine presence and the sense that they are in direct communion with God. I thought it was ironic that this sense of enlightenment originates from limbic structures dealing with emotions rather than the rational parts of the brain.

The book is enthralling not only for its articulate, expressive descriptions of neurological phenomena, and their integration with mind philosophy and their relationship to physiological mechanisms, but also for how it represents Ramachandran, the enthusiast in search of the secrets of the human mind. Each chapter unfolds a new journey filled with new insights. For example, in one chapter, he writes, "This idea teaches us an important principle about brain function, namely, that all our perceptions - indeed, maybe all aspects of our minds - are governed by comparisons and not by absolute values." Besides enlightening drawings and images of the human brain, the text contains a number of figures showing optical phenomena that demand reader involvement. V.S. Ramachandran, a well-respected neuroscientist, is known for answering probing questions about the deep and strange mysteries of human nature. He does excellent work at explaining complicated problems of neuroscience to everyday readers. Ramachandran shows versatility in writing an intriguing account of a number of psychiatric disorders from an inquisitive neurobiological perspective. If your interest was evoked by this short summary, I would recommend that you pick up the book and read it.

The accounts of truly bizarre cases of patients suffering from various brain injuries are more entertaining than I expected. The marvel must also come from our natural curiosity about how brain works in general. And these cases, enabling scientists to run fortuitous control experiments on how the brain/mind works, are illuminating and command deep puzzlement at the same time.

The assembled stories are truly amazing, prompting a thoughtful reanalysis of the way our minds work and what it means to be human. Dr. Ramachandran's writing (or ghost-writing; I note there are two authors listed) is excellent, as well. He describes his cases with compassion and enthusiastically explores the possible meanings of his observations. He explores topics ranging from body imaging, the inner workings of vision, hemispheric specialization, to the neurological correlates to religious experience. Though I don't think his conclusions are always foolproof (and neither does he), there is a great deal of food for thought here, enough to keep you thinking about the nature of the brain and human experience long after the final page is turned.

It was in my high school anatomy class that I first heard of the phenomenon known as phantom limb. It confused me; I could not fathom how one could perceive a limb being there when it so clearly was not. If only we had read excerpts - if not the entirety - of Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind by Dr. V. S. Ramachandran and Sandra Blakeslee, then I would have begun to understand just how complex the brain really is. Dr. Ramachandran is an esteemed neuroscientist at the University of California at San Diego. His contributions to the field of neuroscience have cemented his place in scientific history. Sandra Blakeslee is a noteworthy science writer for The New York Times. The book provides the reader with chapters focusing on the various processes of the brain as well as the personal anecdotes and case studies of the people Ramachandran and Blakeslee encounter. Without being didactic, the authors have created a riveting book explains the science behind some of the bizarre tendencies our brains have. As they unravel the mysteries of the brain, we begin to slowly comprehend the fascinating complexities of our mind.
It is difficult to not be intrigued by the case studies presented in these chapters - like the woman who visualizes cartoons in daily life or the man who ignores the left side of his body completely - as well as the authors' philosophical analyses. For instance, one of the chapters focused on patients who experience phantom limb pain. John, a tennis player, had his left arm amputated almost three years prior to meeting Dr. Ramachandran, yet he could still feel that left arm moving, trying to serve tennis balls and wave for checks. Mirabelle, on the other hand, was born without arms. However, she had defined phantom limbs that gesticulated whenever she talks but remained rigid otherwise. Mirabelle and John feel pain in these phantom limbs even though they don't have a physical form. These phantom limbs are clearly an illusion, but why are they so vivid and realistic to these patients? Dr. Ramachandran created a "virtual reality box" to help enable patients with phantom limb pain perceive real movement. It consists of a vertical mirror that is placed inside of a lid-less cardboard box that has two holes in it through which an arm can go through. This will result in the "good" arm being to the right of the mirror and the phantom on the left of the mirror; this helps enforce the illusion of the phantom being present (46). Through many variations of this procedure with many different patients, Dr. Ramachandran noticed was that the brain is constantly updating our "models of reality" in response to all of the sensory input. In an experiment Dr. Ramachandran conducted, he discovered that one can actually project their sensations onto an inanimate object - in this case, a dummy hand (60). This led Dr. Ramchandran to postulate that our own body is a phantom, an image that is carefully manufactured by the brain for convenience's sake. Our own perceptions of ourselves can be modified instantly to fit whatever new sensory input is coming in. "...Your body image, despite all its appearance of durability, is an entirely transitory internal construct that can be profoundly modified with just a few simple tricks. It is merely a shell that you've temporarily created for successfully passing on your genes to your offspring" (62).
One particularly interesting aspect of the book was how Dr. Ramachandran and Blakeslee mention how our feelings towards concepts like that of God or our self-confidence can be pinpointed in specific regions of our brain - in this case, the temporal lobes. Medical students are taught that patients who have epileptic seizures in the temporal lobes are more apt to have an intense religious experience. However, a Canadian psychologist, Dr. Michael Persinger - who had no history of temporal lobe seizures - stimulated his own temporal lobes and managed to have a similar spiritual experience as the patients who had the seizures. Curious, Dr. Ramachandran designed another experiment: using a GSR machine (these are used to measure the changes in skin resistance), he attached harmless electrodes to the hands of two patients who displayed symptoms of "temporal lobe personality disorder." He then tested their responses to various words and images, some in relation to spirituality. What he discovered was a huge increase in responsiveness to religious words, especially in comparison to the other categories where there was a noticeable decrease (186). What these studies definitively prove is the effect of seizures on personalities, resulting in the overtly spiritual feelings in some of the cases.
Phantoms in the Brain transcends the field of science and branches into something that attempts to define and understand the `how' aspect of our existence. It consistently and questions our mortality, our perceptions of not only ourselves but of others, as well as our consciousness. One of the patients that visit Dr. Ramachandran suffers from Capgras delusion - where one regards people with whom one is close to as imposters. Arthur, after suffering from an accident which resulted in amnesia, can no longer identify his parents as his parents. He confirms that they look like his parents but he views them as imposters. We like to believe, as humans, in individuality and being separate from one another and in the idea of having a soul that is distinctive from our body but in all likeliness, this is not the case. We place so much trust upon our intuition, but what if that very intuition is flawed?
Dr. Ramachandran and Blakeslee know how to narrate. The first page alone so quickly grasped my full attention that I was half-way done with the book in what felt like no time at all. Their straight-forward explanations of the various structures in the brains in conjunction with the humor and witty insight work really well. For example, the chapter entitled "God and the Limbic System," includes Dr. Ramachandran's side-notes alongside his acute observations: "Almost every culture that we know of has some form of cooking, however primitive. (Yes, even the English)" (184). However, the book, while flowing for the most part, at some points felt stiff and forced - particularly towards the end with the final chapter. I was expecting a strong finish, but what I read was redundant and anti-climactic. While the case studies in the later chapters were interesting, I did not enjoy his analysis of them compared to the earlier chapters. It was not the content of them as much as the way they were written - it felt more formulaic. That being said, I do not think that it was a major distraction from the book; it was more of a mild annoyance.
Overall, Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind provides great insight into the inner workings of our brain. Dr. Ramachandran and Blakeslee teach us, through the 257 pages, to always question - highlighting how that is integral to making progress in research. They bring enthusiasm and excitement back into the field of science that is reminiscent of the earlier days of research a la Watson and Crick, and inspire the readers. A book that not only educates readers but also inspires them to learn more is absolutely brilliant. Phantoms in the Brain gets four out of five stars for its ability to pique genuine curiosity and interest in the delightful combination of science and philosophy.

