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This new edition presents a state-of-the-art exploration of polarized light and polarization vision. Part I of the book examines polarization sensitivity across many animal taxa, including invertebrates and vertebrates, and it details both terrestrial and aquatic life. Part II is devoted to the description of environmental polarization with implications to animal and human polarization vision. This includes underwater polarization, polarization signals, sky-polarimetric Viking navigation and astronomical polarization. This part also examines polarized light pollution induced by anthropogenic factors, such as reflection off asphalt surfaces, glass panes, car bodies, and other man-made structures that are now known to form ecological traps for polarotactic insects. The new edition features a number of novelties, including chapters on trilobites, springtails, bats, seals, imaging polarimetry, and astronomical polarization.

The Mongolian gerbil brain lies in the anatomy of the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. In all mammals, there is a special mechanism that compensates for the decreased blood flow to the brain in the case of development of stroke. This mechanism is missing in the gerbil and therefore makes the Mongolian gerbil a unique model for stroke. Dr. Mayevsky adopted the gerbil as a model for stroke and his laboratory uniquely studied the mitochondria in the gerbil brain under various pathophysiological conditions.This book describes the history of the Mongolian gerbil in research, the brain energy metabolism and mitochondrial function and brain real-time monitoring systems used in gerbils, as well as the brain vasculature of the Mongolian gerbil. Further, the book includes chapters on brain multisite recording under brain perturbations, multiparametric responses to brain activation, and the effect of neuroprotectants on the gerbil brain. This is an ideal book for research teams researching stroke and epilepsy.

This richly illustrated textbook delivers a functional vision of dog behaviors. Daily applicable, it offers practical solutions for canine behavioral care with a consistently medical approach to disorders. Readers find a thorough introduction to factors influencing behavior, the canine neuroanatomy and physiology, psychopathologies, as well as treatment options. Drawing on the latest studies in neuroscience, ethology, psychology, and psychiatry, as well as the clinical experience of its expert authors, this guide is both comprehensive and accessible. Multiple clinical case studies illustrate and support presented details on medication and therapies.Behavioral pathology is one of the main challenges in veterinary medicine. Not only are they a cause of suffering for the animal, but they can also affect the quality of the relationship with the pet owners or pose a danger to society. Hence, treatment of these behavioral disorders requires an integrative approach to canine healthand well-being.The book's easy-to-access and descriptive structure allows many audiences to understand a subject area that is all too often considered complex. It addresses veterinary students, practitioners, and future expert veterinarians seeking approach to deep knowledge, as well as all other dog professionals curious to discover a complementary view with respect for the animal and owner.

Dieses Buch bietet einen tiefen Einblick in die faszinierenden Erkenntnisse des menschlichen Farbensehens und ihre genetischen und neuronalen Grundlagen. Selbst nach über 300 Jahren intensiver Erforschung durch bedeutende Physiker wie Newton, Young, Helmholtz, Maxwell und Schrödinger hat die Entdeckung der neuronalen Grundlagen des Farbensehens des Menschen erst in den letzten fünf Jahrzehnten signifikante Fortschritte gemacht. Auch die Fortschritte in der Genetik führen seit 1980 zu einem tieferen Verständnis der Vererbung des Farbensehens und geben Einblick in die Evolution dieser Sinnesleistung. Dies und die Entwicklung verfeinerter verhaltensphysiologischer Methoden hat auch unser Wissen über die Leistungen der Farbwahrnehmung der Tiere wesentlich erweitert. Im Vergleich dazu nimmt das Farbensehen des Menschen nur einen mittleren Rang ein. Dieses Buch ist eine breit gefächerte Ressource, die nicht nur Fachleute der Biologie, Medizin und Psychologie anspricht, sondern auch Laien und Studierende, die ihr Verständnis für die komplexe Welt des Farbensehens vertiefen möchten. Es ist gleichermaßen für angehende Künstler, Grafiker und Designer von Bedeutung, da es ihnen ermöglicht, die Grundlagen des Farbensehens zu erforschen und praktisch anzuwenden. Ob Sie sich beruflich mit Farben befassen oder einfach nur Ihre Neugier befriedigen wollen, dieses Buch bietet einen fesselnden Einblick in die faszinierende Welt des Farbensehens und seiner vielfältigen Anwendungen.

This book reviews all aspects of major depressive disorder (MDD), casting light on its neurobiological underpinnings and describing the most recent advances in management. The book is divided into four sections, the first of which discusses MDD from a network science perspective, highlighting the alterations in functional and structural connectivity and presenting insights achieved through resting state functional MRI and the development of neuroimaging-based biomarkers. The second section examines important diagnostic and neurobiological issues, while the third considers the currently available specific treatments for MDD, including biofeedback, neurofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, neuromodulation therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and complementary and alternative medicine. A concluding section is devoted to promising emerging treatments, from novel psychopharmacological therapies through to virtual reality treatment, immunotherapy, biomarker-guided tailored therapy, and more. Written by leading experts from across the world, the book will be an excellent source of information for both researchers and practitioners.

This book entitled'Nitric Oxide: From Research to Therapeutics'includes the most recent information about the role of Nitric Oxide (NO) in physiology, pathophysiology and its translation to therapeutics. The Editors are vastly experienced in the field of NO research. The international panels of contributors to the various chapters of the book are all well-established researchers and health professionals who have worked in different areas of NO physiology and pathophysiology, and have made a considerable impact in the field. The book is a comprehensive collection of the most recent information on NO as a physiological regulator and its diverse potential as a therapeutic target for the treatment for a variety of disease states. This compilation is aimed at professionals and students from both academia and the industry in the areas of basic biomedical and clinical sciences.

