Neuroscience : upso

Cognition and Neural Development

Don Tucker and Phan Luu — 2013-01-24

Author:: Don Tucker, Phan Luu
ISBN:: 9780199838523
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Development
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199838523.001.0001
Published in print:: 2012
Published Online:: 2013-01-24

Scientific research shows how experience shapes the organization of the human brain through mechanisms of neural plasticity, which capture the information of the world within the connections among neurons. To understand this plasticity, it is important to look to the developmental mechanisms through which the brain grows from a single cell in embryogenesis to achieve the complex architecture of the human brain. The process of neural morphogenesis involves exuberant formation of neuronal connections, and then subtractive elimination of unused connections. This process is continued after birth, providing the neural plasticity of learning that allows cognitive development in infancy and childhood. Recognizing this continuity suggests an interesting insight—cognition is a reflection of neural development throughout the life span. This book examines the embryonic development of the brain to appreciate the dimensions of developmental momentum that shape the neural and psychological development of our lives. Human brain embryogenesis involves gradients of trophic factors that guide the migration of neurons from ventricular proliferative zones to organize the architecture of the cerebral hemispheres. The architecture of human cognition involves a functional differentiation of dorsal (pyramidal) and ventral (granular) corticolimbic divisions. This differentiation is a defining feature of not just human but mammalian neuroanatomy. The separation of pyramidal and granular cortical architectures appeared with the evolution of the six-layered mammalian neocortex from the three-layered primitive general cortex of reptiles and amphibians. The functional differentiation of the dorsal and ventral divisions of the cerebral hemispheres has been shown to be integral to multiple levels of psychological function, from elementary motivation to the most complex forms of executive self-regulation.

Brain Aromatase, Estrogens, and Behavior

Jacques Balthazart and Gregory Ball — 2013-01-24

Author:: JacquesBalthazartUniversity of Liege, BelgiumGregoryBallJohns Hopkins University
ISBN:: 9780199841196
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Neuroendocrine and Autonomic
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199841196.001.0001
Published in print:: 2012
Published Online:: 2013-01-24

Aromatase—or estrogen, as it is commonly known—is present in the brain and has been the subject of much recent research, not only with regard to menopause and the dwindling supply of estrogen and its impact on cognition, but the role estrogen in aging and plasticity in the brain. This book provides a review of what is known about aromatase and its distribution and regulation in the brain, and its many effects on behavior. The volume covers research on mammals (from rats to monkeys), as well as work done on birds, reptiles and amphibians, and fishes. Topics range from behavioral effects (genomic) of locally produced estrogen in the brain; aromatase and sexual differentiation; rapid changes in brain aromatase as a result of environmental effects; aromatase and brain repair; the rapid effects of estrogens on behavior; rapid effect of estrogen on sensory (auditory) processing; and a concluding statement on current challenges to research.

Visual Aspects of Dyslexia

John Stein and Zoï Kapoula — 2012-09-20

Author:: JohnSteinDepartment Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford, UKZoïKapoulaService d'Ophtalmologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, France
ISBN:: 9780199589814
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Development, Behavioral Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199589814.001.0001
Published in print:: 2012
Published Online:: 2012-09-20

Dyslexia affects about 10% of all children and is a potent cause of loss of self-confidence, personal and family misery, and waste of potential. Although the dominant view is that it is caused by specifically linguistic/phonological weakness, recent research within the field of neuroscience has shown that it is associated with visual processing problems as well. These discoveries have led to a resurgence in visual methods of treatment, which have shown promising results. This book brings together cutting edge research from a range of disciplines — including neurology, neuroscience, and the vision sciences, to present the first comprehensive review of this recent research. It includes chapters from leading specialists which, in addition to reporting on the latest research, show how this knowledge is being successfully applied in the development of effective visual treatments for this common problem. Sections within the book cover the role of eye movements in reading, visual attention and reading, the neural bases of reading, and the relationship between visual stress and dyslexia.

The Neuroscience of Tinnitus

Jos J. Eggermont — 2012-09-20

Author:: Jos J. Eggermont
ISBN:: 9780199605606
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems, Development
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199605606.001.0001
Published in print:: 2012
Published Online:: 2012-09-20

This book examines tinnitus from the viewpoint of a neuroscientist with a long background in translational research. Therefore the book focuses on the understanding of the mechanisms that underlie tinnitus and is based on data-driven approaches to characterize its properties in humans and in animal models. It is hoped that a better and coherent understanding of the findings from the various neuroscience methods, ranging from brain imaging, electrophysiology, and quantifying the subjective aspects of tinnitus, to molecular biology and genetic aspects, will lead to more and better science driven approaches to alleviate tinnitus and ultimately produce a cure. For the backbone for the book three well-researched animal models of tinnitus, the salicylate, noise trauma, and somatic models, and in addition, the hypersynchrony model that is aimed at the integration of these three models were used. The reasons to use these models are found in human research, which is extensively described. An extensive discussion of the pros and cons of behavioral animal models that are employed to decide whether an animal has tinnitus is presented. The book advocates the role that modified brain networks may play in generating and maintaining tinnitus. This is the most speculative part of the book. Epidemiology and etiology, and evidence-based management of tinnitus have their own place at the beginning and end of this book.

I Know What You're Thinking

Sarah D. Richmond, Geraint Rees, and Sarah J. L. Edwards — 2012-09-20

Author:: Sarah D.RichmondDepartment of Philosophy, University College London, UKGeraintReesDirector, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, UKSarah J. L.EdwardsSenior Lecturer in Research Ethics and Governance, University College London, UK
ISBN:: 9780199596492
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Techniques, Development
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199596492.001.0001
Published in print:: 2012
Published Online:: 2012-09-20

Since the 1980s, MRI scanners have told us much about brain function and played an important role in the clinical diagnosis of a number of conditions — both in the brain and the rest of the body. Their routine use has made the diagnosis of brain tumours and brain damage both quicker and more accurate. However, some neuroscientific advances, in particular those that relate specifically to the mind have provoked excitement and discussion in a number of disciplines. One of the most thought provoking developments in recent neuroscience has been the progress made with ‘mind-reading’. There seems nothing more private than one's thoughts, some of which we might choose to share with others, and some not. Yet, until now, little has been published on the particular issue of privacy in relation to ‘brain’ or ‘mind’ reading. This book presents an interdisciplinary account of the neuroscientific evidence on ‘mind reading’, as well as a thorough analysis of both legal and moral accounts of privacy. The book considers such issues as the use of imaging to detect awareness in those considered to be in a vegetative state. It looks at issues of mental imaging and national security, the neurobiology of violence, and issues regarding diminished responsibility in criminals, and thus reduced punishment. It also considers how the use of neuroimaging can and should be regulated.

Epilepsy and Memory

Adam Zeman, Narinder Kapur, and Marilyn Jones-Gotman — 2012-09-20

Author:: AdamZemanProfessor of Cognitive and Behavioural Neurology, Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, UKNarinderKapurVisiting Professor of Neuropsychology, University College London, UKMarilynJones-GotmanProfessor, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill Universityk, Canada
ISBN:: 9780199580286
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Disorders of the Nervous System, Behavioral Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199580286.001.0001
Published in print:: 2012
Published Online:: 2012-09-20

Epilepsy is one of the most common disorders of the brain, and these patients often suffer from memory problems. There are a number of reasons for this: seizures can directly affect the brain in ways that disturb memory; epilepsy often results from trouble in brain regions closely linked to memory; the treatment of epilepsy can affect memory; epilepsy can cause psychological problems, like depression, which interfere with memory. This book reviews all aspects of the relationship between this common and potentially serious neurological disorder and memory, one of the core functions of the human mind. The chapters review the history of the subject; the clinical features of memory disorder in epilepsy; neuropsychological, neuroradiological, neuropathological, and electrophysiological findings; the roles of anticonvulsant side effects and psychiatric disorder; and the scope for memory support and rehabilitation. The study of patients with epilepsy has revealed much about the workings of memory, yet there has been no recent review of this field of research. This book aims to this gap.

The Clinical Neurobiology of the Hippocampus

Thorsten Bartsch — 2012-09-20

Author:: ThorstenBartschDepartment of Neurology, Consultant Neurologist, Head of the Memory Disorders Group, University Hospital of Schleswig Holstein, Kiel, Germany
ISBN:: 9780199592388
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Disorders of the Nervous System, Behavioral Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199592388.001.0001
Published in print:: 2012
Published Online:: 2012-09-20

The hippocampus is one of the most studied structures in the human brain and plays a pivotal role in human memory function. It's recognized function is reflected by the presence of an extensive body of neurophysiological, neuropsychological, anatomical, and neurocomputational literature that presents basic mechanisms, theoretical models, and psychological concepts. However, in the rapidly growing field of hippocampal research, the clinical aspects of diseases that affect the hippocampus are greatly under-represented, and clinical approaches and concepts are scattered throughout various clinical and basic scientific disciplines. This book explores clinical approaches to the range of diseases that affect the hippocampus. It brings together and reviews the common methods, clinical findings, concepts, mechanisms and, where applicable, therapeutic strategies for these clinical approaches. The clinical spectrum of hippocampal dysfunction encompasses a wide range of neurological, behavioural, and psychiatric symptoms and surpasses the ability to encode, store, and retrieve information. The relevance of hippocampal involvement in clinical diseases goes beyond mere neuropsychological deficits and includes psychopathological states in various conditions, such as acute amnesic syndromes, Alzheimer's disease, temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), sleep, stroke medicine, limbic encephalitis, neurodevelopmental disorders, stress- and trauma-related disorders, depression, and schizophrenia.

The Animal Spirit Doctrine and the Origins of Neurophysiology

C.U.M. Smith, Eugenio Frixione, Stanley Finger, and William Clower — 2012-09-20

Author:: C.U.M. Smith, Eugenio Frixione, Stanley Finger, William Clower
ISBN:: 9780199766499
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, History of Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199766499.001.0001
Published in print:: 2012
Published Online:: 2012-09-20

This book examines the history of Western attempts to explain how messages might be sent from the sense organs to the brain and from the brain to the muscles. It focuses on a construct called animal spirit, which would permeate philosophy and guide physiology and medicine for over two millennia. The book's story opens along the Eastern Mediterranean, where it examines how Pre-Socratic philosophers related the soul to air-wind or pneuma. It then traces what Hippocrates, Plato, and Aristotle wrote about this pneuma, and how Stoic and Epicurean philosophers approached it. It also visits Alexandria, where Hellenistic anatomists provided new thoughts about the nerves and the ventricles. Thereafter the book shows how Galen's pneuma psychikon or spiritus animae would provide an explanation for sensations and movements. Galen's writings would guide science and medicine for well over a thousand years, albeit with some modifications. One change, found in early Christian writers Nemesius and Augustine, involved assigning perception, cognition, and memory to different spirit-filled ventricles. The book then turns to how questions began to be raised about it in the 1500s and 1600s. Here it examines the rise of modern science. Nevertheless, the animal spirit doctrine continued to survive because no adequate replacement for it was immediately forthcoming. The replacement theory stemmed from experiments on electric fishes started in the 1750s. Additional research eventually led scientists to abandon their time-honored ideas. The book traces some of the developments leading to modern electrophysiology and ends with an epilogue centered on what this history teaches us about paradigmatic changes in the life sciences.

The Vestibular System

2012-05-24

Author:: Jay M. Goldberg, Victor J. Wilson, Kathleen E. Cullen, Dora E. Angelaki, Dianne M. Broussard, Jean Buttner-Ennever, Kikuro Fukushima, Lloyd B. Minor
ISBN:: 9780195167085
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195167085.001.0001
Published in print:: 2012
Published Online:: 2012-05-24

This book presents an integrative look at the sense that Aristotle missed. The vestibular system plays a vital role in everyday life, contributing to a surprising range of functions from reflexes to the highest levels of perception and consciousness. This text not only offers a review of the basics sensory transduction, the neurophysiology of peripheral and central pathways, and how vestibular signals are processed in the control of gaze and posture; it moves the discussion forward with its attention to the current research and the field's revolutionary advances, such as the understanding of neural correlates of self-motion and the basis of clinical disorders. In addition, the objective presentation of existing controversies is exciting reading and an extremely important contribution to the text's completeness.

Neuroscience in Education

Sergio Della Sala and Mike Anderson — 2012-05-24

Author:: SergioDella SalaProfessor of Human Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Edinburgh, UKMikeAndersonWinthrop Professor, The University of Western Australia, Australia
ISBN:: 9780199600496
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Development, Behavioral Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199600496.001.0001
Published in print:: 2012
Published Online:: 2012-05-24

In the past ten years, there has been growing interest in applying our knowledge of the human brain to the field of education, including reading, learning, language, and mathematics. This has resulted in the development of a number of new practices in education, some good, some bad, and some just crazy. Hence we have had theories suggesting that listening to Mozart can boost intelligence, foot massages can help unruly pupils, fish oil can boost brain power, even the idea that breathing through your left nostril can enhance creativity. Sadly, there is a gap between what neuroscientists or cognitive psychologists know about brain/mind functions and the supposedly scientific theory underlying the practices used daily in our schools. So what has caused this whole scale embrace of neuroscience in the classroom — a well-intentioned, but naive misunderstanding of how science works, ideological reasons, or financial incentives? This book brings together leading psychologists, neuroscientists, and geneticists to review critically some of these new developments, examining the science behind these practices, the validity of the theories on which they are based, and whether they work.

The Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory

Howard Eichenbaum — 2012-05-24

Author:: Howard Eichenbaum
ISBN:: 9780199778614
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199778614.001.0001
Published in print:: 2011
Published Online:: 2012-05-24

This book introduces the brain's remarkable capacity for memory. Like the first edition, this updated second edition begins with a history of memory research, starting with a ‘Golden Era’ at the turn of the 20th century, and progressing to our current understanding of the neurobiology of memory. Subsequent sections of the book discuss the cellular basis of memory, amnesia in humans and animals, the physiology of memory; declarative, procedural, and emotional memory systems; memory consolidation, and the control of memory by the prefrontal cortex. The book is organized into four sections, which highlight the major themes of the text. The first theme is connection, which considers how memory is fundamentally based on alterations in the connectivity of neurons. The first section of the book covers the most well studied models of cellular mechanisms of neural plasticity that may underlie memory. The second theme is cognition, which involves fundamental issues in the psychological structure of memory. This next section of the book considers the competition among views on the nature of cognitive processes that underlie memory, and tells how the controversy was eventually resolved. The third theme is compartmentalization, which is akin to the classic problem of memory localization. However, unlike localization, the notion of ‘compartments’ is intended to avoid the notion that particular memories are pigeon-holed into specific loci, and instead emphasize that different forms of memory are accomplished by distinct modules or brain systems. This third section of the book surveys the evidence for multiple memory systems, and outlines how they are mediated by different brain structures and systems. The fourth and final theme is consolidation, the process by which memories are transformed from a labile trace into a permanent store.

Brain–Computer Interfaces

Jonathan Wolpaw and Elizabeth Winter Wolpaw — 2012-05-24

Author:: JonathanWolpawWadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health and State University of New YorkElizabeth WinterWolpawWadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health and State University of New York
ISBN:: 9780195388855
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Techniques
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195388855.001.0001
Published in print:: 2012
Published Online:: 2012-05-24

In the last fifteen years, a recognizable surge in the field of Brain Computer Interface (BCI) research and development has emerged. This emergence has sprung from a variety of factors. For one, inexpensive computer hardware and software is now available and can support the complex high-speed analyses of brain activity that is essential is BCI. Another factor is the greater understanding of the central nervous system, including the abundance of new information on the nature and functional correlates of brain signals and improved methods for recording these signals in both the short-term and long-term. And the third, and perhaps most significant factor, is the new recognition of the needs and abilities of people disabled by disorders such as cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, and muscular dystrophies. The severely disabled are now able to live for many years and even those with severely limited voluntary muscle control can now be given the most basic means of communication and control because of the recent advances in the technology, research, and applications of BCI.

Who Needs Emotions?

Jean-Marc Fellous and Michael A. Arbib — 2012-03-22

Author:: Jean-MarcFellousMichael A.ArbibUniversity of Southern California
ISBN:: 9780195166194
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195166194.001.0001
Published in print:: 2005
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

The idea that one day robots may have emotions has captured the imagination of many and has been dramatized by robots and androids in many famous movies. This book tackles the issue of whether robots can have emotions from a purely scientific point of view. The study of the brain now usefully informs study of the social, communicative, adaptive, regulatory, and experiential aspects of emotion and offers support for the idea that we exploit our own psychological responses in order to feel others' emotions. The chapters in this book show the many ways in which the brain can be analyzed to shed light on emotions. Fear, reward, and punishment provide structuring concepts for a number of investigations. Neurochemistry reveals the ways in which different ‘neuromodulators’ such as serotonin, dopamine, and opioids can affect the emotional balance of the brain. And studies of different regions such as the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex provide a view of the brain as a network of interacting subsystems. Related studies in artificial intelligence and robotics are discussed, and new multi-level architectures are proposed that make it possible for emotions to be implanted. It is now an accepted task in robotics to build robots that perceive human expressions of emotion and can ‘express’ simulated emotions to ease interactions with humans. Looking towards future innovations, some scientists posit roles for emotion as a powerful self-motivational tool as well as a way to work effectively in a group. But daunting questions remain as we ask what may be the nature of emotions in future generations of robots that share neither our biological heritage nor our need to share emotions with our fellow humans.

The Synapse

Motoy Kuno — 2012-03-22

Author:: Motoy Kuno
ISBN:: 9780198546870
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198546870.001.0001
Published in print:: 1994
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

The synapse not only provides a bridge from one nerve cell to the next; its function can be modified by experience, making it important for learning and memory. This overview of the synapse provides a review of current concepts in neurobiology, with specific reference to synaptic plasticity, neurotransmission, and neurotrophism. These areas have been advanced dramatically by the application of molecular biology techniques, and this book provides a synthesis of these advances. The book incorporates all the latest thinking and current research together with a brief historical overview of research in the field.

Spinal Cord Dysfunction: Volume II: Intervention and Treatment

L. S. Illis — 2012-03-22

Author:: L. S.IllisSouthampton University Medical School
ISBN:: 9780192617873
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Disorders of the Nervous System
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780192617873.001.0001
Published in print:: 1991
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This is the second in a series of books dealing with the enormous clinical problem of spinal-cord dysfunction. Volume I discussed assessment; this book focuses on intervention. There are three main approaches to the restoration of function after damage to the spinal cord: the prevention of secondary pathological events; the identification of impaired or absent functions in nerve cells and processes that survive the initial insult; and restoration of severed neuronal connections. This book addresses the first two of these approaches. It contains a discussion of the arguments about early decompression of the spinal cord following injury, therapy of acute spinal injury, and the effects of early treatment and local cooling on spinal-cord blood flow. The management of specific problems associated with spinal-cord dysfunction is addressed; these problems include cardiovascular abnormalities due to autonomic dysfunction, bladder control, pain, and sexual function. Current procedures of rehabilitation (particularly the management of chronic problems and the treatment of complications) are summarized, and ideas on motor control and learning are discussed.

Speed, Ecstasy, Ritalin

LESLIE IVERSEN — 2012-03-22

Author:: LESLIE IVERSEN
ISBN:: 9780198530909
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198530909.001.0001
Published in print:: 2008
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

Amphetamines have had a relatively short, though chequered history. From their use in wartime, their abuse by the beat generation, up to the popularity of Ecstasy in the late 20th century, many have found amphetamines an enjoyable, though unpredictable, stimulant. More than that though, amphetamine-based treatments have been found to have beneficial effects for those suffering from attention-deficit disorders, and are now widely prescribed in the US and elsewhere as a treatment for children and adults. What is the truth behind these medical claims? What are the real effects of stimulants like Ecstasy? Just how harmful are amphetamines? This book explores the uses and abuses of amphetamines. Starting with a look at the origins of amphetamines, their use in wartime and by poets, musicians — and even a President of the US — it presents an account of amphetamine use. It examines the evidence for the claims that drugs like Ecstasy kill, and considers the widespread use of amphetamines for ADHD, presenting an account based on science and fact, rather than dogma.

Speech Motor Control

Ben Maassen and Pascal van Lieshout — 2012-03-22

Author:: BenMaassenCenter for Language and Cognition Groningen (CLCG) & University Medical Center, University of Groningen, the NetherlandsPascalvan LieshoutDepartment of Speech Language Pathology, University of Toronto, Canada
ISBN:: 9780199235797
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199235797.001.0001
Published in print:: 2010
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

Speaking is not only the basic mode of communication, but also the most complex motor skill humans can perform. Disorders of speech and language are the most common sequelae of brain disease or injury, a condition faced by millions of people each year. Health care practitioners need to interact with scientists in order to develop and evaluate new methods of clinical diagnosis and therapy to help their patients overcome or compensate their communication difficulties. In recent years, collaboration between those in the disciplines of neurophysiology, cognitive psychology, mathematical modelling, neuroscientists, and speech science have helped accelerate progress in the field. This book presents theoretical developments in the area of speech motor control, offering insights into speech disorders. Its scope is broad — presenting state-of-the art research in the areas of modelling, genetics, brain imaging, and behavioral experimentation, in addition to clinical applications.

Satiation: From Gut to Brain

Gerard P. Smith — 2012-03-22

Author:: Gerard P.SmithCornell University Medical College
ISBN:: 9780195105155
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195105155.001.0001
Published in print:: 1998
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

What is it that stops the process of eating? This book succeeds in answering comprehensively this deceptively simple question, while incorporating the latest scientific research. Unless we stop eating by choice—for medical or social reasons—an unconscious physiological process is triggered through negative feedback from ingested food as it travels from the mouth through the stomach and on to the small intestine. This process is called satiation. Recent scientific evidence has revealed that food stimuli activate this process before the actual absorption of digested food, which significantly changes the traditional perspective that satiation, depends on the post-absorptive repletion of metabolic fuels. This book presents the first detailed account of the neurobiological mechanisms of satiation. The ten chapters of the book detail the neural, endocrine, and cellular underpinnings of the process. Chapters discuss different aspects of satiation and present a critical overview of recent advances and current problems in this field. The inclusion of a chapter on the satiation of alcohol is unique in a book on food intake, and shows the convergence of ideas on satiation in these two areas.

Receptor and Ion-Channel Trafficking

Stephen J. Moss and Jeremy Henley — 2012-03-22

Author:: Stephen J.MossMRC-LMCB & Department of Pharmacology, University College London, UKJeremyHenleyMRC Centre for Synaptic Plasticity, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, UK
ISBN:: 9780192632241
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780192632241.001.0001
Published in print:: 2002
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This book reviews the recent advances in understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control the assembly, transport, targeting, and anchoring of the protein complexes making up the most important ion channels and receptor families, fundamental to synaptic function. Improved understanding of these processes is expected to reveal novel therapeutic targets relevant to a range of disease states. The first section of the book contains three chapters dealing with cation channels and provides an account of what is known about the structures and the assembly and targeting of these multimeric proteins. The focus of the book then moves on to cover ligand-gated ion channels with two chapters on acetylcholine receptors. The final section of the book contains four chapters covering the excitatory and inhibitory amino acid receptors. The book provides an integrated overview of advances in the field of molecular neurobiology.

The Primordial Emotions

Derek Denton — 2012-03-22

Author:: Derek Denton
ISBN:: 9780199203147
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience, Development
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199203147.001.0001
Published in print:: 2006
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

To understand what is happening in the brain in the moment you decide, at will, to summon to consciousness a passage of Mozart's music, or decide to take a deep breath, is like trying to ‘catch a phantom by the tail’. Consciousness remains that most elusive of all human phenomena — one so mysterious that even our highly developed knowledge of brain function can only partly explain it. This book traces the origins of consciousness. It takes the investigation back many years in an attempt to uncover just how consciousness might have first emerged. Consciousness did not develop suddenly in humans — it evolved gradually. The book investigates the evolution of consciousness. Central to the book is the idea that the primal emotions — elements of instinctive behaviour — were the first dawning of consciousness. Throughout the book examines instinctive behaviours, such as hunger for air, hunger for minerals, thirst, and pain, arguing that the emotions elicited from these behaviours and desire for gratification culminated in the first conscious states. To develop the theory the book looks at behaviour at different levels of the evolutionary tree, for example of octopuses, fish, snakes, birds, and elephants. Coupled with findings from neuroimaging studies, and the viewpoints on consciousness from figures in philosophy and neuroscience, the book presents a new look at the problem of consciousness.

The Pharmacology of Vascular Smooth Muscle

C. J. Garland and J. A. Angus — 2012-03-22

Author:: C. J.GarlandUniversity of BristolJ. A.AngusUniversity of Melbourne
ISBN:: 9780192623874
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780192623874.001.0001
Published in print:: 1996
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This book provides an understanding of how events at the cellular level impact on the cardiovascular system as a whole. Advances in knowledge are highlighted and all the themes are presented from the single cell (smooth muscle endothelial and nerve) level through to the blood vessel wall to the vascular system as a functional system. This book provides an introduction to wide-ranging pharmacological principles and major techniques in this subject area, and is a source of background literature for research in vascular pharmacology.

The Parahippocampal Region

Menno Witter and Floris Wouterlood — 2012-03-22

Author:: MennoWitterFlorisWouterloodboth at the Department of Anatomy, Vrije University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
ISBN:: 9780198509172
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198509172.001.0001
Published in print:: 2002
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

Advances in imaging technologies have enabled researchers to build on the evidence obtained from lesion and behavioural studies to propose a range of functions for the parahippocampal region. It is now possible to image the region in healthy human subjects and to define the pathological changes occurring during the early phases of a range of neurologic and psychiatric conditions. The results have uncovered evidence suggesting that the region plays an important role in the higher cognitive processes of learning and memory, and in specific brain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and epilepsy, as well as in the aging process itself. The book examines the architecture and activity of this section of the temporal lobe, describes the systems active in memory, perception and behaviour, and outlines the significance of its involvement in the progress of a range of disease states. It provides an overview of basic and clinical knowledge and a baseline for further expansion of the functional understanding of the region.

The Noisy Brain

Edmund T. Rolls and Gustavo Deco — 2012-03-22

Author:: Edmund T. Rolls, Gustavo Deco
ISBN:: 9780199587865
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199587865.001.0001
Published in print:: 2010
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

The activity of neurons in the brain is noisy in that their firing times are random when they are firing at a given mean rate. This introduces a random or stochastic property into brain processing which this book shows to be fundamental to understanding many aspects of brain function, including probabilistic decision making, perception, memory recall, short-term memory, attention, and even creativity. This book shows that in many of these processes, the noise caused by the random neuronal firing times is useful. However, the stochastic dynamics of this can be unstable or overstable, and the book shows that the stability of attractor networks in the brain in the face of noise may help to understand some important dysfunctions that occur in schizophrenia, normal aging, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The book provides a unifying computational approach to brain function that links synaptic and biophysical properties of neurons through the firing of single neurons to the properties of the noise in large connected networks of noisy neurons to the levels of functional neuroimaging and behaviour. It describes integrate-and-fire neuronal attractor networks with noise, and complementary mean-field analyses using approaches from theoretical physics. The book shows how they can be used to understand neuronal, functional neuroimaging, and behavioural data on decision making, perception, memory recall, short-term memory, attention, and brain dysfunctions that occur in schizophrenia, normal aging, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Advanced material on the physics of stochastic dynamics in the brain is contained in the Appendix.