I bought this book not long after my father was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme. Like most people, I had no idea what a brain tumor really is and especially what a GBM IV is. To this day I wish I had never learned that term.
But this book was a great help to me as I tried to learn more about the brain's structure and how it works. This is an easy to read book with some very helpful illustrations. It demonstrates the brain's functions by showing its quirks. It is well written and easy (and surprisingly FUN) to read.
There is also a helpful bibliography and suggested reading list at the end of the book for those who wish to delve more deeply into the subject. But it is important to know that you don't need any background at all in the brain to enjoy this book.
I had no understanding of brain structure beyond what the doctors told me in describing the locations of my father's tumor. This book helped me understand the changes in my fathers abilities and behavior as the tumor destroyed different portions of his brain until it finally ended his life.
Honestly, this is a very good book and I think you will get a great deal from it.

...I think Ramachandran is the most brilliant, creative Neuroscientist in the field. Sure, he is very popular, along with many other science writers. But if you aren't paying attention, you might not see that he is to our field what Mozart, Picasso, and Einstein were to theirs. And this book is both a masterpiece and a magnum opus. Here are some reasons to be so keen on Ramachandran:
Many, many neuroscientists pick "safe" topics and stick with variants upon a theme all their lives. The work is often valuable, but it is not exactly akin to a spectator sport. Ramachandran, in contrast, chooses "sexy" topics to study.
Most neuroscientists write primarily for their scientific peers. Ramachandran (with Blakesee) has written a book that is at once valuable to his peers and fascinating to everyone. And if you've ever seen Ramachandran speak (either to scientists or the general public), you know what I'm talking about, and you know that the book is not a fluke.

Ramachandran does not think like other neuroscientists. Most neuroscientists pick a topic or area of the brain, and then do systematic, parametric, sensible experiments to map and test the minute details of their theory. There's usually lots of data collection and data analysis. But Ramachandran has a knack for creating "breakthrough" experiments routinely. In these experiments, the answer to a sexy question comes instantly, dramatically, and powerfully. Such creative, intuitive genius is extremely rare. Trust me, we'd all like to do science this way.
I hope that we can appreciate that Ramachandran incorporates a wide variety of worldviews as he creates gem after gem. He is from the great culture that was and is southern India; he is a medical doctor and neurologist; he is a reknowned perceptual and cognitive neuroscientist who trained with master academics in England; and he is passionately insightful about art. I've heard people compare Ramachandran to mystics, healers and others. The cult status is of course a little ridiculous. But the enthusiasm is understandable. And the book is wonderful. I recommend it!

