Overview

Many of the chemicals that allow our brains to function have become household names. These chemicals are the hormones and neurotransmitters that run our brain. They affect all aspects of our lives, from what we remember, how we make decisions and who we love to basic survival drives such as hunger, fear and sleep. In Overloaded, author Ginny Smith gets to the bottom of how these tiny molecules run our lives in ways we don’t even realise. She answers questions such as: * Is dopamine to blame for compulsive behaviours? * What role do cortisol and adrenaline play in memory formation? * Do ‘smart drugs’ exist? And should we be using them? * Is it our brain chemicals that cause us to be ‘hangry’? * How do hormones and neurotransmitters affect the trajectory of our romantic relationships? Beginning with background on the workings of the brain and nervous system, Overloaded delves into a range of key topics: mood, personality, motivation and addiction, memory and learning, hunger, sleep, decision-making, love, ageing, and health, with the narrative following Ginny’s journey of discovery as she meets the scientists at the cutting-edge of research into the world of neurotransmitters. Overloaded looks at the roles that neurotransmitters and hormones play in each aspect of our lives, and highlights the science that is starting to uncover unexpected connections between these crucial chemicals. For example, scientists have understood the role that leptin plays in appetite for a while, but they are now also discovering that it has a key role in memory and learning. Ginny Smith uncovers the importance of these molecules, and how much we still have to learn about them. This mind-bending, eye-opening book provides readers with an enjoyable route through the remarkable world of neurotransmitters, the chemicals inside each of us that touch every aspect of our lives.

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9781472969378

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Reviews

A delightfully fascinating and useful guide suitable for anyone who has been wondering what their brain is up to. --Robin Ince, The Infinite Monkey Cage Overloaded explains the breathtaking complexity and versatility of the chemicals that make us what we are, in a warm, engaging, and informative way. An impressive feat indeed. --Dean Burnett, neuroscientist and author of The Happy Brain Ginny's curiosity, engaging style and personal touches stir all the right brain chemicals. The book considers some weighty questions without ever becoming overloaded. --Dr Jon Sutton Managing Editor, The Psychologist Ginny Smith brings clarity with aplomb, revealing the chemistry behind how we sleep, what we fear, who we love and even what we remember. --New Scientist Books of the Year

Author Information

Ginny Smith studied Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, specialising in Psychology and Neuroscience, and now spreads her love of her subject as a science writer and presenter. Ginny performs a range of science shows about the brain at science festivals and teaches at the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Continuing Education. She is a presenter and producer for the British Psychological Society’s Psych Crunch podcast, and a regular on the Cosmic Shambles Network. For several years she worked with the Naked Scientists, and produced and presented a weekly science show for Cambridge TV. She loves to write science articles for a general audience, and has written several books for DK, targeted at a younger audience. Overloaded is her first title for a popular science readership.

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