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The Spark of Life: Electricity in the Human Body [Frances Ashcroft] on leondumoulin.nl *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. THIS IS BRAND NEW BOOK.
Table of contents
I think I would like to own this book-I got it from the library-because there is so much information that will be hard to remember. I would like to refer to it often. Maybe I will get a copy for Christmas??? Jun 06, April rated it really liked it.
Jodi Picoult · A Spark of Light ()
Ashcroft covers an impressive breadth of the history and science of electricity. The beginning and the end chapters are the most interesting for me as they survey the initial discovery of electricity in bodies twitchy frogs and electrifying monks and criminals; and the ac, dc wars of Tesla and Edison, etc. The middle bulk of the book covers current scientific knowledge with some forays into clinical studies, and a few occasional wanderings through history as well. By necessity this middle Ashcroft covers an impressive breadth of the history and science of electricity.
Topical Indexes
By necessity this middle part is a bit lengthy and at times boring, and I wish it had the energy of the chapters at either end of the book, but I think it's just the dryness of the material for a scientific layperson such as myself--it gets a bit 'textbook-y' and not for lack of skill with writing about the material by the author. Oct 22, William Rawson rated it really liked it. Frances Ashcroft is a Professor of Physiology at the University of Oxford and an award- winning scientist and author. The Spark of Life is comprised of an introduction, twelve chapters, a host of footnotes, suggestions for further reading, and a comprehensive index.
Each chapter is opened with a quote, lyric, or some prose which the Dr. Each chapter is opened with a quote, lyric, or some prose which the author uses to tie in the subject matter for the ensuing few pages. These cover notable figures and show the many, step-by-step discoveries that lead mankind to the understanding of electricity that we have today. Then it moves on to ground the reader in the underlying mechanics of bioelectricity and the inner workings of the cellular and neural systems of information transfer.
Each time that Dr. Ashcroft describes how a fundamental mechanism works in healthy individuals, she proceeds to further convey understanding by elucidating the myriad of things than can go wrong with that mechanism, and what symptoms those malfunctions and dysfunctions produce. Examples of fainting goats, synaesthesia, pigs that overheat themselves to death, and many other rarities covered in popular media are explained at a simple and yet comprehensive level. The book contains 31, clear, black-and-white images interspersed within the text. These range from copies of old prints, photographs of ancient relief sculptures, instructional scientific line drawings, optical illusions, to transmission electron microscope images, and are always relevant to the text.
She has clearly been intimately involved with the course of the research being discussed and repeatedly gives first-hand accounts of relevant techniques, laboratories, people and experiments. Despite the considerable challenge of explaining advanced concepts like cellular ion channels, neural synapses, and resting action potentials, her deep understanding of her field allows her to describe these phenomena in terms that are accessible to the layman.
Interspersed with these fundamental paradigms of cellular function are numerous fascinating examples that consolidate the ideas being explained. Stories about electric eels, torpedo rays, puffer fish venom, the electric chair, deadly nightshade, Venus flytraps, fruit that confuses your tongue and makes bitter and sour taste sweet, and why hot, cold and pain feel so similar, to name but a few, kept me turning pages eager to learn more. Her enthusiasm is further espoused by her creative integration of poetry, quotes, prose and pictures into what is already a compelling read.
Her references to the movies Star Trek and Aliens were a delight to read and forged a rapport that humanised her more as a fellow geek, than the stereotypical monotonous, droning professor. I found her chapters on the senses particularly interesting. While sight and hearing have been covered excessively as topics, she also went into some detail on taste, smell and touch.
These were conceptually fairly new ground for me and I felt that, although it was only a brief covering of the topics, I learned a lot as my exposure to them was so minimal.
My only point of frustration was with the layout of the footnotes which appear as an in- text superscript number referring to the relevant note which can be found in the Footnotes section at the back of the book. It very much broke the flow of what was otherwise an absolute pleasure to read. The nature of some of the content did mean that there were a few sections that required some focused attention to understand, but these were significantly outweighed by many interesting stories and factoids that made this book one I would recommend to those who are interested in the topic, or those who are generally curious about the world and enjoy a broad general knowledge.
Sep 11, Sadaf rated it liked it. A book about the critical role of ion channels in regulating the cellular activity of various organisms, big and small. Ashcroft has worked in this field for a long time, and, in fact, discovered the potassium ATP channel's role in insulin secretion.
The first few chapters of the book delve into the history of various discoveries relating to electrical stimulation of muscles and nerves, and how they helped lay the foundation of our understanding of the role of minute electric currents in A book about the critical role of ion channels in regulating the cellular activity of various organisms, big and small. The first few chapters of the book delve into the history of various discoveries relating to electrical stimulation of muscles and nerves, and how they helped lay the foundation of our understanding of the role of minute electric currents in regulating the opening and closing of ion channels.
The rest of the book is about the workings of ion channels at the cellular level such as the action potential , types of channels sodium, potassium, calcium , their role in plants such as the venus flytrap and animals such as the electric eel. Like so many other popular science books, it also has a lot of anecdotes about how many of the pioneers in this field had to struggle for years to make their discoveries.
It is a light read, and a good introduction to this fascinating field for anybody who is slightly familiar with ion channels, but maybe slightly disappointing to those who already know the basics. Jun 15, T Seamus rated it it was ok. It's clickbait. Give me a break. I was expecting a new theory, hypothesis, idea etc.
Just a summary of basic neuroscience and some trivia. I was expecting something more. Sep 11, Steven rated it it was amazing. This book provides valuable information on epilepsy. I also like how it describes the procedure which involves the severing of the Corpus Callosum, in how upon going through such a procedure, individuals could not tell their left hand from their right hand and also possessed issues in getting their fingertips to feel whatever they touch.
The author does a good job illustrating in verbiage this procedure, and further states that such a procedure is unlawful in many countries as it should be. I This book provides valuable information on epilepsy. I would recommend this book to any serious reader or researcher. Ini buku tentang apa sih?
I was looking for a book about human electricity.
- The Spark of Life;
- The Spark of Life — Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics.
- Once Bad Intentions: An Urban Love Story of Triumph and Redemption!
- Runaway Bullet (Runaway series Book 3).
- A Cold Dark Place.
The transference of that energy into usable forms other than digestion and hormones. Instead, I heard funny things about myopic goats. And beyond that, I remember nothing else. Why am I so unimpressed? Why did this book feel rushed? May 03, Samantha Rizzo rated it liked it. I really wanted to like this but was underwhelmed.
The topic itself is interesting but I found the structure of the book off-putting. Overall, many interesting tidbits dispersed throughout but certainly not my favourite execution. A bit slow to get into and an ocassional inaccuracy but otherwise a worthy read if you need refreshing or are not familiar with such topics.
Oct 23, Lissa rated it did not like it. I had the audio version and between the dry writing style and the narrator's voice and inflections, I could not get through this book, even tho I find the topic fascinating. Aug 26, Julia rated it it was ok Shelves: abandoned.
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History of the science of studying electricity in the human body. Not so interesting to me, though I did learn a few things! Oct 09, Ollie rated it liked it. Great book and a fascinating read about the nervous system and the scientific history related to different aspects of its discovery. Apr 14, Mr Richard P Hill rated it it was amazing. Amazing book! Wish I had read it before my bioscience course. Ashcroft really brings the subject matter to life and writes in a very approachable way.