V.S. Ramachandran ["Rama"] and Sandra Blakeslee make an earnest, plain language attempt to explain clinical research in mind-body situations. In general, they succeed well, although going to extremes in their efforts. The issue is the brain's response to many forms of trauma. Why do amputees, even people born without complete limbs, sense the presence of missing organs? Why do many patients suffering from stroke-induced paralysis insist they are still fully capable of performing physical acts? Why do so many people insist they've had a "religious experience" in the face of all logic? Rama has pursued these questions for many
years and offers us a comprehensive review of his findings and his explanations for these phenomena.
It is easy to see from this book why so many people seek Rama's counsel when suffering from neurological disorder. His unpretensious style, abstaining from complex technology when simpler forms of therapy are at hand, his undogmatic approach obviously grant him a superb "bedside manner." He is evidently not above abandoning traditional techniques or philosophies in approaching medical problems. His openly confessed desire to unravel mysteries that have eluded other researchers gives him an edge in arriving at solutions, no matter how bizarre the solutions appear. The resulting narrative is fresh and stimulating for all readers.
Rama's many cases presented here demonstrate how much more flexible the brain is than has been conceded by most other researchers. If adult brains can "remap" sensory paths in the face of devastating phsysical injury, then many ideas about the evolutionary development of the human intellect must be reconsidered. Rama, unlike most of his colleagues, is willing to examine the evolutionary roots of the mind in assessing his findings. He accepts a strong genetic basis for our cognitive skills, still aknowledging the impact of conditioning. It's a middle-of-the-road stance, somewhat marred by his unwarrented assault on evolutionary psychology. One can only wish that he'd also cited some of the recent research on the Hox genes which lay down the rules for body formation. If the Hox genes map arms, legs and ears, there is likely some impact on how the brain maps the body, as well. Rama ignores this situation, an amazing omission given his neurological foundation.
His more serious stumbles occur in his attempts to equate neurological phenomena with philosophical ramifications of his work. His addressing of cognitive science issues tends to erode much of his presentation. In reflecting how the brain deals with physiological subjects, he reverts to discredited traditional terms in dealing with areas he hasn't fully resolved. He finds "robots" in the mind which act as "alter egos" and unconsciously direct the brain's responses to unusual physical conditions. Rather than confess to ignorance of how these unexplained operations occur, he finds it more compelling to fall back on the "zombie" interpretation, which has no validity.
He compounds this misdirection in his concluding chapter ["Do Martians See Red?"] with outmoded references to "qualia." In short, "qualia" is a term applied to undefinable, but commonly accepted personal perceptions of the world around us - "red"or "taste" or "centres of gravity." We all think we can define these manifestations, but on closer inspection, we realize these are indefinable. We think we know what they are, but they elude fixation. For Ramachandran to persist in touting "qualia" as a meaningful term is a surprising lapse in an otherwise excellent book. There's a wealth of information in this book, eloquently presented, but the value here is in the research. His interpretations should be viewed with suspicion.

The 17th-century natural philosopher and mathematician Rene Descartes is well known for the statement that opens his proof of the existence of God: "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am).
Descartes had long sought a starting point for philosophy that could not be doubted, and the fact that he was thinking was what he settled upon.
But now that I've read "Phantoms in the Brain", I wonder if perhaps the Moody Blues' version might be closer to the truth: "I think, therefore I must be. . . I think..."
"Of course you are, you bright little star. . . to suit our GREAT computer, you're magnetic ink!"
-dubhghall

The brain is a most fascinating organ, and this book opens a window on some of its features by illustrating what can happen as a result of diseases or other events. Despite the seriousness of the topic, the book is entertaining, even though stopping for a moment to put yourself in the shoes of the people to whom these events happen is immediately sobering. The author has built the characters he describes by mixing together several patients (at least, this is what the author reports), which I thought was a good thing because I imagined that the patients would otherwise be very recognizable.

I know too little about the brain to be able to judge the book on its scientific merits, but this is an overall good read.

This is easily one of the best non-fiction books I've read in the past year. I am a student of psychology, with an emphasis on both neuroscience and cognitive science, and I can say that this book should be very interesting for both the layman and professional alike. The author's style is very easy to read, and he provides just the right amount of technical information to inform the non-scientist and yet not bore those who are well-educated in the fields he discusses. I highly recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in the way the mind works (pretty much anyone who's got one, that is).

As part of a class assignment for an introductory neuroscience class, I was required to read reviews of neuroscience books written by my classmates. A fellow student wrote a review of Ramachandran's Phantoms in the Brain, and I was so impressed by the review that I chose to read it myself. The book did not disappoint as I found it to be far superior to any science book that I have ever read and it ranks among the top for my favorite books of all-time.