The cardiovascular system and the neuroendocrine system are integrated at multiple levels. This integration is key to normal physiological function. Further, it adapts to accommodate changes related to aging, the organism's reproductive state, or physiological challenges. This type of adaptability, or plasticity, also can contribute to pathophysiology when these systems are stressed. This volume discusses how neuroendocrine systems influence cardiovascular function in health and disease. The first section provides detailed background information on neuronal and neuroendocrine control of cardiovascular function. This is followed by chapters highlighting the cardiovascular role of neuroendocrine hormones in regulating physiological states, such as pregnancy, and the effects of biological sex on vascular function. The influence of exercise, stress, psychology, and aging on cardiovascular function and dysfunction, and the possibility of therapeutically targeting the neuroendocrine axis for the treatment of cardiovascular disease are discussed in the final section of the book.This book is of relevance for students, trainees and established researchers alike who are seeking for an overview on the neuroendocrine control of cardiovascular function and disease. This is the fourteenth volume in the International Neuroendocrine Federation (INF) Masterclass in Neuroendocrinology series, which aims to illustrate the highest standards and encourage the use of the latest technologies in basic and clinical research and hopes to provide inspiration for further exploration into the exciting field of neuroendocrinology.

This book reflects the state of the art of our understanding of the WNT signaling system, which comprises a network of signaling pathways initiated by the secreted WNT lipoglycoproteins, which are crucial for embryonal development, stem cell regulation, tissue homeostasis and repair. Dysfunction of this evolutionarily conserved signaling system leads to many diseases including developmental disorders, diverse forms of cancer, fibrosis, neurodegenerative disease and many more. The WNT signaling system is built upon 19 mammalian, secreted WNT lipoglycoproteins that interact with a plethora of distinct receptors, such as the G protein-coupled receptors called Frizzleds (FZD1-10), LDL receptor-like proteins (LRP5/6), receptor tyrosine kinases (ROR1, 2, RYK and PTK7). In addition, WNT pathways are tightly regulated by many secreted and cell-intrinsic negative regulators, such as soluble FZD-related proteins (SFRPs), Dickkopfs (DKKs), WNT-inhibitory proteins, TIKI, RNF43 and more. Understanding the basic mechanism in terms of receptor-ligand interaction, receptor selectivity, signal initiation and desensitization remain poorly understood, even though substantial advances have been made the recent years. Due to the involvement of the WNT signaling system in human disease, it appears obvious to target diverse branches pharmacologically and therapeutically. However, given the complexity of the system and its importance for stem cell regulation and tissue maintenance, therapy comes with obvious risks for severe side effects. The field is addressing the challenge to identify suitable targets and selective compounds for therapy allowing disease-selective therapeutic effects and balancing unwanted side effects. This book summarizes the current understanding of the basic and applied pharmacology in the WNT signaling system and bridges disciplines such as pharmacology, physiology, neurosciences, oncology and drug development.

This monograph sheds new light on pulmonary sensory receptors. Diving into the pulmonary microenvironment, the book focuses on the role of pulmonary neuroepithelial bodies (NEBs) as potential receptors and effectors, able to store and release neurotransmitters. It explores NEBs as potential stem cell niche and highlights the multidisciplinary approach taken to identify and study NEBs, including functional morphological investigation, live cell imaging, genetic models, and laser microdissection combined with gene expression analysis.Complexly organized NEBs are an integral part of the intrapulmonary airway epithelium of all air-breathing vertebrates. For decades a quest has been going on to unravel the functional significance of these intriguing structures that appear to be modified in the course of many pulmonary diseases. The NEB microenvironment (ME) is composed of organoid clusters of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs) that are able to store and release neurotransmitters and are closely contacted by extensive nerve terminals, emphasizing a potential receptor/effector role and probable signalling to the central nervous system. PNECs are largely shielded from the airway lumen by a special type of Clara cells, the Clara-like cells, with potential stem cell characteristics. So far, functional studies of the pulmonary NEB ME revealed that PNECs can be activated by various mechanical and chemical stimuli, resulting in a calcium-mediated release of neurotransmitters. In the past decades, a number of publications have exposed NEBs as potential hypoxia sensors. Recent experimental evidence unveiled that the NEB ME is a quiescent stem cell niche in healthy postnatal lungs, and silencing may involve bone morphogenetic protein signalling mediated by vagal afferents. Only an integrated approach that takes all current information into account will be able to explain the full role of the pulmonary NEB ME in health and disease. This highly informative and carefully presented book, provides insights for researchers, PhD students with an interest in (bio)medical and veterinary science, especially in the field of the autonomic innervation of the lung, chemo-and mechanoreceptors

The Theraphosidae are the most famous and diverse mygalomorph spiders, and include some of the largest arachnids on earth. Their unique defense mechanisms, predatory tactics, reproductive strategies and ecological adaptations are displayed by a wide range of terrestrial, burrowing and arboreal species. These arachnids are familiar to the general public thanks to horror movies and a growing interest in tarantulas as pets; however, scientific information on the group is scattered throughout the literature and not easily available. This book reviews all major aspects of New World Theraphosid tarantulas and provides in-depth information on their evolution, taxonomy, behavior, physiology, ecology, reproduction, conservation and biogeography. As a comprehensive guide to the biology of tarantulas, it will appeal to researchers, students and terrarium hobbyists alike.

