Mind Over Gray Matter: Practical Neuroscience from the Decade of the Brain John D. MacArthur Mind Over Gray Matter presents compelling research mostly from the "Decade of the Brain," the nationwide program in the 1990s whose goal was to introduce the general public to cutting-edge research on the brain. Once Upon a Time Thousands of generations ago, something happened that was unprecedented in the story of life on Earth. Somewhere in the evolutionary backwoods of humanity, a threshold was crossed. The capacity of the human brain surpassed the ability of its genes to store information: not only store, but integrate and manage that information to accelerate its natural inclination to learn and grow. In our time, this evolution is undergoing another quantum leap, an explosion of self-knowledge as the brain turns attention upon itself. The ancient mandate "know thyself" has led us inside the brain to a new dimension of self-awareness. Your sense of who you are emanates from a vast inner galaxy of brain cells that harmoniously interact to orchestrate the symphony of consciousness. Home to your mind and personality, your brain houses your cherished memories and future hopes. It gives you purpose and passion, motion and emotion. Your amazing brain senses its environment, recalls experience, imagines possibility. It reasons and learns, animates and astounds – ever seeking to understand itself and its place in the web of life. A Know Brainer You have been entrusted with the care and feeding of this most complex and extraordinary creation. But what do you actually know about your brain? These pages contain practical neuroscience you can use to help achieve the best performance of your life: information with the potential to make your life worth living, your job worth doing, your relations worth having. So please dive in. Get to know your brain: the nourishment it needs, the exercise it craves, the rest it requires, the protection it deserves. top Table of Contents Readers Write "In all my research yours are some of the more valuable articles, because you put things in more concrete terms. They give the reader that 'hands on' sense... You write so fluidly, the average reader will have no trouble following along with your thoughts." "Your particular section on the human brain is probably one of the most useful pages I have found, EVER. It is easily understood, yet scientific and well-documented. That is how to pass on science to the public. You can quote me for saying that." – Bjorn Madsen, journalist and health writer (Denmark) "I've learned more tonight about what might be going on with my 18-year old daughter suffering from debilitating neurological problems from reading your compilation on the brain, than I have from many, many, many frustrating visits with doctors here in Texas. Thanks for some clarity and hope derived from all the information you put forth." "Great work. How you are able to take such complex stuff and break it down to easily understood bits is awesome." "I can't tell you how long I've been looking for such a comprehensive article on the correlation between diet and mental clarity. Thanks VERY much!" "I stumbled on you site researching cortisol and its effects on memory. I have a strong family history of Alzheimer's and found your site very interesting and well written." "I really appreciate your approach to the subjects you've highlighted! I experienced a delayed concussion a while back... As I read your website, I can identify with so much – the need to rest the brain; how stress impacts the ability to think... Thanks again and with much appreciation." "Congratulations for your great work! I am working in euglycaemia and chronic ailments, and I plan to make several references from your Human Brain. Once again it is a marvelous work." "I teach in the School of Education at a university in Oklahoma. My specialty is brain research and its various implications to the classroom context. I have appreciated your straightforward, concise approach to potentially complex topics. The way in which you wrote the topics is, I believe, easy for the average layperson to understand and apply. I'll be sending my students to his pages more often. Thank you for adding to the body of knowledge in such a fascinating area!" "I found your articles very interesting and helpful for my own study on the brain and nutrition. I am a high school teacher."