The NMDA Receptor

G. L. Collingridge and J. C. Watkins — 2012-03-22

Author:: G. L.CollingridgeUniversity of BirminghamJ. C.WatkinsUniversity of Bristol
ISBN:: 9780192625021
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780192625021.001.0001
Published in print:: 1995
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This book comprises coverage of the NMDA receptor. The NMDA receptor is an important protein in the brain, which is involved in physiological processes such as synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity, which may underlie learning and memory. Pathological changes involving the NMDA receptors probably contribute to the development of epilepsy, acute neuronal damage such as that resulting from stroke and chronic neuropathologies such as Alzheimer's disease. There is considerable interest in the development of pharmacological agents active at NMDA receptors as new therapeutic agents. Each chapter in this book covers developments in the molecular biology and the molecular pharmacology of the NMDA receptor.

The neurophysiological foundations of mental and motor imagery

Aymeric Guillot and Christian Collet — 2012-03-22

Author:: AymericGuillotUniversité Claude Bernard, Lyon, FranceChristianColletUniversité Claude Bernard, Lyon, France
ISBN:: 9780199546251
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199546251.001.0001
Published in print:: 2010
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

Mental imagery is the ability to form perceptual-like representations of objects or events on the basis of information stored in memory. Motor imagery is often used when the human body is involved, where subjects imagine the body moving or manipulating objects. The use of mental practice, including motor imagery for the rehabilitation of patients with cerebral motor impairments, is one of the most active areas in the field of motor imagery research. This book examines three main aspects of mental imagery. In the first part, the chapters address the neural basis of mental and motor imagery, the relationships between mental imagery and perception, and between motor imagery and physical execution. In the second part, the chapters focus on the evaluation of mental/motor imagery accuracy, including both central and peripheral nervous system recordings. The final chapters address the effects of mental practice on motor recovery after stroke.

Neuronal Control of Locomotion

Grigori Orlovsky, T. G. Deliagina, and Sten Grillner — 2012-03-22

Author:: Grigori Orlovsky, T. G. Deliagina, Sten Grillner
ISBN:: 9780198524052
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198524052.001.0001
Published in print:: 1999
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

What does the swimming leech have to do with the running human? The ability to move actively in space is essential to members of the animal kingdom, and the evolution of the nervous system relates to a large extent to the evolution of locomotion. The extreme importance of locomotion has stimulated many studies of the neural mechanisms underlying locomotion across a range of species. This book provides a comparative study of these mechanisms, describing how the brains in very diverse and evolutionarily removed species control the animal's locomotion. In doing so, the authors reveal unifying principles of brain function.

The Neurobiology of Spatial Behaviour

K.J. Jeffery — 2012-03-22

Author:: K.J.JefferyDepartment of Psychology, University College London, UK
ISBN:: 9780198515241
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198515241.001.0001
Published in print:: 2003
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This book explores the relationship between cellular processes and animal behaviour. It does this by focusing on the domain of navigation, bringing together scientists from either side of the brain-behaviour divide in an attempt to explain the linkage between spatial behaviour and the underlying activity of neurons. The book is organised into two sections. Section One deals with the so-called ‘higher’ levels of description — studies of spatial behaviour and the brain areas that might underlie such behaviour. It begins with insects, remarkably sophisticated navigators, and ends with humans, examining along the way issues such as whether animal brains contain maps and whether spatial and non-spatial information interact, and if so, how? Section Two delves further into the brain and focuses on the mammalian representation of space and the role of place cells. These issues have far wider ramifications than simply helping us to understand the process of navigation. This system might provide a model for how other forms of knowledge, beliefs, and intentions are encoded in neurons.

Neurobiology of Nociceptors

Carlos Belmonte and Fernando Cervero — 2012-03-22

Author:: CarlosBelmonteUniversity of AlicanteFernandoCerveroUniversity of Alcala de Henares
ISBN:: 9780198523345
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198523345.001.0001
Published in print:: 1996
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This is a comprehensive review of all aspects of nociceptor function, including the structure of nociceptor endings, their neurochemistry, and evolutionary considerations. It deals with the functional properties of nociceptors innervating different organs and the biophysical mechanisms underlying the transduction process in nociceptors. There are sections on how nociceptor function is modified by nerve injury and regeneration and on its physiopathology.

The Neurobiology of an Insect Brain

Malcolm Burrows — 2012-03-22

Author:: Malcolm Burrows
ISBN:: 9780198523444
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Invertebrate Neurobiology
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198523444.001.0001
Published in print:: 1996
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

Studies of insect nervous systems have made an immense contribution to our understanding of how a brain works and the way that the connections between constituent neurons are formed during development. This book brings these together. By concentrating largely on one insect, the locust, it unravels the mechanisms by which a brain integrates the vast array of sensory information to generate appropriate movements and behaviour. The book first describes the basic structure of an insect brain and how this complex structure is formed during embryonic development. The cellular properties of the different types of neurons, and the way they are altered by neurosecretions, are then analysed with respect to the integrative actions of these neurons during behaviour. Finally, the various movements that an insect performs are investigated at the cellular level to illustrate particular features of the integrative processing. Throughout, the book emphasises how knowledge of these simpler nervous systems contributes to our understanding of more complex brains, and at the same time provides the functional synthesis into which future molecular and computational studies can be woven.

Neural Networks and Brain Function

Edmund Rolls and Alessandro Treves — 2012-03-22

Author:: Edmund Rolls, Alessandro Treves
ISBN:: 9780198524328
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Development
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198524328.001.0001
Published in print:: 1997
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

The aim of this book is to describe the types of computation that can be performed by biologically plausible neural networks, and to show how these may be implemented in different systems in the brain. The book is structured in three sections, each of which addresses a different need in the market. The first section introduces and describes the operation of several fundamental types of neural network. The second section describes real neural networks in several brain systems, and shows how it is becoming possible to construct theories about how some parts of the brain work; it also provides an indication of the different neuroscience and neurocomputation techniques that will need to be combined to ensure further rapid progress in understanding how parts of the brain work. The third section, a collection of appendices, introduces the more formal quantitative approaches to many of the networks described.

Neural and Behavioural Plasticity

R. J. Andrew — 2012-03-22

Author:: R. J.AndrewUniversity of Sussex
ISBN:: 9780198521846
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198521846.001.0001
Published in print:: 1991
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

A great deal is now known about the cellular changes that take place in neural circuits and, over the past twenty years, the chick has proved to be an invaluable model for work on memory formation. The prior experience of the chick is controllable in a way that is impossible to match in any other vertebrate, and the pharmacology and phases of memory formation are better established. In addition, the anatomy of the chick brain is now well established, allowing valuable comparisons with animal models. This book reviews all the main aspects of work on learning and plasticity in behaviour and neural mechanisms in the chick, together with related topics such as the development of behaviour and lateralization of function. It is an authoritative reference for researchers who wish to use the chick or to draw on the relevant literature. The aim is to introduce a wider audience to the chick as an experimental model, and to describe the way in which it has been used in the investigation of learning and plasticity at every level, from the behavioural to the molecular.

Music, Language, and the Brain

Aniruddh D. Patel — 2012-03-22

Author:: Aniruddh D. Patel
ISBN:: 9780195123753
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195123753.001.0001
Published in print:: 2007
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

In the first comprehensive study of the relationship between music and language from the standpoint of cognitive neuroscience, the author challenges the widespread belief that music and language are processed independently. Since Plato's time, the relationship between music and language has attracted interest and debate from a wide range of thinkers. Recently, scientific research on this topic has been growing rapidly, as scholars from diverse disciplines including linguistics, cognitive science, music cognition, and neuroscience are drawn to the music-language interface as one way to explore the extent to which different mental abilities are processed by separate brain mechanisms. Accordingly, the relevant data and theories have been spread across a range of disciplines. This book provides the first synthesis, arguing that music and language share deep and critical connections, and that comparative research provides a powerful way to study the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying these uniquely human abilities.

Multisensory Control of Movement

Alain Berthoz — 2012-03-22

Author:: AlainBerthozCollège de France, Paris
ISBN:: 9780198547853
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198547853.001.0001
Published in print:: 1993
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

Truly international, this extensive text combines the efforts of eight laboratories from seven countries in investigating the study of problems of manipulation, orienting, and navigating in humans and animals. The multidisciplinary approach places the study of multisensory control of movement in a three-dimensional frame, with reference to computer models and neuronal mechanisms.

Migraine: A Spectrum of Ideas

Merton Sandler and Geralyn M. Collins — 2012-03-22

Author:: MertonSandlerUniversity of LondonGeralyn M.Collins
ISBN:: 9780192618108
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Disorders of the Nervous System
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780192618108.001.0001
Published in print:: 1990
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

Thirty per cent of all women and ten per cent of all men experience migraine. This crippling illness does not kill, but its high morbidity poses a massive economic problem and gives rise to considerable suffering. Its main manifestation, headache, is subjective, and there are no animal models. This makes traditional research approaches difficult, and has led to a variety of research strategies. Chapters here present the numerous advances that have been made over the past two decades in our understanding of this disorder, and discuss in depth the position of migraine research today and the directions it will take in the future.

Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission

Joseph D. Robinson — 2012-03-22

Author:: Joseph D. Robinson
ISBN:: 9780195137613
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195137613.001.0001
Published in print:: 2001
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This book describes a century of research on how nerve cells communicate with one another, beginning with the formulation of the Neuron Theory and proceeding through studies embracing a broad range of disciplines. The Neuron Theory initially depicted discrete nerve cells interacting at their points of contact (“synapses”); since nerve impulses were often identified as electrical signals traveling along neuronal processes, it seemed plausible that impulses would also pass from cell to cell electrically. Over the next hundred years, however, ingenious experiments, facilitated by powerful new techniques and interpreted with imaginative new insights, established new accounts rich in scientific detail: communication was generally achieved by releasing chemicals from one neuron to interact with specific receptors on another, thereby initiating complex chains of metabolic alterations as well as eliciting electrical responses; neurotransmitters were stored in vesicles for release onto postsynaptic neurons, and transport back into presynaptic neurons terminated the actions of some neurotransmitters whereas metabolic degradation terminated the actions of others. The formation of specific synapses during embryological development and the alterations in synaptic transmission accompanying learning also required intricate chains of cellular modifications. Disorders of synaptic transmission could result in neurological and psychiatric diseases, whereas drugs affecting particular steps in synaptic transmission could achieve dramatic therapeutic responses.

Laboratory Reference for Clinical Neurophysiology

Jay A. Liveson and Dong M. Ma — 2012-03-22

Author:: Jay A. Liveson, Dong M. Ma
ISBN:: 9780195129243
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Techniques
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195129243.001.0001
Published in print:: 1999
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This book is an updated and expanded technical summary of all the electrodiagnostic techniques available in the clinical neurophysiology laboratory. It includes descriptions of the nerve to be studied, the stimulation procedure, technical comments, and results of previous studies. The book also includes nearly forty new drawings and new sections on evoked responses, motor unit potential studies, and other tests.

Ion Channels

James Kew and Ceri Davies — 2012-03-22

Author:: JamesKewDirector, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Schizophrenia & Cognitive Disorders Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences CEDD, GlaxoSmithKline, New Frontiers Science Park, Harlow, U.K.CeriDaviesMood and Anxiety Doisorders Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences CEDD, GlaxoSmithKline, Medicines Research Center, Via A Fleming, Verona, Italy
ISBN:: 9780199296750
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Development
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199296750.001.0001
Published in print:: 2009
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

Ion channels are intimately involved in the everyday physiological functions that enable us to live a full and varied life. When disease strikes, malfunction of ion channels or their dependent processes is often involved, either as the cause or effect of the illness. Thus, billions of dollars have been, and still are being, invested in research to understand the physiological and pathophysiological functions of ion channels in an attempt to develop novel therapeutic treatments for a wide range of diseases. This book provides a comprehensive overview of ion-channel structure and function. It comprises two major parts: the first part provides an introductory overview of the ion-channel superfamily and the generic aspects of ion-channel function. This part also reviews the methodologies by which ion-channel function can be studied from the perspective of performing detailed biophysical characterization through to the deployment of high-throughput approaches for identifying novel ion-channel ligands. The second part provides an in-depth review of the individual ion-channel subfamilies and, as such, is subdivided into four broad sections: voltage-gated ion channels, extracellular ligand-gated ion channels, intracellular ligand-gated ion channels, and polymodal-gated ion channels, with each chapter therein focused on specific family members. These chapters provide a detailed overview of the structure, biophysics, localization, pharmacology, physiology, and disease relevance of each particular ion-channel subfamily.

Intramembrane Charge Movements in Striated Muscle

Christopher L.-H. Huang — 2012-03-22

Author:: Christopher L.-H. Huang
ISBN:: 9780198577492
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198577492.001.0001
Published in print:: 1993
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This book provides a review of developments made in the understanding of cellular activation phenomena in striated muscle. Basic physical, mathematical, and physiological principles are covered. The book consistently draws correlations both with cellular and molecular biological information, and their physiological consequences and significance. It is accessible both as a survey of basic concepts and as an authoritative review of recent work in the field. The book succeeds in explaining complex biophysics in such a way that the non-expert reader obtains insights into the molecular mechanisms of muscle activation and their control mechanisms, as well as in providing the expert with the detailed mathematical and experimental evidence.

Infant Vision

François Vital-Durand, Janette Atkinson, and Oliver J. Braddick — 2012-03-22

Author:: FrançoisVital-DurandINSERM U371 Cerveau et Vision, BronJanetteAtkinsonUniversity College LondonOliver J.BraddickUniversity College London
ISBN:: 9780198523161
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198523161.001.0001
Published in print:: 1996
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This book provides an overview by international authorities, spanning the disciplines of neuroscience, psychology, ophthalmology, optometry, and paediatrics, of normal and pathological infant visual development. It covers the development of retinal receptors; infant sensitivity to detail, colour, contrast, and movement; binocularity, eye movements, and refraction; and cognitive processing. Childrens' visual deficits, including amblyopia and cataract, are covered.