The purpose of this book is to introduce the readers on the perspective of the role that unsaturated fatty acids and complex lipids play on health and disease. Bioactive lipids can be modified affecting membrane composition, structure and fluidity in addition to changes in cell signaling associated to lipid-protein (membrane receptors) interactions, issues that are addressed by the authors. This book analyzes key topics involving bioactive lipids and their role in normal signaling and the mechanisms of disease. The book navigates from structural studies of oxidized and non-oxidized lipids to the reactions and cell signaling processes that bioactive lipids play in cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. The book contains the recent advances reported in the literature about lipidomics as well as the role that lipid-derived compounds exert on unfolded protein response and lipid metabolism and disease. This book represents a state of the art introduction to lipid metabolism from a biochemical to an in vivo overview being an useful tool for students and investigators. We hope the mechanistic observations on the role of bioactive lipids in health and disease serve a perspective to improve the existing treatments or propose new lipid-based pharmacology

Unsere Sinne - Sehen, Hören, Riechen, Schmecken und Tasten - bestimmen wesentlich unser Leben. Alles was wir wissen, wurde uns von unseren Sinnen vermittelt. Aber wie funktionieren unsere Sinne und wie kommt das Wissen über die Welt in unseren Kopf? Nach welchen Kriterien entscheidet unser Gehirn, was zu tun ist?In diesem Sachbuch wird allgemeinverständlich dargelegt, wie hoch entwickelt die Sinnesorgane bei Tieren und Menschen sind. Oft erreichen Sinnesleistungen die Grenze des physikalisch Möglichen. Das Buch erklärt, wie Sinnesreize erfasst werden, wie sie in die Sprache des Nervensystems übersetzt werden und wie unser Gehirn Sinnesinformation verarbeitet. Das Gehirn setzt dabei auf wohl bewährte Strategien, die ein Ziel verfolgen: die Überlebenschance des Organismus zu erhöhen. Deshalb wird in diesem Buch gezeigt, wie sehr die Sinnesleistungen durch die Evolution geformt und bestimmt wurden. Das Buch zeigt auch, dass viele Tiere ihre Umwelt vollkommen anders wahrnehmen als wir.Für die Neuauflage haben die Autoren den Text durchgesehen und auf den aktuellen Stand gebracht.

The discovery of mirror neurons in the 1990s led to an explosion of research and debate about the imitative capacities of the human brain. Some herald a paradigm shift on the order of DNA in biology, while others remain skeptical. In this revolutionary volume Jean- Michel Oughourlian shows how the hypotheses of René Girard can be combined with the insights of neuroscientists to shed new light on the “mimetic brain.” Offering up clinical studies and a complete reevaluation of classical psychiatry, Oughourlian explores the interaction among reason, emotions, and imitation and reveals that rivalry—the blind spot in contemporary neuroscientific understandings of imitation—is a misunderstood driving force behind mental illness. Oughourlian's analyses shake the very foundations of psychiatry as we know it and open up new avenues for both theoretical research and clinical practice.

The meeting of Aquatic Noise 2013 will introduce participants to the most recent research data, regulatory issues and thinking about effects of man-made noise and will foster critical cross-disciplinary discussion between the participants. Emphasis will be on the cross-fertilization of ideas and findings across species and noise sources. As with its predecessor, The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life: 3rd International Conference will encourage discussion of the impact of underwater sound, its regulation and mitigation of its effects. With over 100 contributions from leading researchers, a wide range of sources of underwater sound will be considered.

Two distinguished neuroscientists distill general principles from more than a century of scientific study, “reverse engineering” the brain to understand its design.Neuroscience research has exploded, with more than fifty thousand neuroscientists applying increasingly advanced methods. A mountain of new facts and mechanisms has emerged. And yet a principled framework to organize this knowledge has been missing. In this book, Peter Sterling and Simon Laughlin, two leading neuroscientists, strive to fill this gap, outlining a set of organizing principles to explain the whys of neural design that allow the brain to compute so efficiently. Setting out to “reverse engineer” the brain—disassembling it to understand it—Sterling and Laughlin first consider why an animal should need a brain, tracing computational abilities from bacterium to protozoan to worm. They examine bigger brains and the advantages of “anticipatory regulation”; identify constraints on neural design and the need to “nanofy”; and demonstrate the routes to efficiency in an integrated molecular system, phototransduction. They show that the principles of neural design at finer scales and lower levels apply at larger scales and higher levels; describe neural wiring efficiency; and discuss learning as a principle of biological design that includes “save only what is needed.”Sterling and Laughlin avoid speculation about how the brain might work and endeavor to make sense of what is already known. Their distinctive contribution is to gather a coherent set of basic rules and exemplify them across spatial and functional scales.

Social neuroscience is a rapidly growing, interdisciplinary field which is devoted to understanding how social behavior is regulated by the brain, and how such behaviors in turn influence brain and biology. Existing volumes either fail to take a neurobiological approach or focus on one particular type of behavior, so the field is ripe for a comprehensive reference which draws cross-behavioral conclusions. This authored work will serve as the market's most comprehensive reference on the neurobiology of social behavior. The volume will offer an introduction to neural systems and genetics/epigenetics, followed by detailed study of a wide range of behaviors – aggression, sex and sexual differentiation, mating, parenting, social attachments, monogamy, empathy, cooperation, and altruism. Research findings on the neural basis of social behavior will be integrated across different levels of analysis, from molecular neurobiology to neural systems/behavioral neuroscience to fMRI imaging data on human social behavior. Chapters will cover research on both normal and abnormal behaviors, as well as developmental aspects. - 2016 PROSE Category winner - Honorable Mention for Biomedicine and Neuroscience - Presents neurobiological analysis of the full spectrum of social behaviors, while other volumes focus on one particular behavior - Integrates and discusses research from different levels of analysis, including molecular/genetic, neural circuits and systems, and fMRI imaging research - Covers both normal and abnormal behaviors - Covers aggression, sex and sexual differentiation, mating, parenting, social attachments, empathy, cooperation, and altruism