Often I have found that science is a polarizing subject, especially in print material, as there is rarely a compromise between material that is excessively technical or overly simplified. As a senior biomedical engineering major I struggle to find books that are targeted to my type of audience as I have an above average understanding of many scientific principles but have an advanced mastery of very few. Ramachandran's book serves to not only target an audience that includes myself, but it is written in such a way that an extraordinarily broad readership can engage with the text. He does a masterful job of incorporating the scientific material that makes his work so fascinating but presenting it in such a way that it is very accessible and enjoyable to read. He seamlessly integrates humor into the text in a very appropriate manner, which is quite refreshing in a science text as the subject matter does not usually lend itself well towards such insertions. Also included in the text are several visual experiments you can perform on yourself that are very enjoyable and give the text a practical and tangible application.

Ramachandran is from the University of California where he is a professor and the director of the Center for Brain and Cognition. He seems to fit a different mold compared to the stereotypical view of a scientist as he is constantly reinventing himself and provides numerous philosophical references in his text concerning consciousness, the self, and mechanisms of belief. Much of his work is quite radical and represents the frontier of brain science. Some of the most interesting discussions of the text revolve around a spiritual center of the brain and the phenomenon of phantom limbs.

The book is divided into 12 chapters exploring a variety of brain topics that all generally serve to help him advance his thesis that our world as we perceive it is a heuristic created by the brain to help us interact with our world. Pain, as he argues, is simply an illusion created by the brain and mapped to parts of our body to allow us to deal with stimuli. The brain is constantly creating maps that determine how we perceive ourselves and our environment. Individuals with phantom limbs have an error in the brain such that the brain map has been created incorrectly and is mapping to a region that does not actually exist. Ramachandran even proposes, maybe facetiously, "perhaps we are all hallucinating all the time and what we call perception is arrived at simply by determining which hallucination best conforms with the sensory input". He also says, "pain is an opinion on the organism's state of health rather than a mere reflective response to injury" and "your own body is a phantom, one that your body has temporarily constructed for convenience".

All of the information in this book is extremely interesting and can easily be applied to our everyday lives. The topics included in the text do a marvelous job of answering many of the innate curiosities that humans possess regarding their own existence and state of self. It is truly one of the most rewarding reads I have every come across, and I am very thankful to have read my classmate's review that turned me towards this book.

I rarely recommend purchasing texts because it is rare to find a book worthy of taking up valuable space in my room, but this is certainly one worth every penny. I recommend the text to anyone of any background and any intelligence level that has a curiosity about how the brain functions to create our consciousness. Do not be intimidated by the subject matter and do not associate it with other inaccessible science books because everyone can take something away from this text. If nothing more, Ramachandran's writing will challenge your concept of self and encourage you to reexamine your beliefs.

In Phantoms of the Brain V.S. Ramachandran paints a picture of the duality of neuropathology that arises between the troubling or inspiring stories of people who have had their lives decimated by damage to their brain or senses and the fascinating inferences one can draw when you carefully study just how the brain both succeeds and fails at its job. In its time of publication 10 years ago these stories must have been nearly unbelievable, and even today -- where many of these anecdotes have filtered their way into the public consciousness via explosions in pop psychology -- the sense of both compassion and indomitable curiosity that Ramachandran's writing exudes can inspire someone to look further.

Phantoms of the Brain is divided into twelve chapters each diving into the plight of a particular subject (or group) and the peculiar facet of our mind's operation that underlies the situation. Notable examples are the numerous cases of phantom limbs (the titular concern) treated using mirror trickery, the oddly specific and vivid hallucinations people with visual scotomas sometimes accrue, the crushing completeness of mental neglect, and the incredible link between mind and body. Throughout this all Ramachandran both provides clear lay explanations and ample contextualization to the larger, drier, but more precise world of academic papers (referenced in 35 pages of footnotes).

More personally, Ramachandran uses neuroscience as a vehicle to explore the physical foundation of human moral or philosophical concerns. He makes these expeditions under welcoming auspices of patient, scientific curiosity but manages to eventually end up adding extra dimensions to these questions, leaving the reader no longer just able to question what self is, but what parts of our brain support it; no longer able to just question the existence or meaning of god but whether these very questions are somehow a quintessential, biological part of human existence. Ramachandran's treatment is gentle but designed to inspire further questioning as he simultaneously expresses his own views on the softer side of these questions which becomes a respectful and peaceful mix of Eastern philosophy and appreciation of the beautiful complexity of our reality.

In the end, Phantoms is a fantastic combination of harder scientific observation and softer scientific thought. Ramachandran's writing exemplifies the curiosity that drives our investigation and delivers the musings, beliefs, and infant hypotheses that live inside a scientific mind though rarely are shown outside of the very most daring of conclusions of academic papers. This serves as a wonderful lay foundation to the neuroscientific experiences Ramachandran has had a part in and thus leaves the reader with a curiosity toward the unknown ignited and appreciation of that 3lb blob of grey renewed. One only wishes it were written in light of today's knowledge.

This book deals with every aspect of human mind and thinking. I read his
Reith lectures before this. While "The Emerging Mind" has also great essays
on different aspects, "Phantoms in the brain", is more leisurely, replete with
those terrific, speculative yet simple, experiments. Like Dr. Ramachandran
himself characterises the universal quality of the most creative insight
with a "why didn't *I* think of that!", these experiments are so creative, that
you tend to make this rhetorical remark after he designs his experiments following
the case-study description. And told with such humour!