Immune Responses in the Nervous System

Nancy J. Rothwell — 2012-03-22

Author:: Nancy J.RothwellUniversity of Manchester
ISBN:: 9781872748795
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Disorders of the Nervous System
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9781872748795.001.0001
Published in print:: 1997
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This new edition covers recent advances in understanding immunological and inflammatory responses in the nervous system, research driven by the potential to use knowledge of the molecules and mechanisms involved to intervene in, and arrest, neurodegenerative disease processes. This book covers developmental aspects of immune/inflammatory responses in the CNS and basic aspects of glial function, as well as inflammatory mediators and their mechanisms of action, clinical importance, and sites of infection. There is also coverage of the major diseases of the CNS, including stroke, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Throughout, the focus is on the underlying basic neuroscience, clinical relevance and the potential for therapeutic interventions. This book aims to contribute to the understanding and improving of the diagnosis of neuroimmune diseases and determining therapeutic measures.

Immune and Inflammatory Responses in the Nervous System

Nancy Rothwell and Sarah Loddick — 2012-03-22

Author:: NancyRothwellSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, UKSarahLoddickSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester UK
ISBN:: 9780198509806
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Disorders of the Nervous System
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198509806.001.0001
Published in print:: 2002
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This new edition covers advances in understanding immunological and inflammatory responses in the nervous system, research driven by the potential to use knowledge of the molecules and mechanisms involved to intervene in, and arrest, neurodegenerative disease processes. This book covers developmental aspects of immune/inflammatory responses in the central nervous system (CNS), basic aspects of glial function, as well as inflammatory mediators, their mechanisms of action, clinical importance, and sites of infection. There is also coverage of the major diseases of the CNS, including stroke, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Throughout, the focus is on the underlying basic neuroscience, clinical relevance, and the potential for therapeutic interventions. The book will be useful for improving the diagnosis of neuroimmune diseases and determining therapeutic measures.

5-Hydroxytryptamine in Psychiatry

Merton Sandler, Alec Coppen, and Sara Harnett — 2012-03-22

Author:: MertonSandlerQueen Charlotte's and Chelsea HospitalAlecCoppenMRC Neuropsychiatry LaboratorySaraHarnett
ISBN:: 9780192620118
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Techniques
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780192620118.001.0001
Published in print:: 1991
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

The field of research in 5-hydroxytryptamine has exploded into furious activity over the past decade and nowhere have the implications been more far reaching than in psychiatry. Thanks largely to the introduction of radioligand-binding techniques, a bewildering variety of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors has been revealed, and powerful new families of centrally active drugs have emerged. The importance of these new discoveries for psychiatric practice can hardly be exaggerated. To mention but one example, our understanding, and with it the treatment, of obsessive-compulsive disorder has been transformed in a very few years. The excitement continues, and almost daily, some important new insight, usually drug led, alters our whole perception of psychiatric illness. Due to this activity, the CINP chose 5-hydroxytryptamine and psychiatry as the topic for its first President's Workshop. The CINP is an international neuropharmacological organization renowned for its massive, comprehensive, and prestigious biennial congress. It recently decided to complement these with a different type of gathering, a small brain-storming meeting, dominated by a free-flowing discussion. The record of this first President's Workshop is recorded here.

The Head-Neck Sensory Motor System

Alain Berthoz, Werner Graf, and P. P. Vidal — 2012-03-22

Author:: AlainBerthozCNRS Laboratory of Neurosensory PhysiologyWernerGrafRockefeller UniversityP. P.VidalCNRS Laboratory of Neurosensory Physiology
ISBN:: 9780195068207
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195068207.001.0001
Published in print:: 1992
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

The head carries most of the sensory systems that enable us to function effectively in our three-dimensional habitat. Without adequate head movement control, efficient spatial orientation and motor responses to visual and auditory stimuli could not be carried out. This book is an account of the control of vertebrate head movements and its biomechanical and neural basis. It covers the entire spectrum of research on head-neck movements, ranging from the global description and analysis of a particular behavior to its underlying mechanisms at the level of neurotransmitter release and membrane biophysics. Physiological and anatomical aspects are stressed. The role of head movements in upright stance and other functional contexts within the vertebrate hierarchy is juxtaposed with the mechanisms of orienting behavior in a number of invertebrates. This reveals a plethora of solutions among different animal species for the problem of orientation in three-dimensional space. Although head movement control in humans figures prominently in this volume, the anatomical-physiological comparisons show that the human system is not unique. The conference from which this volume originated surveyed research and theory on motor control mechanisms in the head-neck sensory-motor system. It was held in Fontainbleau, France, from July 17–24, 1989. The book provides a broad panorama of methodological and theoretical approaches to the field of head movement control.

Glial Cell Development

Kristjan R. Jessen and William D. Richardson — 2012-03-22

Author:: Kristjan R.JessenUniversity College LondonWilliam D.RichardsonUniversity College London
ISBN:: 9781872748542
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Development
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9781872748542.001.0001
Published in print:: 1997
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

The majority of cells in the nervous system are glial cells. During development, these cells provide growth factors that stimulate the proliferation, migration, and survival of neurons and their precursors, and promote and guide axonal growth. In the mature nervous system, glial cells provide insulating myelin sheath around axons and provide metabolic and structural support for neurons. Glial cells also have a major influence on the local response to injury of central nerve tracts and the peripheral nervous system, either promoting, or inhibiting, axonal regrowth and recovery of lost function. This book provides a comprehensive overview of research into the development, function, and malfunction of glial cells. It offers a compelling insight into how basic research throws light onto diseases and disorders and points the way towards treatments.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Peter Jezzard, Paul M Matthews, and Stephen M Smith — 2012-03-22

Author:: PeterJezzardHead of MR Physics, FMRIB Centre, Dept of Clinical Neurology, University of OxfordPaul MMatthewsDirector, FMRIB Centre, Dept of Clinical Neurology, University of OxfordStephen MSmithHead of Image Analysis, FMRIB Centre, Dept of Clinical Neurology, University of Oxford
ISBN:: 9780192630711
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Techniques
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780192630711.001.0001
Published in print:: 2001
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This book provides an introduction to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the scanning technique that allows the mapping of active processes within the brain. There are six sections to the book, with chapters from an international team. Part I provides a broad overview of the field and sets the context. Part II describes the physiological and physical background to fMRI, including coverage of the hardware required and pulse-sequence selection. Practical issues involving experimental design of the paradigms, psycho-physical stimulus delivery, and subject response are covered in Part III, followed by a comprehensive treatment of data analysis in Part IV. Part V deals with practical applications of the technique in the field of neuroscience and in clinical practice. The final section describes how fMRI can be integrated with other neuro-electromagnetic functional mapping techniques.

Disturbances of Lower and Higher Visual Capacities Caused by Occipital Damage

W. Poppelreuter, J. Zihl, and L. Weiskrantz — 2012-03-22

Author:: W. Poppelreuter, J. Zihl, L. Weiskrantz
ISBN:: 9780198521907
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Disorders of the Nervous System
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198521907.001.0001
Published in print:: 1990
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

During the First World War many soldiers suffered brain injuries, mostly from gunshot wounds. The localized nature of these injuries made them of special significance for neuropsychological studies and they were the subject of research by British and German psychologists and neurologists working in military hospitals. The work carried out by Walther Poppelreuter in Germany is of particular interest. He was one of the first to design and use precise experimental methods for neuropsychological assessment and analysis. Poppelreuter was also one of the first to suggest a relatively specific processing of visual submodalities such as movement, depth, form, and colour in the prestriate areas. Much of his practical advice on the management of patients is still of value. Anyone concerned with brain injuries, especially of the occipital lobe, can still benefit from his contribution. This translation makes this classic now available to a wider audience.

Dendrites

Greg Stuart, Nelson Spruston, and Michael Häusser — 2012-03-22

Author:: GregStuartAssociate Professor and Head, Division of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, AustraliaNelsonSprustonProfessor, Department of Neurobiology & Physiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USAMichaelHäusserProfessor of Neuroscience, University College London, UK
ISBN:: 9780198566564
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198566564.001.0001
Published in print:: 2007
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

Dendrites form the major receiving part of neurons. It is within these highly complex, branching structures that the real work of the nervous system takes place. The dendrites of neurons receive thousands of synaptic inputs from other neurons. However, dendrites do more than simply collect and funnel these signals to the soma and axon; they shape and integrate the inputs in complex ways. Despite being discovered over a century ago, dendrites received little research attention until the early 1950s. Over the past few years there has been a dramatic explosion of interest in the function of these beautiful structures. Recent new research has developed our understanding of the properties of dendrites, and their role in neuronal function. The first edition of this book was a landmark in the literature, stimulating and guiding further research. The new edition substantially updates the earlier volume, and includes five new chapters. It gathers new information on dendrites into a single volume, with contributions written by leading researchers in the field. The book presents a survey of the current state of our knowledge of dendrites, from their morphology and development through to their electrical, chemical, and computational properties.

Current Methods in Muscle Physiology

Haruo Sugi — 2012-03-22

Author:: HaruoSugiTeikyo University, Tokyo
ISBN:: 9780198523970
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Techniques
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198523970.001.0001
Published in print:: 1998
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

Despite extensive physiological, biochemical, and structural studies, the mechanisms of muscle contraction operating in living muscle fibres are still not clearly understood. This book aims to describe and assess various experimental methods currently used in the field of muscle research. For each method discussed, there is a comprehensive description of its advantages, problems, and limitations. Each chapter also contains a summary of the central results that have been obtained using each method.

Corticospinal Function and Voluntary Movement

Robert Porter and Roger Lemon — 2012-03-22

Author:: Robert Porter, Roger Lemon
ISBN:: 9780198523758
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198523758.001.0001
Published in print:: 1995
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This book presents a comprehensive account of the regions of the brain that control the performance of skilled voluntary movements, especially the accurate and precise control of the use of the fingers and the hand by monkeys and humans. The significance of recent and clinical observations concerning the details of the cortico-cortical connections that contribute to the determination of these functions is discussed.

The Cortical Neuron

Michael J. Gutnick and Istvan Mody — 2012-03-22

Author:: Michael J.GutnickBen-Gurion University of the NegevIstvanModyUniversity of Texas Southwestern
ISBN:: 9780195083309
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195083309.001.0001
Published in print:: 1995
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

Looking beyond the classical “wiring-diagram” description of the organization of cortical cells into circuits, this book focuses on dynamic aspects of cerebral cortical physiology, both at the single-neuron and network levels. Recent years have seen a remarkable expansion of knowledge about the basic cellular physiology and molecular biology of cortical nerve cells—their membrane properties, their synaptic characteristics, their functional connectivity, their development, and the mechanisms of their response to injury. This book includes contributions by many of the neurobiologists and neurologists directly responsible for these advances. The four main sections of the book are: Cortical Neurons and Synapses, The Cortical Network, The Developing Cortical Neuron, and The Vulnerable Cortical Neuron. This is a balanced multidisciplinary perspective on the normal and pathological function of the cells of the cerebral cortex, identifying the controversies and critical issues facing modern researchers in this field.

Cortex Cerebri

O. D. Creutzfeldt — 2012-03-22

Author:: O. D. Creutzfeldt
ISBN:: 9780198523246
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198523246.001.0001
Published in print:: 1995
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

The cortex continues to be the subject of intense scientific curiosity, as it has been for the past thirty years. It is the most highly developed part of the brain, yet the youngest in evolutionary terms. It is fundamental to human behaviour, thinking, and self-understanding, and a study of its structure and performance must encompass aspects of anatomy, physiology, psychology, and neurology. This book provides an account of the structural and functional organisation of the cerebral cortex from the point of view of one of the pioneers in the field. It is a revised and updated translation of the original German text, and brings together the biological, psychological, and philosophical strands of enquiry relating to this area of the brain.

Cognitive Neurology

2012-03-22

Author:: StefanoCappaProfessor of Neuropsychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and Head of Neurology, San Raffaele Turro Hospital, Milan, ItalyJubinAbutalebiDepartment of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, ItalyJean-FrancoisDemonetINSERM U455, Purpan Hospital, Toulouse, FrancePaulFletcherWellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow in Clinical Science, University of CambridgePeterGarrardSenior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Neurologist, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK
ISBN:: 9780198569275
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Techniques
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198569275.001.0001
Published in print:: 2008
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

The study of patients affected by disorders of the central nervous system is one of the crucial research methods for investigating the organization of cognitive functions in the brain. However, many clinicians remain unaware of the significant advances that have taken place in the field of cognitive neuroscience in the last decades. This book provides an introduction to the cognitive and behavioural aspects of the clinical practice of neurology. Most of the contributors combine an active clinical practice with a leading role in their respective research area, and have provided concise summaries of the theoretical advances that they consider to be potentially relevant for the clinical evaluation and treatment of patients. This general approach has led to a format which is different from the many textbooks of neuropsychology that have appeared in the last few years. The organization of the material follows the main issues of diagnostic evaluation, clinical presentation, and management. As a consequence, the book deals not only with the classical neuropsychological syndromes associated with stroke and degenerative dementias, but also with other common clinical conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, head injury, epilepsy, and psychiatric disorders, which are often neglected in neuropsychology textbooks.

Cephalopod Neurobiology

N. Joan Abbott, Roddy Williamson, and Linda Maddock — 2012-03-22

Author:: N. JoanAbbottKing's College, LondonRoddyWilliamsonMarine Biological Association, PlymouthLindaMaddockMarine Biological Association, Plymouth
ISBN:: 9780198547907
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Invertebrate Neurobiology
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198547907.001.0001
Published in print:: 1995
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

Cephalopods (octopus, squid, cuttlefish) are among the most intelligent invertebrates, with highly developed nervous systems that provide excellent model systems for investigating basic questions in neuroscience. In 32 chapters, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the functioning of the cephalopod nervous system, from the cellular level to their complex sensory systems, locomotion, learning and social behaviour.