This well-established international series examines major areas of basic and clinical research within neuroscience, as well as emerging and promising subfields. This volume explores interdisciplinary research on invertebrate and vertebrate models of odor memory and perception, as well as human odor memory and perception. This book brings together a collection of authors that cut across model systems, techniques, levels of analysis and questions to highlight important and exciting advances in the area of olfactory memory and perception. The chapters highlight the unique aspects of olfactory system anatomy, local circuit function, odor coding and plasticity. The authors are leading authorities in the field. - Written by the leading researchers in the field of olfactory perception and memory - Includes diverse models systems from invertebrates to humans - Includes diverse technical approaches to the study of olfactory memory and perception Includes overview of the most recent research advances in this field

Every coordination within or between animals depends on communication processes. Although the signaling molecules, vocal and tactile signs, gestures and its combinations differ throughout all species according their evolutionary origins and variety of adaptation processes, certain levels of biocommunication can be found in all animal species: (a) Abiotic environmental indices such as temperature, light, water, etc. that affect the local ecosphere of an organism and are sensed, interpreted. (b) Trans-specific communication with non-related organisms.(c) Species-specific communication between same or related species. (d) Intraorganismic communication, i.e., sign-mediated coordination within the body of the organism. This book gives an overview of the manifold levels of animal communication exemplified by a variety of species and thereby broadens the understanding of these organisms.

This comprehensive reference is clearly destined to become the definitive anatomical basis for all neuroscience research. The book provides a complete overview and comparison of the structural organization of all vertebrate groups, ranging from amphioxus and lamprey through fishes, amphibians and birds to mammals. The large specialised section of the work, devoted to the CNS of the various vertebrate groups, is preceded by introductory chapters on neurons, cell masses, fibre tracts, morphogenesis, methodology, and techniques. Although focusing on structure, the authors provide functional correlations throughout. This monumental work is, and will remain, unique; the only source of such brilliant illustrations at both the macroscopic and microscopic levels.

Dr. Conway mapped the spatial and temporal structure of the cone inputs to single neurons in the primary visual cortex of the alert macaque. Color cells had receptive fields that were often Double-Opponent, an organization of spatial and chromatic opponency sufficient to form the basis for color constancy and spatial color contrast. Almost all color cells gave a bigger response to color when preceded by an opposite color, suggesting that these cells also encode temporal color contrast. In sum, color perception is likely subserved by a subset of specialized neurons in the primary visual cortex. These cells are distinct from those that likely underlie form and motion perception. Color cells establish three color axes sufficient to describe all colors; moreover these cells are capable of computing spatial and temporal color contrast - and probably contribute to color constancy computations - because the receptive fields of these cells show spatial and temporal chromatic opponency.

The subject of this volume is two-fold. First, it gathers typical polarization patterns occurring in nature. Second, it surveys the polarization-sensitive ani­ mals, the physiological mechanisms and biological functions of polarization sensitivity as weIl as the polarization-guided behaviour in animals. The monograph is prepared for biologists, physicists and meteorologists, espe­ cially for experts of atmospheric optics and animal vision, who wish to under­ stand and reveal the message hidden in polarization patterns of the optical environment not directly accessible to the human visual system, but measur­ able by polarimetry and perceived by many animals. Our volume is an attempt to build a bridge between these two physical and biological flelds. In Part I we introduce the reader to the elements of imaging polarimetry. This technique can be efflciently used, e. g. in atmospheric optics, remote sens­ ing and biology. In Part 11 we deal with typical polarization patterns of the natural optical environment. Sunrise/sunset, clear skies, cloudy skies, moonshine and total solar eclipses all mean quite different illumination conditions, wh ich also affect the spatial distribution and strength of celestial polarization. We pre­ sent the polarization patterns of the sky and its unpolarized (neutral) points under sunlit, moonlit, clear, cloudy and eclipsed conditions as a function of solar elevation. The polarization pattern of a rainbow is also shown. That part of the spectrum is derived in which perception of skylight polarization is optimal under partly cloudy skies.

Functional electrical stimulation is the most important application in the field of clinical treatment with currents or magnetism. This technique artificially generates neural activity in order to overcome lost functions of the paralized, incontinent or sensory handicapped patient. Electricity and magnetism is also used in many cases, e.g., to stimulate bone growth or wound healing. Nevertheless, the basic mechanism of the artificial excitation of nerve and muscle fibers has become known only in the last few years. Although many textbooks are concerned with the natural excitation process there is a lack of information on the influence of an applied electrical or magnetic field. This book, written for students and biomedical engineers, should close the gap and, furthermore, it should stimulate the design of new instrumentation using optimal strategies.

'Further establishes the reputation of the series...an invaluable resource.'-Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, from a review of Volume 3 Volume 4 explores such emergent topics as: three-dimensional conceptions of ion channel proteins based on the available structural and functional data; the structure, pharmacology, and regulation of the GABAA receptors; and the Ca2+-dependent K+ channels in adrenal chromatic cell membranes.

