During the second half of the 20th century, the introduction of a variety of new techniques greatly expanded our knowledge of the structure of nerve and neuroglial cells and of the organization of the nervous system at the cellular level. This new information has, however, generally been scattered throughout the literature, making it difficult for investigators to gain an overall vision of the discipline. The author has marshalled these scattered data to provide a systematic overview of the field placed within a historical context. He has correlated the major new findings with the classical notions of light microscopy and has integrated them with elements of biochemistry and cell physiology. After the publication of the first edition, the introduction of new microscopies and especially the growth of molecular biology have greatly expanded our knowledge, in particular on the intercellular communication in the nervous system and on the roles of neuroglial cells. These achievements have made a second edition of the book necessary. The fully revised and updated text, together with unique high-quality illustrations of structures of the central and peripheral nervous system, ensure that this new edition will be invaluable for neuroscientists, particularly those involved in cellular neuropathology, neurochemistry, neurophysiology and molecular neurobiology.

The electric utility industry and its stakeholders in the.United States appear to be at a critical juncture in time. Powerful forces of global proportions are propelling the industry instinctively and in a secular fashion towards restructuring. That the industry will change is a fait accomplii. The nature and timing of the change is still a matter of intense debate, however. Because of the evolution of the industry into its present-day form, i.e. regulated local monopolies in their designated franchise service territories, the relative roles and expectations of various institutions would have to change to conform to the new state in the future. In either encouraging, or allowing this change to happen, society is essentially saying that future societal welfare would be better served by the changed structure contemplated. What that assumption translates into in more direct terms is that creation of future wealth would be better accomplished through redistribution of wealth today. Thoughtful individuals recognize the enormous responsibility placed upon the various entities empowered with jurisdiction over the timing and nature of the structural change. They are trying hard to bring analytical rigor to bear on the debate. One very critical element of this debate on restructuring is the issue of the treatment of transmission. The issue has been variously labeled transmission access, or pricing. Volumes have been written and spoken on this topic.

In this day where research grants are the primary focus, many young investigators are thrown into neurosciences courses without any prior preparation in neuroanatomy. This book is designed to help prepare them by introducing many of the fundamentals of the nervous system. It represents the essentials of an upper level biology course on the central nervous system. It is not designed to be a clinical approach to the nervous system, but rather it approaches the nervous system from a basic science perspective that intertwines both structure and function as an organizing teaching and learning model. Medical and dental examples are included but the main focus is on neuroscience.

The seventh volume of The History of Neuroscience in Autobiography is a collection of autobiographical essays by distinguished senior neuroscientists in which they recount the events that shaped their lives and identify the mentors and colleagues who inspired them. The narratives provides a human dimension to the world of scientific research.

Handbook of Basal Ganglia Structure and Function, Second Edition, offers an integrated overview of the structural and functional aspects of the basal ganglia, highlighting clinical relevance. The basal ganglia, a group of forebrain nuclei interconnected with the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and brainstem, are involved in numerous brain functions, such as motor control and learning, sensorimotor integration, reward, and cognition. These nuclei are essential for normal brain function and behavior, and their importance is further emphasized by the numerous and diverse disorders associated with basal ganglia dysfunction, including Parkinson’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome, Huntington’s disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder, dystonia, and psychostimulant addiction. This updated edition has been thoroughly revised to provide the most up-to-date account of this critical brain structure. Edited and authored by internationally acclaimed basal ganglia researchers, the new edition contains ten entirely new chapters that offer expanded coverage of anatomy and physiology, detailed accounts of recent advances in cellular/molecular mechanisms and cellular/physiological mechanisms, and critical, deeper insights into the behavioral and clinical aspects of basal ganglia function and dysfunction. Synthesizes widely dispersed information on the behavioral neurobiology of the basal ganglia, including advances in the understanding of anatomy, cellular/molecular and cellular/physiological mechanisms, and behavioral and clinical aspects of function and dysfunction Written by international authors who are preeminent researchers in the field Explores, in full, the clinically relevant impact of the basal ganglia on various psychiatric and neurological diseases

Demonstrating the value of interactions between neurology and the basic sciences that underpin it, this volume considers a range of topics from the points of view of both neurobiologist and clinician and reveals how advances in our understanding have been and continue to be made. The coverage boasts an excellent section on the physiology and pathophysiology of central and peripheral nerve fibers and an in-depth view of motor control including the often ignored but vital respiratory movements. Also notable are the chapters on neuronal plasticity, and cell death and axonal regeneration: active areas in neuroscience, where new knowledge will almost certainly revolutionize neurological treatments in years to come.

Aging is one of the most universal and inevitable social and sci entific challenges confronting man. The lives of all multicellular organisms begin with conception, extend through phases of development, maturity, senescence and finally end in death. Man is no exception, but has the unique feature of a complex brain. It plays an integra tive role in adaptation to the physical and social environments through reflexes, conditioning and more complex forms of learning. The brain is a repository for both inherited and acquired information. With the development of speech and the formation of symbolic language, the human brain has made it possible to transmit information cultur ally (horizontal) to other members of society, in addition to genetic (vertical) transmission to progeny. This horizontal transmission, which has reached its highest form in man, is a powerful extension of genetic transmission. The brain may provide man all that is of im portance in life. It has played a key role in the evolution of life by maintaining and extending the life span. Many mental or intellectual capacities of man reach a peak in early adulthood, remain relatively constant throughout maturity and then appear to decline during senescence. Behaviorally, there appears to be a decrease in sensory, learning and motor functions with aging in all mammalian species. As integrated adaptive control systems, the brain and neuroendocrines have been closely associated with the homeostatic adaptation to environmental challenges throughout .the life span.