Cajal's Degeneration and Regeneration of the Nervous System

Santiago Ramon y Cajal, Javier DeFelipe, Edward G. Jones, and R. M. May — 2012-03-22

Author:: Santiago Ramon y CajalJavierDeFelipeCajal Institute, MadridEdward G.JonesUniversity of California, Irvine, R. M. May
ISBN:: 9780195065169
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, History of Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195065169.001.0001
Published in print:: 1991
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This book is a reprint of an English translation of Cajal's original work, with abundant notes and commentaries by the editor. Cajal's fundamental contributions to neuroscience continue to be important today and this account accurately details his ideas and data. The book also provides readers with the opportunity to learn what Cajal thought about his research career and the significance of his observations. Excerpts from Tello's memorial lectures also provide a contemporary view of Cajal's work.

Brain Function and Psychotropic Drugs

Heather Ashton — 2012-03-22

Author:: Heather Ashton
ISBN:: 9780192622426
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780192622426.001.0001
Published in print:: 1992
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This revised edition offers an integrated approach to brain sciences, covering the whole range of normal and abnormal brain function and the effects of drugs on the human brain. It provides a general view of how the brain functions in health and disease, and how drugs may cause disorders.

Brain Damage, Brain Repair

James W. Fawcett, Anne E. Rosser, and Stephen B. Dunnett — 2012-03-22

Author:: James W. Fawcett, Anne E. Rosser, Stephen B. Dunnett
ISBN:: 9780198523376
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Techniques
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198523376.001.0001
Published in print:: 2002
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

Many neurological conditions are caused by damage to neurons and glial cells. For most of these diseases there are at present no effective treatments to minimise the extent of neuronal and glial loss, and no effective way of replacing what has been lost. This picture is rapidly changing. Developments in basic neuroscience have produced various potential therapies that can protect neurons and glia following traumatic, anoxic, infectious, and immunological damage. The old doctrine that axons cannot be made to regenerate, and dead neurons cannot be replaced, is no longer tenable, and a wide variety of reconstructive techniques for the nervous system are under development. These and other basic science discoveries will progress into clinical practice, and lead to a revolution in neurology and neurosurgery. This book describes the various conditions that lead to damage to the nervous system, and the ways in which they may be ameliorated. It covers the burgeoning science of reconstruction of the nervous system, through neuronal, glial, and stem-cell transplantation, axon regeneration, remyelination, plasticity, and pharmacological interventions. The clinical conditions to which these treatments will be applied and their assessments are described.

Brain and Visual Perception

DAVID H. HUBEL and TORSTEN N. WIESEL — 2012-03-22

Author:: DAVID H. HUBEL, TORSTEN N. WIESEL
ISBN:: 9780195176186
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195176186.001.0001
Published in print:: 2004
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

Scientists' understanding of two central problems in neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy has been greatly influenced by the work of David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel: What is it to see? This relates to the machinery that underlies visual perception, How do we acquire the brain's mechanisms for vision? This is the nature-nurture question as to whether the nerve connections responsible for vision are innate or whether they develop through experience in the early life of an animal or human. This is a book about the collaboration between Hubel and Wiesel, which began in 1958, lasted until about 1982, and led to a Nobel Prize in 1981. It opens with short biographies of both men, describes the state of the field when they started, and talks about the beginnings of their collaboration. It emphasizes the importance of various mentors in their lives, especially Stephen W. Kuffler, who opened up the field by studying the cat retina in 1950, and founded the department of neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, where most of their work was done. The main part of the book consists of Hubel and Wiesel's most important publications. Each reprinted paper is preceded by a foreword that tells how they went about the research, what the difficulties and the pleasures were, and whether they felt a paper was important and why. Each is also followed by an afterword describing how the paper was received and what developments have occurred since its publication. The reader learns things that are often absent from typical scientific publications, including whether the work was difficult, fun, personally rewarding, exhilarating, or just plain tedious. The book ends with a summing-up of the present state of the field.

Bioelectromagnetism

Jaakko Malmivuo and Robert Plonsey — 2012-03-22

Author:: Jaakko Malmivuo, Robert Plonsey
ISBN:: 9780195058239
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Techniques
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195058239.001.0001
Published in print:: 1995
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This book looks at the application of engineering science and technology to biological cells and tissues that are electrically conducting and excitable. It describes the theory and a wide range of applications in both electric and magnetic fields. The similarities and differences between bioelectricity and biomagnetism are described in detail from the viewpoint of lead field theory. This book aims to help with the understanding of the properties of existing bioelectric and biomagnetic measurements and stimulation methods, and to aid with the designing of new systems.

Beyond Neurotransmission

Paul Katz — 2012-03-22

Author:: PaulKatzGeorgia State University, Atlanta
ISBN:: 9780198524243
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198524243.001.0001
Published in print:: 1999
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

There are many modes of communication that neurons use to transmit information besides what has come to be called neurotransmission. Many of these other types of communication can be classified as neuromodulatory, where instead of conveying excitation or inhibition, the signal from one neuron changes the properties of other neurons or synapses. This form of neuronal communication is often overlooked by systems physiologists, but it is extremely prevalent in the nervous system and needs to be included in any description of how the nervous system processes information. This book provides the foundations for understanding the cellular and molecular basis for neuromodulatory effects. It illustrates some key examples of the roles played by neuromodulation in sensory processing, neuromuscular transmission, generation of motor behaviours, and learning. Finally, the book seeks to point out areas that are likely to be of importance in the future study of information processing by the nervous system. It also summarizes a vast amount of research, and puts it into the context of how these cellular mechanisms are used in systems of neurons. By spanning the levels of analysis from sub-cellular mechanisms through cellular properties and neuronal systems to behaviour, the book provides a framework for understanding this currently exploding field of research.

Appetite

Charles R. Legg and David Booth — 2012-03-22

Author:: Charles R.LeggCity University, LondonDavidBoothUniversity of Birmingham
ISBN:: 9780198547877
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198547877.001.0001
Published in print:: 1994
Published Online:: 2012-03-22

This is the first book to deal with both the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms in appetites for drugs, food, sex, and gambling, and considers whether there are common factors between them. The book approaches this by looking at the bases of both normal and abnormal appetites in humans.

Why Red Doesn’t Sound Like a Bell

J. Kevin O'Regan — 2012-01-19

Author:: J. Kevin O'Regan
ISBN:: 9780199775224
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199775224.001.0001
Published in print:: 2011
Published Online:: 2012-01-19

This book proposes a novel view to explain how we as humans—contrary to current robots—can have the impression of consciously feeling things: for example the red of a sunset, the smell of a rose, the sound of a symphony, or a pain. The book starts off by looking at visual perception. Our ability to see turns out to be much more mysterious than one might think. The eye contains many defects which should seriously interfere with vision. Yet we have the impression of seeing the world in glorious panavision and technicolor. Explaining how this can be the case leads to a new idea about what seeing really is. Seeing is not passively receiving information in the brain, but rather a way of interacting with the world. The role of the brain is not to create visual sensation, but to enable the necessary interactions with the world. This new approach to seeing is extended in the second part of the book to encompass the other senses: hearing, touch, taste, and smell. Taking sensory experiences to be modes of interacting with the world explains why these experiences are different in the way they are. It also explains why thoughts or automatic functions in the body, and indeed the vast majority brain functions, are not accompanied by any real feeling. The “sensorimotor” approach is not simply a philosophical argument: It leads to scientifically verifiable predictions and new research directions. Among these are the phenomena of change blindness, sensory substitution, “looked but failed to see”, as well as results on color naming and color perception and the localization of touch on the body.

Restorative Neurology of Spinal Cord Injury

Milan R. Dimitrijevic, Byron A. Kakulas, W. Barry McKay, and Gerta Vrbova — 2012-01-19

Author:: Milan R.DimitrijevicEmeritus Professor, Baylor College of MedicineByron A.KakulasAustralian Neuromuscular Research InstituteW. BarryMcKayNorton Neuroscience InstituteGertaVrbovaVisiting Professor, Royal Veterinary College
ISBN:: 9780199746507
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems, Disorders of the Nervous System
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199746507.001.0001
Published in print:: 2011
Published Online:: 2012-01-19

Following injury or disease, neural circuitry can be altered to varying degrees leading to highly individualized characteristics that may or may not resemble original function. In addition, lost or partially damaged circuits and the effects of biological recovery processes coupled with learned compensatory strategies create a new neuroanatomy with capabilities that are often not functional or may interfere with daily life. To date, the majority of approaches used to treat neurological dysfunction have focused on the replacement of lost or damaged function, usually through the suppression of surviving neural activity and the application of mechanical assistive devices. This book offers a different and novel approach. Focusing on the spinal cord and its role in motor control, it details the clinical and neurophysiological assessment process and methods developed throughout the past half century by basic and clinical scientists. Then, through the use of specialized clinical and neurophysiological testing methods, conduction and processing performed within the surviving neural circuitry is examined and characterized in detail. Based on the results of such assessment, treatment strategies, also described in this book, are applied to augment, rather than replace, the performance of surviving neural circuitry and improve the functional capacity of people who have experienced injury to their spinal cords.

The History of Neuroscience in Autobiography

Larry R. Squire — 2012-01-19

Author:: Larry R.SquireUniversity of California, San Diego
ISBN:: 9780195396133
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, History of Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195396133.001.0001
Published in print:: 2011
Published Online:: 2012-01-19

Edited by Larry R. Squire, the seventh volume of The History of Neuroscience in Autobiography is a collection of autobiographical essays by notable senior scientists who discuss the major events that shaped their discoveries and their influences, as well as the people who inspired them and helped shape their careers as neuroscientists. Each entry also includes a complete CV so that the interested reader may see their rise through the ranks as they achieved some of the highest honors in neuroscience. Contributors to the seventh volume include: Floyd E. Bloom, Joaquín Fuster, Michael S. Gazzaniga, Bertil Hille, Ivan Izquierdo, Edward Jones, Krešimir Krnjević, Nicole M. Le Douarin, Terje Lømo, Michael M. Merzenich, John Wilson Moore, Robert Y. Moore, Michael I. Posner, Peter H. Schiller, Gordon M. Shepherd, and Robert H. Wurtz.

The Biology of Homosexuality

Jacques Balthazart — 2012-01-19

Author:: Jacques Balthazart
ISBN:: 9780199838820
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Neuroendocrine and Autonomic, Development
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199838820.001.0001
Published in print:: 2011
Published Online:: 2012-01-19

This book presents a simple description of the biological mechanisms that are involved in the determination of sexual orientation in animals and also presumably in humans. Using scientific studies published over the last few decades, it argues that sexual orientation, both homosexual and heterosexual, is under the control of embryonic endocrine and genetic phenomena in which there is little room for individual choice. The book begins with animal studies of the hormonal and neural mechanisms that control the so-called instinctive behaviors and analyzes how this animal work may potentially apply to humans. The book does not focus exclusively on homosexuality, however. Instead, the book acts as a broader guide to the biological basis of sexual orientation, and also discusses important gender differences that may influence sexual orientation.

The Shocking History of Electric Fishes

Stanley Finger and Marco Piccolino — 2011-09-22

Author:: Stanley Finger, Marco Piccolino
ISBN:: 9780195366723
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, History of Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195366723.001.0001
Published in print:: 2011
Published Online:: 2011-09-22

This book looks at how three kinds of strongly electric fishes literally became “electrical,” and how they helped to change the sciences and medicine. These fishes are the flat torpedo rays common to the Mediterranean, the electric catfishes of Africa, and an “eel” from South America. The discovery of the electrical nature of these fishes in the second half of the 18th century was the starting point of the two fundamental advances in the sciences: on the physiological side, the demonstration that nerve conduction and muscle excitation are electrical phenomena; and on the physical side, the invention of the electric battery. Starting with catfish tomb drawings from Ancient Egypt and colorful descriptions of torpedoes from the Classical Era, the chapters in this book show how these fishes were both fascinating and mysterious to the ancients. After all, not only could they produce torpor and temporary numbness when touched, they could stun through intermediaries, such as wet nets and spears. Various explanations were given for these remarkable actions in ancient times, including the idea that they might release some sort of cold venom. Through the Renaissance, they also tended to be associated with occult and magical qualities. During the 1600s, natural philosophers speculated that rapid movements of specialized muscles could account for their actions. This idea was widely accepted until the 1750s, when the possibility that their shocks might be electrical began to be discussed. Showing how researchers set forth to provide support for fish electricity is a major focus of this book. Here the chapters transport us into the jungles of South America and later show how some live eels were transported to London, where John Walsh demonstrated in 1776 that they can actually spark. Subsequent chapters deal with further evidence for specialized fish electricity and how electric fishes helped to change ideas about even our own physiology. The book also shows how these fish remained a part of medicine, and how Volta modeled his revolutionary “pile” or electric battery on their anatomy.

Locomotor Training

Susan Harkema, PhD, Andrea Behrman, PhD, PT, and Hugues Barbeau, PhD — 2011-09-22

Author:: Susan Harkema, PhD, Andrea Behrman, PhD, PT, Hugues Barbeau, PhD
ISBN:: 9780195342086
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems, Techniques
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195342086.001.0001
Published in print:: 2011
Published Online:: 2011-09-22

Locomotor training is an emerging rehabilitation intervention for recovery of function after neurologic injury or disease and the physiological basis and scientific evidence supporting its use is discussed in this book. The book also reviews physical rehabilitation for posture, standing, and walking from a historical perspective that provides a context for the emergence of locomotor training as an activity-based therapy after spinal cord injury (SCI) and stroke by implementing evidence-based practice providing new strategies to augment already successful therapeutic approaches. As an activity-based therapy, locomotor training provides activation of the neuromuscular system below the level of lesion with the goal of retraining the nervous system to recover specific motor tasks related to mobility, posture, standing, and walking. The book presents the four guiding principles that serve as the basis for clinical decisions throughout the three components of locomotor training. Successfully providing the locomotor training intervention is dependent on knowledge, skill, proper equipment and attire, and clinical decisions for progression. Community integration prepares the client for functioning at home and in the community. The primary goal of both overground assessment and community integration is to translate the capacity of the nervous system developed during step training to walking at home and in the community. The locomotor training intervention is implemented by identifying specific goals based on the current phase of recovery. Properly and continuously challenging clients to achieve higher levels of performance is critical to recovery. Even though the accomplished neural plasticity may not have yet resulted in reaching functional goals such as transferring, standing, or improvements in walking, the assessments in the phasing will show more incremental changes in neural recovery. The sequence of implementing these specific goals is based both on the scientific evidence and the experience of many physical therapists who have provided the intervention in research and clinical environments over the past decade.