The rapid progress of neuroscience in the last decade can be largely attributed to significant advances in neuroethology, a branch of science that seeks to understand the neural basis of natural animal behavior. Novel approaches including molecular biological techniques, optical recording methods, functional anatomy, and informatics have brought drastic changes in how the neural systems underlying high-level behaviors such as learning and memory are described. This book introduces recent research techniques in neuroethology, with diverse topics involving nematodes, insects, and vertebrates (birds, mice and primates), divided into sections by research method. Each section consists of two chapters written by different authors who have developed their own unique approaches. Reports of research in “model animals” including C. elegans, Drosophila, and mice, which were not typical specimens in conventional neuroethology, have been deliberately selected for this book because a molecular genetic approach to these animals is necessary for advances in neuroethology. Novel methodology including optical recording and functional labeling with reporter genes such as GFP has been actively used in recent neurobiological studies, and genetic manipulation techniques such as optogenetics also are powerful tools for understanding the molecular basis of neural systems for animal behavior. This book provides not only these new strategies but also thought-provoking statements of philosophy in neuroethology for students and young researchers in the biological sciences.

JOHN G. HILDEBRAND Research on insect olfaction is important for at least two reasons. First, the olfactory systems of insects and their arthropod kin are experi­ mentally favourable models for studies aimed at learning about general principles of olfaction that apply to vertebrates and invertebrates alike. Detailed comparisons between the olfactory pathways in vertebrates and insects have revealed striking similarities of functional organisation, physiol­ ogy, and development, suggesting that olfactory information is processed through neural mechanisms more similar than different in these evolution­ arily remote creatures. Second, insect olfaction itself is important because of the economic and medical impact of insects that are agricultural pests and disease vectors, as well as positive impact of beneficial species, such as the bees and moths responsible for pollination and production of honey. The harm or benefit attributable to an insect is a function of what it does - that is, of its behaviour - which is shaped by sensory information. Often olfaction is the key modality for control of basic insect behaviour, such as ori­ entation and movement toward, and interactions with, potential mates, appro­ priate sites for oviposition, and sources of food. Not surprisingly, therefore, much work on insect olfaction has been motivated by long-term hopes of using knowledge of this pivotal sensory system to design strategies for mon­ itoring and managing harmful species and fostering the welfare of beneficial ones.

Der vierte Band der Reihe bietet eine interdisziplinäre Darstellung des aktuellen Standes der Wissenschaft auf dem Gebiet der Ersatz- und Ergänzungsmethoden zu Tierversuchen. Die Schwerpunkte dieses Buches sind die Gebiete Neuro- und Reproduktionstoxikologie ebenso wie die Onkologie, Biometrie, Immunisierung und Adjuvantien. Aufgrund der bevorstehenden, gravierenden Rechtsänderungen auf europäischer Ebene verdient das Kapitel toxikologische Prüfungen von Kosmetika in der EU besondere Beachtung. Ein abschließendes Kapitel ist auch wieder dem Bereich Recht und Ethik gewidmet. Gerichtsverfahren in Deutschland, Diskussionen über nationales und EU Recht und die stärker werdende Sensibilisierung für ethische Belange haben neue Fragen aufgeworfen.

The book aims to review knowledge on the disorders of eating behaviour and body composition in some of the non-primate higher animals and to relate these to similar conditions in humans. With advances in understanding the nature of these disorders and their biological basis, it seems timely to assess what cross-species comparisons can tell us about the general underlying factors at work. This may also help to delineate what may be a general biological basis that humans share with their higher animal comrade species and what may distinguish human from non-human, particularly in a cultural context. This could help in combating better the problems of these conditions in the animal species as well as in man and in suggesting well-based preventive measures. As far as people are concerned the last two decades of the 20th century have shown a significant increase in obesity in the richer countries, particularly the USA (Table 1). Possibly associated with the obesity boom, there is an increasing awareness of other disorders of eating behaviour and body composition. These range from anorexia nervosa, at the other end of body composition to obesity, to others, such as bulimia, with more variable effects on body composition.

This is the proceedings of the fourth in a series of inter­ national gatherings on kindling held on the University of British Columbia campus, June 15-17, 1989. Since the last gath­ ering in 1985, kindling continues to attract an ever-increasing number of investigators as reflected by the phenomenal increase in the number of kindling-related research reports. No other acute or chronic model has been exploited so extensively using electrophysiological, pharmacological, biochemical and behav­ ioural approaches involving a variety of brain sites and ani­ mal species. The continuing search, during the past few years, for the mechanism underlying the enduring change induced by kindling is beginning to shed some light on aspects of its molecular basis and to suggest the future direction of research. The late Graham Goddard, the original kindler, would have been delighted with this development. We were all shocked and saddened by his tragic death, but his spirit is very much alive among all of us who gathered together to share new information and collectively reassess the present state of knowledge at this symposium. I must say that we miss him very, very much. We know he is happy in his heaven knowing that he accomplished more in a short lifetime than most and that his love for mankind, and life's challenges, remain as a legacy, and goal, for us all.

Here is the first effort in a single volume to cover all of the integrative functions of calcium signalling - how changes in intracellular calcium coordinate a variety of coherent cellular responses. Written by a team of internationally established researchers, Integrative Aspects of Calcium Signalling provides the latest experimental data and concepts, bringing together a detailed analysis of the events, processes, and functions regulated by calcium signalling. A unique resource for professionals and students of physiology, biophysics, neurobiology, biochemistry, and all related fields.