He builds up the knowledge on the subject with these experiments on troubled
people ending up speculating on subjects such as genius' qualities, savants
and God. Overall an inspiring and awesome read.

(Hearing him speak is a treat too! One can sense the passion behind his inquisitive
mind)

Dr. Ramachandran offers insight into the mysterious ways our minds work, and the sometime bizarre symptoms presented (phantom limbs, God complex, blindsight, and body image just to name a few). The book is concerned primarily with brain problems from a neurological perspective and is a valuable contribution. There is an excellent synthesis in the form of a DVD by NOVA called, "Secrets of the Mind."
Both the book and the DVD are highly recommended if you're looking for an accessible title in this subject area.

Phantoms in the Brain is a summary of V.S. Ramachandran's experiences as a researcher in the field of neuroscience. In Phantoms in the Brain, Ramachandran combines personal anecdotes, well-designed experiments, and educated conjecture in an entertaining, well-written narrative suitable for anyone interested in discovering more about how the human mind works.

Phantoms is laid out in an easy-to-follow, consistent manner. In general, each chapter introduces a new case study, and Ramachandran recounts his clever experiments to burrow into the cause and nature of his patients' problems. He then often expands into a brief, layman-friendly description of the related neuroanatomy, which is typically supported by helpful illustrations and diagrams. Ramachandran then sometimes delves into conjecture into how his findings explain human nature. The layout of the book is excellent, as the chapters are clearly divided, allowing the reader to advance at his or her own pace.

Review

One of the most remarkable aspects of Phantoms of the Brain is how vividly Ramachandran brings his patients to life for the reader. In fact, "patient" is a quite sterile term for how Ramachandran interacts with them; he becomes their friend and leader on his quest for insight into their neurological abnormalities. Ramachandran does an excellent job of describing their mental deviations, from amputees with "phantom limbs" to stroke victims with "hemi-neglect," who ignore everything in half of their world (field of vision). He also takes care to keep his phraseology on the underlying brain anatomy as accessible as possible to the casual reader while avoiding neglect of important biological aspects important to the case studies. Ramachandran comes off as a natural teacher; his explanations are excellent. His style is fast-paced and entertaining while taking care to provide ample detail so that the reader understands the subject matter at hand. Often, he mixes humor and experiments that the reader can perform (such as blind spot experiments) into his discussion, making the book genuinely interactive.

Even so, the most impressive quality of Phantoms in the Brain is not its style but its content. The experiments Ramachandran conducts on and with his patients are ingenious; they benefit the patient while being both simple to perform and genuinely insightful into the underlying neuroscience. For example, in one case, Ramachandran presents an arm amputee who complains of persistent pain due to his phantom fist being clinched tightly and permanently. Ramachandran develops a clever device using only a box and mirror to relieve the patient's pain. His ingenuity and resourcefulness often prevails where many doctors' failed previously. However, his account does not stop with the improvement in condition of the patient; he looks into the science to explain the changes that occurred in both the neurological abnormality's formation and in his treatment.

Such experiments lead Ramachandran into one final frontier: the very nature of the self. As he put it, "what I didn't realize, though, when I began these experiments, was that they would take me right into the heart of human nature" (137). And Ramachandran does not hesitate to offer his opinion on what it means to be human. In this commentary on what it means to be human lies Phantoms in the Brain's one flaw: Ramachandran often overextends himself on his philosophical conjecturing, leading to premature and sometimes contradicting conclusions. Early on, Ramachandran declares that our inner being, "despite all its appearance of durability, is an entirely transitory internal construct that can be profoundly modified with a just a few simple tricks. It is merely a shell that you've temporarily created for successfully passing on your genes to your offspring" (62). He counts that "our sense of having a private nonmaterial soul... is really an illusion" (256). However, in the same breath he supports the notion that self-awareness is "no trivial detail, no minor by-product of mindless, purposeless forces. We are truly meant to be here" (257). He also extols the work of Shakespeare, yet admits that "the proverbial monkey with a typewriter" (197) could not approach his genius; an abstract "spark" is needed.

This philosophical conjecture does not severely hamper the effectiveness as the work of a whole. Ramachandran often includes quotes from sources as wide-ranging as Ovid, Shakespeare, and Nietzsche. These contributions, including an interesting retake on Freud, inspire the reader to think above and beyond the function of the brain to what it means to be human. He encourages the reader to think for himself, saying "the moral of this tale is that you should not reject an idea as outlandish simply because you can't think of a mechanism that explains it" (223-4). Regardless, the philosophical musings should not and do not take away from what Phantoms in the Brain truly is: an excellent display of V.S. Ramachandran's gifted and innovative research methods and his incredible results.

Bottom Line

Phantoms in the Brain is highly recommended for anyone interested in the field of neuroscience. In fact, Phantoms is a great read for anyone involved in experimental science of any sort, from economics to biology. His methods and explanations are brilliant in their effectiveness and simplicity, and Phantoms in the Brain describes them well. Every field of science could learn from this account of Ramachandran's studies.