Imaging in Parkinson’s Disease

David Eidelberg — 2011-09-22

Author:: David Eidelberg
ISBN:: 9780195393484
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Disorders of the Nervous System, Techniques
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195393484.001.0001
Published in print:: 2011
Published Online:: 2011-09-22

This volume provides up-to-date information concerning new applications of brain imaging to the study of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The chapters, written by experts in this field, focus on the various imaging methodologies that have recently been used to study the natural history of the disease with emphasis on each of the distinctive clinical features that characterize the disorder (e.g., bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor and gait disturbance). Individual chapters also address the role of imaging in differential diagnosis, and in the evaluation of cognitive dysfunction/dementia in parkinsonian patients. Considerable emphasis is placed on potential applications of neuroimaging in clinical trials to assess new pharmacologic and surgical treatment strategies for PD, including deep brain stimulation (DBS), cell transplantation, and gene therapy. In-depth discussion is provided on advanced imaging applications, including rest-state and activation fMRI, volumetric MR, PET assessment of dopaminergic and cholinergic neurotransmission, and echosonography. Additional topics cover recent developments in the use of brain imaging to assess disease mechanisms including neuroinflammation, protein aggregation, and disordered brain network organization in PD.

Galvani’s Spark

Alan McComas — 2011-09-22

Author:: Alan McComas
ISBN:: 9780199751754
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, History of Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199751754.001.0001
Published in print:: 2011
Published Online:: 2011-09-22

The nerve impulse is the basis of all human thoughts and emotions, and of all sensations and movements. As such, it has been the subject of scientific enquiry for more than two centuries, beginning with Galvani’s chance observation that a frog’s leg twitched in response to an electrostatic discharge nearby. From being a metaphysical concept, the impulse became a phenomenon that could be recorded and have its velocity determined. However, the nature of the brief permeability changes in the nerve membrane that made the impulse possible, and of the way in which the nerve endings influenced the excitability of connecting neurons, remained problems that taxed the ingenuity of physiologists for many years. An important breakthrough was the discovery of giant nerve fibres in the squid, fibres large enough for new techniques to be employed, as in the voltage-clamp experiments of Hodgkin and Huxley immediately after World War II. The story culminates with the recent discovery of the 3-dimensional structure and detailed functioning of the ion channels, following MacKinnon’s X-ray diffraction studies, and with the revelation that a host of clinical disorders result from malfunction of the ion channels.

The Dynamic Brain

Mingzhou Ding, PhD and Dennis Glanzman,PhD — 2011-09-22

Author:: MingzhouDing, PhDDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of FloridaDennisGlanzman,PhDNational Institute of Mental Health
ISBN:: 9780195393798
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience, Development
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195393798.001.0001
Published in print:: 2011
Published Online:: 2011-09-22

Neuronal responses to identically presented stimuli are extremely variable. This variability has in the past often been regarded as “noise.” At the single neuron level, interspike interval (ISI) histograms constructed during either spontaneous or stimulus-evoked activity reveal a Poisson type distribution. These observations have been taken as evidence that neurons are intrinsically “noisy” in their firing properties. More recent attempts to measure the information content of single neuron spike trains have revealed that a surprising amount of information can be coded in spike trains even in the presence of trial-to-trial variability. Multiple single unit recording experiments have suggested that variability formerly attributed to noise in single cell recordings may instead simply reflect system-wide changes in cellular response properties. These observations raise the possibility that, at least at the level of neuronal coding, the variability seen in single neuron responses may not simply reflect an underlying noisy process. They further raise the very distinct possibility that noise may in fact contain real, meaningful information which is available for the nervous system in information processing. To understand how neurons work in concert to bring about coherent behavior and its breakdown in disease, neuroscientists now routinely record simultaneously from hundreds of different neurons and from different brain areas, and then attempt to evaluate the network activities by computing various interdependence measures including cross correlation, phase synchronization, and spectral coherence. This book examines neuronal variability from theoretical, experimental, and clinical perspectives.

Central Regulation of Autonomic Functions

Ida J. Llewellyn-Smith and Anthony J. M. Verberne — 2011-05-01

Author:: Ida J.Llewellyn-SmithFlinders University, Adelaide, AustraliaAnthony J. M.VerberneUniversity of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
ISBN:: 9780195306637
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Neuroendocrine and Autonomic
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195306637.001.0001
Published in print:: 2011
Published Online:: 2011-05-01

Central autonomic circuits in the brain and spinal cord are essential to vertebrate life. They control all basic bodily functions, including blood pressure, body temperature regulation, digestion, and reproduction. This book presents the extraordinary advances that have been made over the last twenty years in the understanding of how our central nervous system controls autonomic function. The first nine chapters describe central autonomic circuits from the cerebral cortex to the periphery. Eight additional chapters address specific bodily functions and their control by central autonomic circuits. Two additional chapters discuss cardio-respiratory integration and regulation of autonomic function by visceral and somatic afferents. All of the chapters are up-to-date and cover topics such as the central autonomic regulation of airways, gastrointestinal function, energy homeostasis, body temperature, and sexual function, reflecting the latest research.

Neuroimaging in Epilepsy

Harry Chugani, MD — 2011-01-01

Author:: HarryChugani, MDDepartment of Pediatric Neurology, Children's Hospital of Michigan, PET Center, Detroit, MI.
ISBN:: 9780195342765
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Disorders of the Nervous System
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195342765.001.0001
Published in print:: 2010
Published Online:: 2011-01-01

Perhaps the most important achievements in the field of epileptology in the past two decades have been in the neuroimaging and genetic breakthroughs as applied to patients with epilepsy. Indeed, neuroimaging has become a vital part in the study of epilepsy, affecting broad aspects of the disorder ranging from diagnosis and classification to treatment and prognosis. Neuroimaging in epilepsy encompasses many different approaches that have reached various levels of expertise across epilepsy centers worldwide. This book discusses every imaging modality used to gather information on epilepsy. Each technique is described by world experts and epilespy centers worldwide.

Motor Control

Frederic Danion, PhD and Mark Latash, PhD — 2011-01-01

Author:: Frederic Danion, PhD, Mark Latash, PhD
ISBN:: 9780195395273
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195395273.001.0001
Published in print:: 2010
Published Online:: 2011-01-01

Motor control has established itself as an area of scientific research characterized by a multi-disciplinary approach. Scientists working in the area of control of voluntary movements come from different backgrounds including but not limited to physiology, physics, psychology, mathematics, neurology, physical therapy, computer science, robotics, and engineering. One of the factors slowing progress in the area has been the lack of communication among researchers representing all these disciplines. A major objective of this book is to overcome this deficiency and to promote cooperation and mutual understanding among researchers addressing different aspects of the complex phenomenon of motor coordination. The book offers a collection of chapters written by the most prominent researchers in the field. Despite the variety of approaches and methods, all the chapters are united by a common goal: to understand how the central nervous system controls and coordinates natural voluntary movements.

Integrative Neuroscience and Personalized Medicine

Evian Gordon, MD, PhD and Stephen Koslow, PhD — 2011-01-01

Author:: EvianGordon, MD, PhDStephenKoslow, PhD
ISBN:: 9780195393804
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Disorders of the Nervous System
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195393804.001.0001
Published in print:: 2010
Published Online:: 2011-01-01

Key thoughts leaders and practitioners in personalized medicine distil its current status, future directions, and recommendation for successful implementation of for brain disorders. This text is a summary of the “science to patient” continuum in and integrative neuroscience. Included are measures of genes using whole genome approaches and SNIPS, as well as BRAINmarkers of direct brain function such as brain imaging, biophysical changes and objective cognitive and behavioral measurements. The chapters provide a review of relevant literature; show the personalized diagnostic and treatment prediction solutions for patient care achieved through integrative neuroscience, providing a practical guide. This book provides a summary of the key translations from laboratory discoveries to patient and reimbursement issues, in personalized medicine.

Your Brain on Food

Gary Wenk — 2010-09-01

Author:: Gary Wenk
ISBN:: 9780195388541
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience, Neuroendocrine and Autonomic
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195388541.001.0001
Published in print:: 2010
Published Online:: 2010-09-01

This book demonstrates how everything we put into our bodies effects certain neurotransmitters concerned with behavior and as a result has very direct consequences for how we think, feel, and act. The chapters introduce each of the main neurotransmitters involved with behavior, discuss its role in the brain, present some background on how it is generally turned on and off, and explain ways to influence it through what we consume. The book answers many questions, including: Why is eating chocolate so pleasurable? Can the function of just one small group of chemicals really determine whether you are happy or sad? Does marijuana help to improve your memory in old age? Is it really best to drink coffee if you want to wake up and be alert? Why is a drug like PCP potentially lethal? Why does drinking alcohol make you drowsy? Do cigarettes help to relieve anxiety? What should you consume if you are having trouble staying in your chair and focusing enough to get your work done? Why do treatments for the common cold make us drowsy? Can eating less food preserve your brain? What are the possible side effects of pills that claim to make you smarter? Why is it so hard to stop smoking? Why did witches once believe that they could fly?

The Neural Basis of Reading

Piers Cornelissen, Peter Hansen, Morten Kringelbach, and Ken Pugh — 2010-09-01

Author:: PiersCornelissenUniversity of YorkPeterHansenUniversity of Oxford, UK, and Aarhus University, DenmarkMortenKringelbachUniversity of Oxford, UK, and Aarhus University, DenmarkKenPughYale University
ISBN:: 9780195300369
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems, Behavioral Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195300369.001.0001
Published in print:: 2010
Published Online:: 2010-09-01

Reading is a unique human skill, and modern societies rely extensively on literacy skills. Reading disability can therefore have a profound personal, economic, and social impact. However, the scientific understanding of the neural basis of reading in the normal brain is underdeveloped. A better understanding of normal reading processes could help individuals with developmental dyslexia and those with reading disabilities gained through injury or disease. Neuroimaging offers a unique window on reading and has allowed us to reach interesting insights about the neural correlates of reading in health and disease. It has also raised questions for scientific debate. The whole field of reading research is very much a dynamic and growing one. This book provides some seasoned insights and to offer a window into various conceptual and technical issues that continue to be discussed and developed.

MEG: An Introduction to Methods

Peter Hansen, Morten Kringelbach, and Riitta Salmelin — 2010-09-01

Author:: PeterHansenSchool of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UKMortenKringelbachUniversity of Oxford, UK, and Aarhus University, DenmarkRiittaSalmelinHelsinki University of Technology, Finland
ISBN:: 9780195307238
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience, Techniques
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195307238.001.0001
Published in print:: 2010
Published Online:: 2010-09-01

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is an exciting brain imaging technology that allows real-time tracking of neural activity, making it an invaluable tool for advancing our understanding of brain function. This introduction to MEG brings together chapters which provide the basic tools for planning and executing MEG experiments, as well as analyzing and interpreting the resulting data. Chapters on the basics describe the fundamentals of MEG and its instrumentation, and provide guidelines for designing experiments and performing successful measurements. Chapters on data analysis present it in detail, from general concepts and assumptions to analysis of evoked responses and oscillatory background activity. Chapters on solutions propose potential solutions to the inverse problem using techniques such as minimum norm estimates, spatial filters, and beamformers. Chapters on combinations elucidate how MEG can be used to complement other neuroimaging techniques. Chapters on applications provide practical examples of how to use MEG to study sensory processing and cognitive tasks, and how MEG can be used in a clinical setting.

Attention, Genes, and Developmental Disorders

Kim Cornish and John Wilding — 2010-09-01

Author:: Kim Cornish, John Wilding
ISBN:: 9780195179941
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience, Development
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195179941.001.0001
Published in print:: 2010
Published Online:: 2010-09-01

What is attention? How does it go wrong? Do attention deficits arise from genes or from the environment? Can we cure it with drugs or training? Are there disorders of attention other than deficit disorders? The past decade has seen a burgeoning of research on the subject of attention. This research has been facilitated by advances on several fronts: New methods are now available for viewing brain activity in real time, there is expanding information on the complexities of the biochemistry of neural activity, individual genes can be isolated and their functions identified, analysis of the component processes included under the broad umbrella of “attention” has become increasingly sophisticated, and ingenious methods have been devised for measuring typical and atypical development of these processes, from infancy into childhood, and then into adulthood. This book is concerned with attention and its development, both typical and atypical, particularly in disorders with a known genetic etiology or assumed genetic linkage. Tremendous advances across seemingly diverse disciplines — molecular genetics, pediatric neurology, child psychiatry, developmental cognitive neuroscience, and education s— have culminated in a wealth of new methods for elucidating disorders at multiple levels, possibly paving the way for new treatment options. The book uses three specific-yet-interlinking levels of analysis: genetic blueprint (genotype), the developing brain, and the behavioral-cognitive outcomes (phenotype), as the basis for charting the attention profiles of six well-documented neurodevelopmental disorders: ADHD, autism, fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, Williams syndrome, and 22q11 deletion syndrome.