THE FORM WITHIN is the fascinating story of two hundred years of pioneering brain research, told from the unique perspective of the only brain scientist who has been, and still remains, an active participant in that story throughout the past seventy years: Karl H. Pribram.In THE FORM WITHIN, Dr. Pribram takes us on a compelling journey from the dawn of our collective “recorded perceptions” in cave paintings to our greatest achievements as a species. He explains the important task of mapping the brain; the discovery of our holographic processing of memory and perception; and the detailed research that has created our understanding of self-organizing biological systems.Along the way, Pribram shares the intimate interactions he has had with luminaries of twentieth-century science, including David Bohm, Francis Crick, John Eccles, Dennis Gabor, Hubel and Wiesel, Wolfgang Kohler, Karl Lashley, Aleksandr Romanovitch Luria, Ilya Prigogine, B. F. Skinner, Eugene Sokolov, and many others.But this riveting glimpse into our past is only a part of the story. Pribram also provides us with insightful breakthroughs into a science of the future, and points the way to where our understanding of the brain is headed.

Pío del Rio-Hortega, one of the pioneering neuroscientists and discoverer of microglia, has been recognized as one of the most important Spanish neurohistogists of the past century. His landmark research on oligodendroglia, originally published in Spanish in 1928, has been translated into English for the first time by Dr. José R. Iglesias-Rozas and Prof. Manuel Garrosa. The book establishes definitively the concept of oligodendroglia and describes in great detail its structure, varieties, function, origin and pathology, providing a thorough review. The entire 1928 writing is presented, including the 79 excellent drawings and photographs from the original publication. To complement the original book and provide historical context, the translators have also included an introduction to the research and a biography of Pío del Rio-Hortega. This book constitutes a milestone in the history of neuroscience, biology and medicine, and it will be valuable reading for researchers and practitioners in these fields. - First English translation of seminal 1928 research - Contains the broad descriptions and interpretations of the normal and pathological oligodendroglia - Full original text and new introductory sections

I have been asked to write a brief foreword to this volume honoring Hisako Ikeda, providing a review of the accomplishments in our field over the past four decades, when Hisako was an active participant. This I am delighted to do. It has been a most exciting time in vision research and Hisako has been right in the middle of much of the excitement, publishing on a wide variety of topics and providing much new data and many new insights. Hisako's research career can be divided by decades into four quite distinct areas of inquiry. In the 1950s, as a student in Japan, her research interests were psychophysical in nature, and she was concerned with visual illusions, figural aftereffects, and motion detec­ tion. In the 1960s, after her move to London, she began electrophysiological studies. Much of her work in the 1960s was concerned with the electroretinogram (ERG), its components, and the use of this electrical response for evaluating spectral sensitivities of the eye and retinal degenerations. This work represented the beginning of her electrodiagnostic clinical work, which continued until her retirement.

Over the past decade, the study of microglial cells has gained increasing importance, in particular for those working in the fields of degeneration and regeneration. Microglia in the Regenerating and Degenerating CNS supports the assertion that understanding microglial biology could perhaps be pivotal for unraveling the pathogenetic mechanisms that underlie Alzheimer's disease, currently the most widely studied disorder of the central nervous system. In addition, microglia are also critical for understanding the sequelae of traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, and for the vitally important post-traumatic repair processes. This book gives an up to date account of the role of microglia in degeneration and regeneration of the nervous system and also reviews microglial cell function and physiology. Cellular neurobiologists will find that this is a valuable guide to the importance and role of microglia in the CNS.

The Atlas provides a complete overview of all major structures of the mouse brain that can be identified in Golgi preparations. The most important feature is its three-dimensional integrity since all structures and nerve tracts can be followed from one section to the next one with uninterrupted continuity. The Golgi Atlas presents a series of camera lucida drawings of the entire telencephalon and upper brain stem of the young postnatal mouse in 24 transverse, 11 sagittal and 15 horizontal planes. The drawings were prepared from selected brains stained in toto with the Golgi method, that have been serially sectioned in the three orthogonal planes. The text includes an introduction of the material and methods used for the construction of this Atlas and a survey with a complete bibliography on the previous studies made with the Golgi method in Rodents. In this account, a number of issues concerning particular anatomical details are considered in relation to the interpretations obtained by other students. Reference is made to some relevant reviews and key articles.

Proceedings of the Conference on Recent Advances in Neurobiology: Plasticity and Regeneration held in St. Vincent, Italy, October 9-11 1995

A biography of an important but largely forgotten nineteenth-century scientist whose work helped lay the foundation of modern neuroscience.Emil du Bois-Reymond is the most important forgotten intellectual of the nineteenth century. In his own time (1818–1896) du Bois-Reymond grew famous in his native Germany and beyond for his groundbreaking research in neuroscience and his provocative addresses on politics and culture. This biography by Gabriel Finkelstein draws on personal papers, published writings, and contemporary responses to tell the story of a major scientific figure. Du Bois-Reymond's discovery of the electrical transmission of nerve signals, his innovations in laboratory instrumentation, and his reductionist methodology all helped lay the foundations of modern neuroscience.In addition to describing the pioneering experiments that earned du Bois-Reymond a seat in the Prussian Academy of Sciences and a professorship at the University of Berlin, Finkelstein recounts du Bois-Reymond's family origins, private life, public service, and lasting influence. Du Bois-Reymond's public lectures made him a celebrity. In talks that touched on science, philosophy, history, and literature, he introduced Darwin to German students (triggering two days of debate in the Prussian parliament); asked, on the eve of the Franco-Prussian War, whether France had forfeited its right to exist; and proclaimed the mystery of consciousness, heralding the age of doubt. The first modern biography of du Bois-Reymond in any language, this book recovers an important chapter in the history of science, the history of ideas, and the history of Germany.

