Why Humans Like to Cry

Michael Trimble is emeritus professor of Behavioural Neurology at the Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London. His research for many years has been on the behavioural consequences of neurological disorders, especially epilepsy and movement disorders. He has a lifelong research interest in neuroanatomy, hence his ability to explore the neuroanatomical basis of crying. However, he is also a psychiatrist with much clinical experience of mood disorders, and had investigated the latter in patients using neurological techniques, such as brain imaging. He is the author of The Soul in the Brain (Johns Hopkins, 2007).

• 1. Introduction ; 2. Crying ; 3. The Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Crying ; 4. Evolution ; 5. Tragedy and Tears ; 6. Tearful Logic ; 7. Why Do We Get Pleasure from Crying at the Theatre? ; Appendix 1: Neuroanatomy ; Appendix 2: Glossary of terms ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index

This is a fascinating cultural and neurological study about how humans are unique in shedding tears of sorrow, especially in the context of listening to music or attending the theatre...