Simultaneous EEG and fMRI

Markus Ullsperger and Stefan Debener — 2010-05-01

Author:: MarkusUllspergerDepartment of Cognitive Neurology, Max Planck InstStefanDebenerDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Jena,
ISBN:: 9780195372731
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Techniques
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195372731.001.0001
Published in print:: 2010
Published Online:: 2010-05-01

Systemic interactions in brain networks have been successfully studied in vivo using non-invasive methods such as electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), for many years. The rate-limiting step, however, is that each method can only map selective aspects of brain function, while missing other key aspects. Furthermore, the inferences on neuronal processes and information flow are often rather indirect. By simultaneously combining both methods, the researcher is better able to make optimal use of their specific advantages while compensating for their disadvantages. In recent years, research has shifted and expanded, from demonstrating technical feasibility, to methodological issues of artifact control, new ways of analyzing and integrating data, and to applications for scientific and clinical questions. Combined EEG and fMRI methods now cover everything from physiological questions on the bases of the two recorded signals, to more specific questions on the mechanisms of certain cognitive and pathological functions like epileptic brain activity. Simultaneous EEG and fMRI provides the interested researcher with the tools to establish a simultaneous EEG-fMRI laboratory, as well as for those scientists who are interested in integrating electrophysiological and hemodynamic data. As evidenced by the diversity of topics presented, this is a dynamically developing field in which several approaches are being tested, validated, and compared. Chapters are dedicated to the physiological bases of the measured signals, technical setup, sources of artifacts and data de-noising, various approaches of data analysis and fusion, as well as applications. In addition, open questions and directions for future research are outlined.

Cortical Oscillations in Health and Disease

Roger Traub, MD and Miles Whittington, PhD — 2010-05-01

Author:: Roger Traub, MD, Miles Whittington, PhD
ISBN:: 9780195342796
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems, Development
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195342796.001.0001
Published in print:: 2010
Published Online:: 2010-05-01

This book reviews a number of clinical neuropsychiatric conditions in which brain oscillations play an essential role. It discusses how the intrinsic properties of neurons, and the interactions between neurons – mediated by both chemical synapses and by gap junctions – can lead to oscillations in populations of cells. The discussion is based largely on data derived from in vitro systems (hippocampus, cerebral and cerebellar cortex) and from network modeling. Finally, the book considers how brain oscillations can provide insight into normal brain function as well as pathophysiology.

Brain, Mind, and the Structure of Reality

Paul Nunez — 2010-05-01

Author:: Paul Nunez
ISBN:: 9780195340716
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Development
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195340716.001.0001
Published in print:: 2010
Published Online:: 2010-05-01

Does the brain create the mind, or is some external entity involved? In addressing this hard problem of consciousness, we face a central human challenge: what do we really know and how do we know it? Tentative answers in this book follow from a synthesis of profound ideas, borrowed from philosophy, religion, politics, economics, neuroscience, physics, mathematics, and cosmology, the knowledge structures supporting our meager grasp of reality. This search for new links in the web of human knowledge extends in many directions: the shadows of our thought processes revealed by brain imagining, brains treated as complex adaptive systems that reveal fractal-like behavior in the brain's nested hierarchy, resonant interactions facilitating functional connections in brain tissue, probability and entropy as measures of human ignorance, fundamental limits on human knowledge, and the central role played by information in both brains and physical systems. The author discusses the possibility of deep connections between relativity, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and consciousness; all entities involved with fundamental information barriers. This study elaborates on possible new links in this nested web of human knowledge that may tell us something new about the nature and origins of consciousness. In the end, does the brain create the mind? Or is the mind already out there?

The Orbitofrontal Cortex

David Zald and Scott Rauch — 2010-02-01

Author:: DavidZaldAssistant Professor of Psychology, Vanderbilt UniversityScottRauchAssociate Chief of Psychiatry for Neuroscience Research, Director, Division of Psychiatric Neuroscience Research & Neurotherapeutics, Director, Psychiatric Neuroimaging Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
ISBN:: 9780198565741
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198565741.001.0001
Published in print:: 2006
Published Online:: 2010-02-01

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) comprises the ventral surface of the frontal lobe, and is critical for functions ranging from olfaction and emotion to learning and behavioral flexibility. Since the time of Phineas Gage, this enigmatic brain region has intrigued clinicians due to its association with personality. Recent research has started to unmask the specific operational principles of the area. Simultaneously, advances in the clinical neurosciences increasingly implicate the OFC and adjacent ventral frontal regions in a variety of psychiatric and neurological conditions including anxiety, mood, and addictive disorders, as well as frontotemporal dementia. This book provides a review of the orbitofrontal cortex. The book starts with a review of the structure of the ventral frontal lobes in human and nonhuman primates and the current state of knowledge regarding the region's neurocircuitry. This is followed by chapters addressing the precise functions of the OFC including its role in emotion, reward, learning, inhibitory control, decision making, chemosensory processing, autonomic regulation, and social functioning. The book continues with chapters detailing methodological issues in neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessment of the region, and concludes with reviews of the area's contribution to psychiatric and neurological conditions.

Luria's Legacy in the 21st Century

Anne-Lise Christensen, Elkhonon Goldberg, and Dmitri Bougakov — 2010-02-01

Author:: Anne-LiseChristensenCopenhagen UniversityElkhononGoldbergDmitriBougakov
ISBN:: 9780195176704
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, History of Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195176704.001.0001
Published in print:: 2009
Published Online:: 2010-02-01

Alexandr Romanovich Luria was one of the foremost neuropsychologists of the 20th Century and the field of neuropsychology was created, in large part, due to his research on patients with brain lesions during the Second World War. Throughout his career, his insights on thought processes and aphasias inspired and challenged the discipline and his students. Luria's Legacy in the 21st Century is a collection of essays by leading neuropsychologists and cognitive neuroscientists to honor Alexandr Romanovich Luria and to highlight the enduring impact of his legacy on cognitive neuroscience, clinical neuropsychology, and neurorehabilitation. A wide range of topics are covered, from functional neuroimaging in neuropsychology to bedside evaluation techniques. Several generations of neuropsychologists and cognitive neuroscientists are among contributors, including those who closely worked with Luria, their own students, and others influenced in their work by Luria's pioneering insights. Broad in scope and rich in detail, Luria's Legacy in the 21st Century provides a window into the world of the great neuropsychologist. Each essay suggests that Luria's impact will be felt far into the future.

Imaging the Aging Brain

William Jagust and Mark D'Esposito — 2010-02-01

Author:: WilliamJagustUniversity of California, BerkeleyMarkD'EspositoUniversity of California, Berkeley
ISBN:: 9780195328875
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Techniques, Development
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195328875.001.0001
Published in print:: 2009
Published Online:: 2010-02-01

The study of brain aging has been revolutionized through advances in molecular neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, and brain imaging. The application of new concepts and techniques has permitted investigators to explore the changes in structure, function, and biochemistry in living humans in order to unravel mechanisms that underlie both age-related cognitive decline and preservation of cognition into old age. This book reviews both the basic science and clinical applications of brain imaging in the study of brain aging. Topics reviewed include technical issues associated with imaging studies in older brains, pathology of brain aging, structural changes in the aging brain, changes in dopamine function, and mechanisms of brain reserve and plasticity. The use of genetics in combination with brain imaging and the use of animal models are also explored. Clinical applications include the diagnosis and prediction of cognitive decline using a variety of different imaging approaches as well as a detailed description of amyloid imaging using PET scanning. Other topics include functional MRI studies in aging, the use of imaging in therapeutic monitoring and drug development, and the role of large-scale databases. The volume contains information both for those involved in brain imaging research and for those new to the field who are in need of a systematic overview.

Dopamine Handbook

Leslie Iversen, Susan Iversen, Stephen Dunnett, and Anders Bjorklund — 2010-02-01

Author:: LeslieIversenOxford University, UKSusanIversenOxford University, UKStephenDunnettCardiff University, UKAndersBjorklundLund University, Sweden
ISBN:: 9780195373035
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems, History of Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195373035.001.0001
Published in print:: 2009
Published Online:: 2010-02-01

The discovery of dopamine in 1957-8 was one of the seminal events in the development of modern neuroscience, and has been extremely important for the development of modern therapies of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Dopamine has a fundamental role in almost all aspects of behavior — from motor control to mood regulation, cognition and addiction and reward — and dopamine research has been unique within the neurosciences in the way it has bridged basic science and clinical practice. Over the decades, research into the role of dopamine in health and disease has been at the forefront of modern neuroscience.

Creating Modern Neuroscience: The Revolutionary 1950s

Gordon M. Shepherd MD, DPhil — 2010-02-01

Author:: Gordon M. Shepherd MD, DPhil
ISBN:: 9780195391503
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, History of Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195391503.001.0001
Published in print:: 2009
Published Online:: 2010-02-01

For modern scientists, history often starts with last week's journals and is regarded as largely a quaint interest compared with the advances of today. However, this book makes the case that, measured by major advances, the greatest decade in the history of brain studies was mid-twentieth century, especially the 1950s. The first to focus on worldwide contributions in this period, this book ranges through dozens of astonishing discoveries at all levels of the brain, from DNA (Watson and Crick), through growth factors (Hamburger and Levi-Montalcini), excitability (Hodgkin and Huxley), synapses (Katz and Eccles), dopamine and Parkinson's (Carlsson), visual processing (Hartline and Kuffler), the cortical column (Mountcastle), reticular activating system (Morruzzi and Magoun) and REM sleep (Aserinsky), to stress (Selye), learning (Hebb) and memory (HM and Milner). The clinical fields are also covered — from Cushing and Penfield, psychosurgery, and brain energy metabolism (Kety), to most of the major psychoactive drugs in use today (beginning with Delay and Deniker) — and much more. There is a focus on the creative process itself; on understanding how the combination of unique personalities, innovative hypotheses, and new methods led to the advances. Insight is given into this process through describing the struggles between male and female, student and mentor, academic and private sector, and the roles of chance and persistence. The book thus provides a multidisciplinary understanding of the revolution that created the modern field of neuroscience, and which set the bar for judging current and future advances.

Cajal's Butterflies of the Soul

Javier DeFelipe — 2010-02-01

Author:: Javier DeFelipe
ISBN:: 9780195392708
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems, History of Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195392708.001.0001
Published in print:: 2009
Published Online:: 2010-02-01

This book contains a large collection of beautiful figures produced throughout the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, which represent some characteristic examples of the early days of research in neuroscience. The main aim of this work is to demonstrate to the general public that the study of the nervous system is not only important for the many obvious reasons related to brain function in both health and disease, but also for the unexpected natural beauty that it beholds. This beauty has been discovered thanks to the techniques used to visualize the microscopic structure of the brain, a true forest of colorful and florid neural cells. As illustrated by his marvelous drawings, the studies of Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852-1934) no doubt contributed more than those of any other researcher at the time to the growth of modern neuroscience. Thus, his name has been honored in the title of this book, even though the figures contained in the main body of it are from 91 different authors. Looking at the illustrations in this book, the readers will find that many of the early researchers that studied the nervous system were also true artists, of considerable talent and esthetic sensibility. Hence, the present book contains numerous drawings of some of the most important pioneers in neuroscience, including Deiters, Kolliker, Meynert, Ranvier, Golgi, Retzius, Nissl, Dogiel, Alzheimer, del Rio-Hortega, and de Castro.

Sex Differences in the Brain

2010-01-01

Author:: Jill B.BeckerUniversity of MichiganKaren J.BerkleyFlorida State University, TallahaseeNoriGearySwiss Federal Institute of Technology, ZurichElizabethHampsonUniversity of Western OntarioJames P.HermanUniversity of CincinnatiElizabethYoungUniversity of Michigan
ISBN:: 9780195311587
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195311587.001.0001
Published in print:: 2007
Published Online:: 2010-01-01

Sex is a fundamentally important biological variable. Recent years have seen significant progress in the integration of sex in many aspects of basic and clinical research, including analyses of sex differences in brain function. Significant advances in the technology available for studying the endocrine and nervous systems are now coupled with a more sophisticated awareness of the interconnections of these two communication systems of the body. A thorough understanding of the current knowledge, conceptual approaches, methodological capabilities, and challenges is a prerequisite to continued progress in research and therapeutics in this interdisciplinary area. This book provides scientists with the basic tools for investigating sex differences in brain and behavior, and insight into areas where important progress in understanding physiologically relevant sex differences has already been made. The book is arranged in three parts. The first part of the book introduces the study of sex differences in the brain, with an overview of how the brain, stress systems, and pharmacogenetics differ in males and females and how this information is important for the study of behavior and neurobiology of both genders. The second part presents examples of sex differences in neurobiology and behavior from both basic and clinical research perspectives, covering both humans and nonhuman animals. The final part discusses sex differences in the neurobiology of disease and neurological disorders.

The Science of Marijuana

Leslie L. Iversen — 2010-01-01

Author:: Leslie L. Iversen
ISBN:: 9780195328240
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195328240.001.0001
Published in print:: 2007
Published Online:: 2010-01-01

In this work, the author explains the remarkable advances that have been made in scientific research on cannabis with the discovery of specific receptors and the existence of naturally occurring cannabis-like substances in the brain. He provides an objective and up-to-date assessment of the scientific basis for the medical use of cannabis and what risks this may entail. The recreational use of the drug and how it affects users is described along with some predictions about how attitudes to cannabis may change in the future.

