Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
and recovered with little apparent injury. Yet, in temperament he was
not the same man; before the accident he had been polite and reliable,
whereas aft erward he was careless and off ensive.
Although scientists have studied the brain for many years, no one
knows exactly how it works. Some people are generally happy, some peo-
ple tend to be gloomy, and some are susceptible to serious problems such
as depression or drug addiction. Th ese diff erences in personality refl ect
some kind of diff erence in the brain. While the exact nature remains a
mystery, researchers who study the chemistry of the brain have uncov-
ered interesting clues. Th ese clues led to the study of signals and mes-
sages occurring in the brain, and the chemicals involved in transmitting
them. Th is chapter focuses on research on these transmissions and the
role they play in certain disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, and
drug abuse.
On the left (A) is a profi le of the human brain, and on the right, a magni-
fi ed view (B) of a slice through the brain as indicated by the dotted line.
The anatomy of the brain consists of two hemispheres, each covered
with multiple layers of important cells known as the cerebral cortex.
White matter, which consists of “wiring”—projections from one cell to
another—lies beneath the cerebral cortex, along with some groups of
cells that perform various functions. The ventricles are cavities through
which runs a substance called cerebrospinal fl uid, which helps protect
and cushion the delicate structures of the nervous system.
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