This books presents detailed and well documented transcripts of clinical trials in the areas of neuroscience/ology. A few interesting experiments involved subduing a patients phantom limb pain, in this case the sensations of their own fingers clawing into their palm, by constructing a simple box paneled with mirrors that would provide the visual of having two hands to a hand amputee patient. Another case is in plasticity where the rubbing certain areas of a patients face with a Q-tip invoked sensations of the Q-tip rubbing along the now amputated hand. This is also the first book I have read that had so many interesting and insightful footnotes.

I got this book after watching talks given by VS Ramachandran. His presentations were always fascinating and thought provoking so naturally I had to get this book. "Phantoms in the Brain" does not disappoint utilising pathologies of the brain to obtain an understanding into the nature of consciousness, the human mind and neurology. The book was not full of jargon and the lay person should be able to understand the concepts in question.

For those who are not familiar with what scientists understand about the nature of the human mind, this book will make you realise that we know so much, yet so little, and I doubt you could finish this book without it changing the way you view yourself and the world.

It's not great. The author is not entirely scientific in describing the conditions and/or his solutions. It gets repetitive and boring pretty quickly. Some cases are interesting, but I'd rather read about it in a newspaper article than buy a book and invest time and money in it.

I first heard of VS Ramachandran when quite by accident I tuned into his giving the 2003 Reith Lectures on BBC Radio 4 (like PBS). His entertaining & instructive style prompted me to tune in a few nights later for the next instalment, and then to go and seek out his published work.
Phantoms in the Brain is an excellent introduction to practical studies of phantom limbs syndrome, and thus into the workings of the human brain and the concept of body imaging.
As a direct consequence of reading this book, I then eagerly awaited his next offering, the transcript of those BBC Lectures.

So do you want to understand more about the inner workings of the human brain? Are you interested in science in general? V.S. Ramachandran provides and enthralling look at the human mind and the uncharted territories ahead for understanding how it works. Much in the spirit of "The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat" by Oliver Sacks, this makes the case that there are volumes still to discover in the field of neurology. I found myself referencing and quoting this book repeatedly,I couldn't put it down...I even brought the book in when I was getting a hair cut and convinced my hairdresser to buy the book! If you want to discover deeper knowledge, "Rama" gives extensive footnotes with further details.

V.S. Ramachandran's book is a great introduction to various topics in clinical neuroscience and a must for anyone looking to gain more insight into the inner workings of their nervous systems. A great read, quick to finish as well. The topics are conveyed in such a way that even the most novice of readers can access the complex topics still being probed by researchers today.

"Wow!" On almost every page, I sat up and said, "No kidding!"
The book is heavy on experiment, and cautious on theory (as it should be in such a new field.) But Ramachandran's theories have that "ring" of truth to them, especially since they are rooted in a deep knowledge of how the brain actually works.
This book has caused me to re-eaxmine my OWN thinking -- not just about the brain, but my own THINKING. Amazing.

This book has a wealth of case studies that provide an awe inspiring look into the workings of the brain. Often the only way to gain new insights into the brain is when something goes wrong. Ramachandran does a wonderful job of presenting his collection. I first got this book as text during my undergraduate degree. I still delve into it for interesting reading and for its usefulness. Ramachandran is more technical than Oliver Sacks writing style in Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat, but it is still very readable and thought provoking.

If you're reading this review, then you're wasting your time by not reading the book. A friend gave me his copy of the book and I literally could not put the book down. Later, I decided that I wanted a copy for myself.

The book is extremely well written; not only Ramachandran is one of the leading scientists, he also possesses an affinity for writing. It even gets better, you will be delighted by his sense of humor which adds to the joy of reading.

The most important aspect of the book is of course the science content. While one or two sections might seem a bit technical (I am fairly certain anyone can handle those sections), the science in general is well explained and is highly awe spiring. I will never forget my excitement and sense of wonder while I was reading through this book. If you want to have an idea of how we see, how we think, how our brains operate then this book is highly recommended.

Reading this book gives one a foundation on which to build the complete picture. Yes, the book is not giving the reader the complete picture. But it does provide the foundation. Now what the reader needs to do is study the books on the Buddhist teachings of emptiness by Guy Newland or Jeffrey Hopkins. After having done this, now one is able to connect the dots, build the complete picture. What is very odd is how authors of this discipline, with all their studies, with all their research, have not yet arrived at this juncture. Hmmmm....it truly makes one wonder.

I have a background in computer science and stumbled upon this book in my research of artificial intelligence. What Ramachandran presents here is hands down the most interesting science material for the lay person that I have yet to read. I have read many non-fiction books about quantum theory, artificial intelligence, information theory, futurology and space, yet the implications of the disorders presented in this book are potentially the most astonishing, particularly the left-side neglect cases. I especially liked how Ramachandran went through Freud's findings on the un/sub-conscious and related the brain disorders to extreme cases of Frued's defense mechanisms such as denial, distortion, projection.