Neurovascular Medicine

Kenneth Maiese — 2010-01-01

Author:: KennethMaieseWayne State University
ISBN:: 9780195326697
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195326697.001.0001
Published in print:: 2009
Published Online:: 2010-01-01

Disorders of the nervous and vascular systems continue to burden the planet's population not only with increasing morbidity and mortality, but also with a significant financial drain through increasing medical care costs coupled to a progressive loss in economic productivity. For example, more than 500 million individuals suffer from nervous and vascular system disorders in the world that comprise both acute and chronic degenerative diseases such as hypertension, cardiac insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and Alzheimer's disease. Given the vulnerability of the nervous and vascular systems, identifying the cellular pathways that determine cellular function, injury, and longevity may significantly assist in the development of therapeutic strategies to either prevent or at least reduce disability from crippling degenerative disorders. This book is intended to offer unique insights into the cellular and molecular pathways that can govern neuronal, vascular, and inflammatory cell function and provide a platform for investigative perspectives that employ novel “bench to bedside” strategies from internationally recognized scientific leaders. In light of the significant and multifaceted role played by neuronal, vascular, and inflammatory cells during degenerative disorders, novel studies that elucidate the role of these cells may greatly further our understanding of disease mechanisms for the development of targeted treatments for a wide spectrum of diseases. This book lays the course for the continued progression of innovative investigations and especially those that examine previously unexplored pathways of cell biology with new avenues of study for the maintenance of healthy aging and extended cellular longevity.

The Neurobiology of Pain

Stephen Hunt and Martin Koltzenburg — 2010-01-01

Author:: StephenHuntDepartment of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, UKMartinKoltzenburgInstitute of Child Health, Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK
ISBN:: 9780198515616
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198515616.001.0001
Published in print:: 2005
Published Online:: 2010-01-01

The last decade has seen major advances in the neurobiology of pain, primarily resulting from a deeper understanding of the way in which pain signals are coded and processed in the nervous system. This volume presents an overview of the current state of research into the neurobiology of chronic and acute pain. While recent molecular aspects of nociception are covered in some detail, the book also emphasizes the importance of viewing the pain experience as the co-ordinated response of many different areas of the nervous system. The molecular advances are set in the context of the neurobiological system of pain processing. The appropriate behavioural response to injury can therefore be thought of as the result of the integration of information processed within areas of the brain concerned with cognition, affect, sensory discrimination, and movement. Chapters cover recent advances in nociceptor transduction mechanisms, nociceptor plasticity, and the biochemical anatomy of pain pathways. Other contributions are concerned with the development of pain systems and with the central processing of nociceptive information studied with brain imaging techniques. Several chapters additionally cover the mechanisms of clinically important pain states such as neuropathic pain, cancer-related pain, and migraine.

Minds Behind the Brain

Stanley Finger — 2010-01-01

Author:: Stanley Finger
ISBN:: 9780195181821
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, History of Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195181821.001.0001
Published in print:: 2005
Published Online:: 2010-01-01

This volume presents a series of vibrant profiles that trace the evolution of our knowledge about the brain. Beginning almost 5,000 years ago, with the ancient Egyptian study of “the marrow of the skull”, the book takes us on a fascinating journey from the classical world of Hippocrates, to the time of René Descartes and the era of Paul Broca and Santiago Ramón y Cajal, to modern researchers such as Roger W. Sperry. We meet Galen, a man of titanic ego and abrasive disposition, whose teachings dominated medicine for a thousand years; Andreas Vesalius, a contemporary of Nicolaus Copernicus, who pushed our understanding of human anatomy to new heights; Otto Loewi, pioneer in neurotransmitters, who gave the Nazis his Nobel prize money and fled Austria for England; and Rita Levi-Montalcini, discoverer of nerve growth factor, who in war-torn Italy was forced to do her research in her bedroom. For each individual, the philosophy, the tools, the books, and the ideas that brought new insights are examined. The book also looks at broader topics: How dependent are researchers on the work of others? What makes the time ripe for discovery? And what role does chance or serendipity play? Many fascinating background figures are also included, from Leonardo da Vinci and Emanuel Swedenborg to Karl August Weinhold—who claimed to have reanimated a dead cat by filling its skull with silver and zinc—and Mary Shelley, whose Frankenstein was inspired by such experiments.

Mechanisms of Cortical Development

David Price and David Willshaw — 2010-01-01

Author:: David Price, David Willshaw
ISBN:: 9780192624277
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Development
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780192624277.001.0001
Published in print:: 2000
Published Online:: 2010-01-01

This is the first book that attempts to bring together what is known about the fundamental mechanisms that underlie the development of the cerebral cortex in mammals. Ranging from the emergence of the forebrain from the neural plate, to the functioning adult form, the book draws on evidence from several species to provide a detailed description of processes at each stage. Where appropriate, evidence is extrapolated from non-mammalian species to generate hypotheses about mammalian development. In contrast to other texts of developmental biology, this book integrates information on regulatory processes at the levels of molecules, cells, and networks. It draws together an extensive literature on cellular development and structural morphology, biochemical and genetic events, and hypotheses that have been subject to mathematical modelling. Important methodologies such as transgenics and formal modelling, are explained for the non-specialist. Major future challenges are clearly identified. The book combines the fundamentals of experimental developmental neurobiology with accessible neural modelling.

The Lost Self

Todd E. Feinberg and Julian Paul Keenan — 2010-01-01

Author:: Todd E.FeinbergAlbert Einstein College of MedicineJulian PaulKeenanMontclair State University, New Jersey
ISBN:: 9780195173413
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195173413.001.0001
Published in print:: 2005
Published Online:: 2010-01-01

This book offers an in-depth exploration into one of the most mysterious and controversial topics in neuroscience, neurology, psychiatry, and psychology — namely, the search for the biological basis of the self. It is a guide to understanding how the brain creates who we are, and what happens when things go wrong.

Excitatory Amino Acid Transmission in Health and Disease

Robert Balazs, Richard J. Bridges, Carl W. Cotman, and Cheryl A. Cotman — 2010-01-01

Author:: Robert Balazs, Richard J. Bridges, Carl W. Cotman, Cheryl A. Cotman
ISBN:: 9780195150025
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Sensory and Motor Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195150025.001.0001
Published in print:: 2005
Published Online:: 2010-01-01

This book provides a comprehensive, easy-to-read survey of excitatory amino acids and synaptic transmission. It begins with descriptions of the structure, function, and pharmacology of both the ionotropic and the metabotropic glutamate receptors and the glutamate transporters. Subsequent chapters deal with molecular aspects of the regulation of glutamatergic transmission, including receptor trafficking, the role of glutamate transport, the unique molecular architecture of the synapses (post-synaptic density), and the signal transduction pathways mediated by glutamate. Also unique to the book is a chapter on synaptic plasticity that covers long-term potentiation and long-term depression in relationship to synaptic function. It is striking that glutamate is implicated in most of the major neurological diseases, such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia.

Cortex and Mind

Joaquín M. Fuster — 2010-01-01

Author:: Joaquín M. Fuster
ISBN:: 9780195300840
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195300840.001.0001
Published in print:: 2005
Published Online:: 2010-01-01

This book explores whether the mental order corresponds to the order of structures, events, and processes in one part of the neural order, namely, the cerebral cortex. For clarity and simplicity, this means the search for a spatial and temporal order in the cerebral cortex that matches the cognitive order in every respect. A change or difference in the cortical order corresponds to a change or difference in the mental order. The principal aim of this book is to map cognitive networks onto cortical networks. It has implications for cognitive neuroscience, neurophysiology, neurobiology, neuroimaging, neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, cognitive psychology, and linguistics. The book will also interest students in all the disciplines of neuroscience and can be used as a text or collateral reading in courses on systems neuroscience, behavioral neuroscience, cognitive science, network modeling, physiological psychology, and linguistics.

Brain Development

Michael W. Miller — 2010-01-01

Author:: Michael W.MillerDepartment of Neuroscience & Physiology, SUNY-Upstate Medical University, Syracuse
ISBN:: 9780195183139
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Development
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195183139.001.0001
Published in print:: 2006
Published Online:: 2010-01-01

This is the first book about both normal development of the nervous system and how early exposure to alcohol and nicotine interferes with this development. The developing nervous system is highly dynamic and vulnerable to genetic and epigenetic factors that can be additive or synergistic. Disruption of normal brain development leads to an array of developmental disorders. One of the most common of these is mental retardation, the prime cause of which is prenatal exposure to alcohol. As chapters in this book show, alcohol has direct effects on the developing neural system and it affects genetic regulation. Another common neurotoxin is nicotine, and it is discussed in this book for three reasons: (1) the number of adolescents who smoke cigarettes is rising in some populations; (2) prenatal exposure to nicotine affects neurotransmitter systems that are critical for normal brain development and cognition; and (3) prenatal exposure to nicotine is often accompanied by prenatal exposure to alcohol. The mature brain is the culmination of an orderly sequence of basic ontogenetic processes—cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and death. Neural stem cells and progenitors proliferate in discrete sites; then, young neurons migrate long distances to their residences where they form neural networks. During this sequence many immature cells die, presumably eliminating unsuitable or non-competitive cells. Each process is regulated by genetic and environmental factors. When this regulation goes awry, a dysmorphic and dysfunctional brain results. Though this can be tragic in clinical settings, in experimental contexts it provides keen insight into normal brain development. The book is divided into three parts. The first describes neural ontogeny in the normal brain. The second and third deal with the consequences of early exposure to alcohol and nicotine. Though there are similarities in the effects of these two toxins, there are also intriguing differences. The commonalities reflect the plasticity and resilience of the developing brain while the differences point to the targeted effects of the two toxins. Exploring these effects brings a richer appreciation of brain development.

Sleep and Brain Plasticity

Pierre Maquet, Carlyle Smith, and Robert Stickgold — 2009-09-01

Author:: PierreMaquetCyclotron Research Center, University of Liege, BelgiumCarlyleSmithDepartment of Psychology, Trent University, Ontario, CanadaRobertStickgoldDepartment of Psychiatry at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
ISBN:: 9780198574002
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198574002.001.0001
Published in print:: 2003
Published Online:: 2009-09-01

We spend so much of our lives sleeping, yet its precise function is unclear, in spite of our increasing understanding of the processes generating and maintaining sleep. We now know that sleep can be accompanied by periods of intense cerebral activity, yet only recently has experimental data started to provide us with some insights into the type of processing taking place in the brain as we sleep. There is now strong evidence that sleep plays a crucial role in learning and in the consolidation of memories. Once the preserve of psychoanalysts, ‘dreaming’ is now a topic of increasing interest amongst scientists. With research into sleep growing, this book presents a unique study of the relationship between sleep, learning, and memory. It brings together a team of international scientists researching sleep in both human and animal subjects.

Reprogramming the Cerebral Cortex

Stephen Lomber and Jos Eggermont — 2009-09-01

Author:: StephenLomberAssociate Professor of Neuroscience & Psychology, Department of Physiology & Pharamcology, Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, CanadaJosEggermontCampbell McLaurin Chair for Hearing Deficiencies, Department of Phyiology and Biophysics, Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Canada
ISBN:: 9780198528999
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Disorders of the Nervous System
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198528999.001.0001
Published in print:: 2006
Published Online:: 2009-09-01

The brain has a remarkable ability to adapt in the event of damage — in many cases shifting responsibility for specific cognitive functions to other non-damaged brain regions. This ‘plasticity’ can be crucial in aiding recovery from stroke, trauma, and peripheral damage such as eye or ear damage. Over the past thirty years our view of cortical plasticity has evolved greatly. Early studies suggested that changes to cortical function due to peripheral lesions could only occur during development and that these plastic changes were specific to a particular temporal window or ‘critical period’. Over time, it has been demonstrated that cortical modifications as a consequence of either peripheral or central lesions can induce adaptive, or beneficial, changes in cortical function in an effort to preserve or enhance function. More recently, studies have identified that many of these adaptive changes, once thought only possible in the developing brain, are also possible in the mature or developed brain. At present, many laboratories are defining the beneficial capabilities of cerebral cortex plasticity, upon which many proactive and therapeutic strategies may be developed in order to maximise the ‘reprogramming’ capabilities of the cerebrum. This book describes these exciting studies and examines adaptive cortical plasticity in a variety of systems (visual, auditory, somatomotor, cross-modal, language, and cognition).

Quantitative Methods in Neuroscience

Stephen M. Evans, Ann Marie Janson, and Jens Randel Nyengaard — 2009-09-01

Author:: Stephen M.EvansPharmaimaging Limited, Grangemouth, ScotlandAnn MarieJansonDepartment of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, SwedenJens RandelNyengaardStereological Research Laboratory, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
ISBN:: 9780198505280
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Techniques
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198505280.001.0001
Published in print:: 2004
Published Online:: 2009-09-01

Stereology is a valuable tool for neuroscientists, allowing them to obtain three-dimensional information from two-dimensional measurements made on appropriately sampled sections (usually obtained from histological sections or MRI/CT/PET scans). This 3-D information is invaluable in correlating structural/functional relationships in the pursuit of far greater understanding of the function of the central nervous system. However, in carrying out such measurements, often based on limited data sets, there is a risk of experimenter bias. An important feature of modern design based stereology is to be aware of potential sources of bias and eliminate them during the data collection. With many of the major neuroscience journals now insisting that quantitative data be presented, there is a greater need than ever for neuroscientists to understand the theory and practice behind quantitative methods, such as those offered by stereology. This book is a cookbook of stereological methods. Throughout the book, the emphasis is on practical guidance, rather than discussions and formulae.

Placebo Effects

Fabrizio Benedetti — 2009-09-01

Author:: Fabrizio Benedetti
ISBN:: 9780199559121
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Subjects:: Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Systems
DOI:: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199559121.001.0001
Published in print:: 2008
Published Online:: 2009-09-01

One of the most widespread words in medicine is the placebo and placebo effect, although it is not always clear what it means exactly. Recent progress in biomedical research has allowed a better clarification of the placebo effect. This is an active psychobiological phenomenon which takes place in the patient's brain and that is capable of influencing both the course of a disease and the response to a therapy. The psychosocial context around the patient is crucial to placebo effects, for example the doctor's words and attitudes, and this may have a profound impact on the patient's brain which, in turn, may affect several physiological functions of the body. This book emphasizes that there is not a single placebo effect but many. The book critically reviews them in different medical conditions, such as pain, neurological disorders, psychiatric and behavioural disorders, immune and endocrine systems, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, gastrointestinal and genitourinary disorders, as well as some special conditions, such as oncology, surgery, sports medicine, and acupuncture.