Volume II features a variety of animal and human prion diseases, including the newly-identified atypical forms of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and scrapie in animals, and variably protease-sensitive prionopathy in humans, prions in the environment, Tau pathology in human prion disease, transmission of the disease by blood transfusion, mammalian and non-mammalian models, conventional and advanced diagnoses, prion-specific antibodies, as well as decontamination of prions and development of therapeutics of prion diseases, such as the application of immunomodulation. This volume provides up-to-date knowledge about the etiology, pathogenesis, classification, histopathological, and clinical aspects of the highly publicized animal and human prion diseases.

Since their first description in 1875, Merkel cells have remained an elusive cell type. Their origin as well as their classification as mechanoreceptors have been a matter of controversy and intense discussion. The peptidergic granules in these cells are suggestive of neuroendocrine functions, but their discovery has raised additional questions regarding Merkel cell function. Essential aspects of structure, development and function of normal Merkel cells and Merkel cell carcinoma are presented in short chapters, providing concise and up-to date information on this fascinating cell type.

Volume 5 of the series'Advances in Research on Neurodegeneration'is concerned with themes which are currently the focus of intensive research, and in which advances in our understanding of the pathological mechanisms un­ derlying neurodegenerative diseases are expected in the near future. The first section contains five reviews devoted to the various neuroimaging technolo­ gies. The discussion is concerned with the question of whether neuroimaging techniques make it possible to follow the process of degeneration as it occurs, and which methods offer the required sensitivity and quantifiability for this purpose. However, the question needs to be examined of whether, given the physical and chemical limitations of these techniques, even under optimal conditions, anatomical resolution can be improved to the extent that neuro­ degenerative diseases can be diagnosed earlier than currently possible and a confident diagnosis made. The possibilities of using neuroimaging techniques to provide information regarding the effects of neuroprotective or neuroregen­ erative therapeutic strategies, and for correlating the results of neuropsycho­ logical research with imaging data are also discussed. The second section is concerned with the significance of endogenous or exogenous neurotoxins as triggers for neurodegenerative processes that may lead to Parkinsonism. Vulnerability factors, which include such factors as nerve ending sensitivity, the synergistic effects of drugs and the various mechanisms underlying different toxins are discussed.

Experimental evidence indicates that catecholamines are able to modulate information processing in the amygdaloid complex. The dense catecholaminergic innervation of the amygdala may thus exert significant influence upon its well-documented functions in emotion, attention, learning and memory. Dysfunctions of the systems have been suggested to be involved in the etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders including senile dementia, Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. To further insight into neural mechanisms of the innervation, the present study provides a detailed documentation of ultrastructural and neurochemical characteristics of dopanminergic, noradrinergic and adrenergic afferent fibers and of their target structures in central, basal and intercalated amygdaloid nuclei. A high degree of heterogeneitiy is observed between the nuclei concerning the different catecholaminergic innervation patterns and the peptide content of individual catecholaminergic fibers, as well as concerning the neurotransmitter/-modulator and receptor expression of possible amygdaloid target neurons. The results are discussed with regard to previously documented properties of the nuclei.

In dieser interdisziplinären Arbeit auf dem Gebiet der Hirnforschung wird der Beziehung von EEG und Begabung bzw. Ausbildung im Bereich der Bildenden Kunst zum ersten Mal nachgegangen: Wie wird das Betrachten eines Bildes im Gehirn analysiert? Hängen Sehen und Verstehen zusammen? Wie kommt es zur Bildung einer inneren Gestalt in den entsprechenden Regionen des Gehirns? Die Untersuchungen der cerebralen Verarbeitung bei visuellen Vorgängen (Wahrnehmen, Vorstellen, Bild-Entwerfen) an insgesamt 38 Malerinnen und Nicht-Malerinnen stellen einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Klärung der in der Literatur kontroversiell diskutierten Hemisphären-Spezialisierung dar. Während eine wesentliche Region für die Gestalt-Findung bei Nicht-Künstlerinnen linkshemisphärisch repräsentiert ist, ist ein Indikator der Begabung bei Malerinnen rechtshemisphärisch zu finden. Die Ergebnisse lassen darauf schließen, daß die Integration visueller Items Malerinnen wesentlich besser gelingt als Nicht-Malerinnen.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) cells are the key regulators of reproductive function in all vertebrate organisms. The GnRH molecule is synthesized in a small number of neurons in rostral hypothalamic regions of the brain. In mammals, these neurons release the GnRH decapeptide into the portal capillary system leading to the anterior pituitary gland. There, GnRH causes the release of the gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which in turn act upon the gonads to stimulate their maturation, and to cause synthesis of sex steroid hormones, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Although each of the levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is critical for reproductive function, GnRH neurons play the primary role in the control of reproductive maturation and adult reproductive function, and may even play a role in reproductive senescence. Since its discovery in 1970, there has been intense interest in GnRH-producing neurons, with more than 8000 papers and chapters in the last decade alone. Despite this activity of research in basic and clinical science, there has never been a book written specifically on GnRH neurons. GnRH: The Master Molecule of Reproduction aims to bring together the large and diverse literature of both laboratory and applied research that focuses on these unique cells. This book will provide basic background into reproductive neuroendocrinology, as well as specifics regarding the role of GnRH neurons in the control of reproduction. Students studying endocrinology, reproduction, neuroendocrinology or molecular endocrinology will benefit from this book. In addition, this book will take a multi-species approach which will be useful both to basic researchers as well as clinicians. Whenever possible, species differences and similarities will be presented, and if possible, studies on humans, or the clinical relevance of basic research findings to humans will be discussed (such as the treatment of reproductive disorders such as abnormalities in pubertal development, or infertility).