From the front cover to the very last page, Dr. Ramachandran presented the science of the brain at a level even a child could comprehend. This is a book someone could read multiple times and still learn something.

I had to read this book for school but it is probably one of the best non-fiction books I've read. It is all about neurological disorders and if this is something you are even remotely interested in I would recommend it!

Put into layman's terms this book clearly identifies the newest topics of nueropsychology. With his wit and humor Ramachandran illustrates these topics as so the average joe could understand. If you are just starting to topple this field this is just the type of book I would recommend starting with.

This is the single most enlightening book I have read in the last ten years. Only 'The Anthropic Cosmological Principle' by Barrow and Tipler comes close. This book not only provides a very easily assimilated introduction to neuroscience, but amazingly give you the impression that you might actually be able to contribute. Dr Ramachandran's experiments, while some require expensive equipment, mostly simply require two things: 1) knowledge of the operation of the currently known processes and structures of the brain. 2) an intelligent observer.
Read this book. While it can not and does not claim to contain all the answers, neverthless you will be a whole lot closer to understanding the human condition after reading it than before.

I don't write a lot of reviews on the store, but I had to add my five stars for this book. It's easy for the lay person (like myself) to understand, but at the same time quite deep and thought-provoking. I couldn't put it down, and after reading it, I want to read it again (rare for me)! I've recommended it to all my friends and family.

This book was not only informative in a scientific sense, it was fascinating on a personal level. There are so many things about the brain, and hence the self, that remain mysterious. This book delves into some of the more puzzling aspects of the brain. One will come away with a child's sense of wonder at all of the new and thought provoking information contained within this book. I recommend it to anyone with scientific curiousity, or to those searching for the "self".

Recent trends of neurology being close to spirituality as reflected in the works of Sir Charles Sherrington, Gray Walter and others finds a new perspective in this book. Ramachandran has hinted at this closeness at various places of his book and gives a clue that the day is not far when many spiritual problems of man can be found to have a deep relation with his neurological constitution.
Its refreshing to see a new light thrown on this subject. Ramachandran joins class with very few who endeavoured to join this quest. This book is a must for all who want to probe into the deeper truths of life.

I'm a huge fan of Oliver Sacks. This book kept appearing as a recommendation on all the bookstores & online bookstores I've come across. While phantom situations is an extremely interesting topic, I found this book very dry compared to Oliver Sacks' books.

I'm not trying to say 'Don't read the book'. It's still an okay book because it's an interesting topic. But, it was tough reaching the end of the book -- I probably only kept reading in hopes that something amazing would come forth...

I'm a mean reviewer, I know. I'm not from the medical field whatsoever, so maybe that's why I don't have a deep appreciation for this book. The book is worth a chance if someone gives it to you, but it's definitely not worth the full retail price.

I don't write a lot of reviews on the store, but I had to add my five stars for this book. It's easy for the lay person (like myself) to understand, but at the same time quite deep and thought-provoking. I couldn't put it down, and after reading it, I want to read it again (rare for me)! I've recommended it to all my friends and family.

This book was not only informative in a scientific sense, it was fascinating on a personal level. There are so many things about the brain, and hence the self, that remain mysterious. This book delves into some of the more puzzling aspects of the brain. One will come away with a child's sense of wonder at all of the new and thought provoking information contained within this book. I recommend it to anyone with scientific curiousity, or to those searching for the "self".

Recent trends of neurology being close to spirituality as reflected in the works of Sir Charles Sherrington, Gray Walter and others finds a new perspective in this book. Ramachandran has hinted at this closeness at various places of his book and gives a clue that the day is not far when many spiritual problems of man can be found to have a deep relation with his neurological constitution.
Its refreshing to see a new light thrown on this subject. Ramachandran joins class with very few who endeavoured to join this quest. This book is a must for all who want to probe into the deeper truths of life.

I'm a huge fan of Oliver Sacks. This book kept appearing as a recommendation on all the bookstores & online bookstores I've come across. While phantom situations is an extremely interesting topic, I found this book very dry compared to Oliver Sacks' books.

I'm not trying to say 'Don't read the book'. It's still an okay book because it's an interesting topic. But, it was tough reaching the end of the book -- I probably only kept reading in hopes that something amazing would come forth...

I'm a mean reviewer, I know. I'm not from the medical field whatsoever, so maybe that's why I don't have a deep appreciation for this book. The book is worth a chance if someone gives it to you, but it's definitely not worth the full retail price.

If you are not a science guy but want to learn about brain, then this is it. This book deals with phantom limbs (superficial limbs felt by patients who got them amputated). The cases Ramachandran talks about is astonishing and amazing and I hope it to be a wonderful read.

I bought this when it was "on-hold" at our library. I was not disappointed. Besides the insights one gets from the case studies AND carefully designed experiments and easy to do demonstrations, the anecdotes and literary quality of the text make it very engaging. The text is not interrupted with needless references and the very susbtantial endnotes provide a treasure of knowledge and wisdom for the technically inclined. Its also a very nice case study on how interesting and impactful science can be done.

This very able neuroscientist clearly and concisely explains some of the stranger phenomena that follow from the damaged human brain. A highlight comes when he discovers a way to lessen (or eliminate) amputees' phantom limb pain with a jerry-rigged mirror in a box.
Brilliant.

If you enjoy Oliver Sacks you will truly enjoy this book. Ramachandran's text takes medical anomalies and explains them in a way both health professional and laypersons can appreciate. I highly recommend it for students of allied health sciences as a means to increase understanding and acknowledgement of the patient's experience.

This was a very fascinating read. Sheds much light on how fragile our sacred notions can be when examined in light of the effects of brain disease and brain injury and their effect on how their victims experience the world.

A top neurologist discusses what we know about how the brain works, based on his studies of "phantom limbs" and other conditions. This is a very interesting book, probing the mysteries of memory, consciousness and what the "self" is.

This is one of the best science books I've read in a long time. Far from being dry and boring, the stories of his patients are truly amazing and the prose flows so well that it reads like a novel.

Yes, there is some wild speculation here but Ramachadran clearly points out when he is doing so, and personally I thought it made the book more interesting than just laying down the facts.

Had to read for a psych course- probably one of the best books I've ever read for a class. Very interesting and personal. Hits a lot of very interesting topics in a reasonable amount of detail. Often humorous or touching, rare qualities in science writing.

I've thoroughly enjoyed reading Ramachandran's book. Prior to reading this, I'd no exposure to brain-science. Kudos to the author for making an esoteric subject like neurology so accessible to the average reader. I wish I had read this material earlier.. Highly recommended and this has greatly stimulated my interest in brain science.

I am an IT professional working for an MNC.When I first looked at this book, I was not very sure if i can understand the complex subject the book dealt with.
But now,after having read the book, I feel its just great.
Some of the incidents in the book are surprising and thought provoking.
Very interesting narration about how the brain works, human vision and why we behave in a particular way.
Now, everytime i come across the word 'phantom' I recollect this book.

He does a great job at describing and explaining all sorts of psychological abnormalities. Whether you are a psychology major, anatomy major, or just plain interested in the subject, this book is a must get! Even my college uses this book in their biopsychology and abnormal psychology courses.

What Pantanjali did for Yoga on the metaphysical level of reality Dr. V.S. Ramachandran has done for savants in search of the Truth on the material level.
What an awesome book!
It helped me accelerate my understanding of 'Human Behaviour' and I would put it on the same level as "I AM THAT" a spiritual masterpiece by Shri. Nisargadatta Maharaj.
Thank You...

This book gives some really technical insights into the working of the brain accompanied by various illustrative diagrams. The theory is backed by some real life examples and experiments which makes the reading all the more interesting...

I couldn't put this book down - it is an enthralling read from start to finish. I would love to see more from these talented authors. The stories are fascinating; the writing is superb and (I was surprised to find) very funny. I love this book.

Dr Ramachandran's ability to clearly illustrate the workings of our complex mind is nothing short of incredible. The case studies presented are intriguing and the whole book in general kept me turning pages.

The most mind expanding book I've ever read. It answered so many previously unfathomable questions about who we are and what "meaning" is. For the greatest impact I recommend reading it together with "The Selfish Gene".

I am a long-time admirer of Dr Ramachandran's work (and Sandra Blakeslee's writings).

Dr Ramachandran's work is frequently references in literature about neuroscience.

I found the book first in Islamabad, where it had been published in New Delhi and sold for P Rupess 295. The illustrations in that edition were slightly smudged.

I ordered it from the United States hoping that the illustrations would be clearer. However, in this paper back edition, they are not that much clearer than in the Indian edition.

The wonderful content is the same, of course. Perhaps a hard back edition would have better reproduction of the illustrations.

Guy B. Scandlen

An interesting book containing some nice facts and intriguing cases but with a lot of padding. It felt like the author was being paid by the word. Books by Oliver Sacks are a better coverage of the subject of the mind because they are much "meatier".

While this book may not be for everyone, I believe that most people will have a hard time putting it down. Ramachandran's ability to explain absurdly complicated concepts with simple language and simple methods is just one of the facets of his genius. After readking Phantoms I burned through at least 4 other books he wrote, but still Phantoms is by far the best.

Enthralling book full of heart gripping stories.

One of the problems I found while reading these clinical tales is that the authors very rarely discuss their experiments regarding the patient's illness, even less so their dianogsis and the curing methods. It's amusing to learn all that happens in the lab,but as the audience has already sympathized with the patients, they want to learn more about what become of them. Ramachandran provides wonderful detail of illness, his own inventive, mostly effective experiments. And he does apply philosophy and psychology as well(though of course, not in detail and not all correctly).

There's one bit that I find particularly boring and exaggerated. I still think he takes denial paralyed patients too seriously in neurosceince. It requires too much delusional imagination to contradict the visual signals.

However, the rest is fun and educational. Suitable for a general audience with no background knowledge of neuroscience. Somehow I prefer it to Oliver Sack's The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.

4/5 recommended