The Springer Handbook of Auditory Research presents a series of com­ prehensive and synthetic reviews of the fundamental topics in modern auditory research. The volumes are aimed at all individuals with interests in hearing research including advanced graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and clinical investigators. The volumes are intended to intro­ duce new investigators to important aspects of hearing science and to help established investigators to better understand the fundamental theories and data in fields of hearing that they may not normally follow closely. Each volume is intended to present a particular topic comprehensively, and each chapter will serve as a synthetic overview and guide to the liter­ ature. As such, the chapters present neither exhaustive data reviews nor original research that has not yet appeared in peer-reviewed journals. The volumes focus on topics that have developed a solid data and conceptual foundation rather than on those for which a literature is only beginning to develop. New research areas will be covered on a timely basis in the series as they begin to mature.

The present edition of our The Human Central Nervous System: A Synopsis and Atlas differs in several respects from its predecessor. An entirely new section on the cerebrovascular system and the meninges has been added, in accordance with the wishes of many colleagues. The text has been thoroughly revised and extended in the light of new data and concepts. The functional significance of the structures discussed and depicted has received more atten­ tion, and numerous correlations with neuropathology and clinical neurology have been indicated. The final section in the previous editions was devoted to the monoaminergic neuron systems. It was our original plan to add sections on other important transmitter-specified neuronal populations. However, the size of these sections soon grew well beyond the limits set for the present work. Hence, it was decided to produce a separate text on that subject, which has appeared in the mean time (R.NIEUWENHUYS: Chemoarchitecture of the Brain, Springer­ Verlag 1985). The reader who is particularly interested in chemical neuroana­ tomy is referred to that work; numerous data on the nature of the neurotrans­ mitters present in the various centres and fibre systems of the neuraxis are incorporated in the text of the present book, however.

Spinnen sind wundervolle Kreaturen. Ihr reichhaltiges und komplexes Verhalten verfügt über hochentwickelte Sinnessysteme und ist hervorragend an die Bedingungen ihrer Umwelt angepasst - wie sich aus ihrem evolutionären Erfolg ersehen lässt: sie hatten 400 Millionen Jahre Zeit, ihre Biosensoren zu einer faszinierenden technischen Perfektion und Komplexität auszuarbeiten. Professor Friedrich G. Barth stellt in seinem packenden Buch diese'technische Perfektion'in den übergeordneten Zusammenhang der'Biologie', in der die Passung zwischen Umwelt und Sinnesorganen und die Selektivität der Sinne als Bindeglied zwischen Umwelt und Verhalten eine vorranginge Rolle spielt.

Volume I highlights the association of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) with copper and zinc, the potential roles of PrPC in Alzheimer's disease and cancers, insoluble PrPC, PMCA, molecular and cellular mechanisms of PrPSc formation and clearance, possible co-factors involved in the conversion of PrPC into PrPSc, infectious and pathogenic forms of PrP, cell biology of prions, prion strains and their interference, as well as yeast prions and their inheritable and structural traits. This unique volume will take you through the fascinating chronicle of prions in mammals, yeast, and fungi.

This first volume in a projected series contains the proceedings of the first of the Keio University International Symposia for Life Sciences and Medicine under the sponsorship of the Keio University Medical Science Fund. As stated in the address by the President of Keio University at the opening of the 1996 symposium, the fund of Dr. Mitsunada Sakaguchi. The Keio was established by the generous donation University International Symposia for Life Sciences and Medicine constitute one of the core activities of the fund. The objective is to contribute to the international community by developing human resources, promoting scientific knowledge, and encouraging mutual exchange. Every year, the Executive Committee of the Interna­ tional Symposia for Life Sciences and Medicine selects the most interesting topics for the symposium from applications received in response to a call for papers to the Keio medical community. The publication of these proceedings is intended to publicize and distribute information arising from the lively discussions of the most exciting and current issues during the symposium. Weare grateful to Dr. Mitsunada Sakaguchi, who made the symposium possible, the members of the program committee, and the office staff whose support guaran­ teed the success of the symposium. Finally, we thank Springer-Verlag, Tokyo, for their assistance in publishing this work. Akimichi Kaneko, M. D., Ph. D.

In the last two decades, our knowledge on regulatory peptides and their cognate receptors, most of which are members of the seven transmembrane receptor families, has increased enormously. Regulatory peptides are small proteins which, besides their hormonal functions in regulating cellular metabolism in various tissues, may also act as neurotransmitters, and thus they often carry the prefix'neuro'. Many of the cognate receptors involved in transducing the peptidergic signal across the cell membrane via a familiy of G proteins exist in multiple forms, the number of which frequently exceeds that of the corresponding peptide ligands. In this book, various peptide-receptor systems are discussed, e.g CRF, somatostatin, TRH, opioid peptides, vasopressin, and oxytocin. It also discusses new strategies such as'reverse physiology'to uncover new peptides and orphan receptors.

Even though transmitter release and re-uptake are very complementary and physically in close proximity, researchers usually focus on only one of these two aspects. This volume, however, covers both processes and brings together two major presynaptic events in transcellular communication. It comprises 24 chapters and is divided into two parts: Part I, Neurotransmitter Release, and Part II, Neurotransmitter Uptake. The included topics range from ultrastructure and molecular control mechanisms to pathophysiology of some diseased states. Neuronal as well as non-neuronal mechanisms are treated. The concluding chapter emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and provides a link between the events in the presynaptic terminal and behavior.

This book deals with information processing in the primate temporal visual cortex, one of the higher visual association areas, which is believed to be important for the representation of complex stimuli and may also play a role in visual memory. Here, the need for rapid information processing shapes the functional architecture of all sensory systems, acting to reduce, where possible, wiring length and the number of synapses, to allow faster processing.