The Synaptic Organization of the Brain - Softcover

Shepherd, Gordon M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195062566 ISBN 13: 9780195062564

Publisher: Oxford University Press, New York, 1990

Synopsis

The third edition of The Synaptic Organization of the Brain continues the tradition of earlier editions in focusing on the principles underlying the organization of neurons and synapses into functional circuits within the best-studied regions of the brain: autonomic ganglia, spinal cord, olfactory bulb, retina, cerebellum, thalamus, basal ganglia, olfactory cortex, hippocampus, and neocortex. To ensure authoritative coverage, the chapters have been written by leading researchers in each region. As in past editions, each chapter follows the same format: neural elements, synaptic connections, basic circuits, physiological properties, neurotransmitters, and dendritic properties. Each chapter now has a concluding section which discusses functional implications. This organization gives a logical structure to the description of each region, and greatly facilitates comparisons between regions and identification of common principles. Highlights include the first comprehensive attempt to incorporate intrinsic excitable membrane properties into neural circuits throughout the brain, the latest experimental results from patch recordings, brain slices, and intracellular labelling, and 3-D reconstructions of neurons and connections. The book also provides up-to-date summaries of neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, second-messengers and ligand-and voltage-gated membrane channels for each brain region. Information on possible mechanisms underlying learning and memory in brain circuits is emphasized. A special focus is on methods for modeling neurons and circuits, as a first step toward a "biophysics of neural computation" and the construction of more realistic neural networks.

About this title

Review

From reviews of previous editions: "This is...a reference textbook that has served generations of neuroscientists at all levels of their career for a quarter century. It is like a wise and trusted mentor, who is always there for you...The marvel of the book in all editions is how much information is packed into such a small number of pages, yet it is comprehensible...any college or university instructor who teaches neurobiology ought to read this book, for it provides a depth of knowledge and perspective that cannot be gained from a (bad) strategy of knowing the course textbook cold and staying a few chapters ahead of one's students."--Contemporary Psychology"The book remains a staple, and should be on the shelf of any serious neuroscientist."--The Quarterly Review of Biology"By any measure this work is a classic...It will undoubtedly take its place as one of the most significant and comprehensive commentaries of our time on structure and function of nervous tissue."--Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology"This well-organized volume clearly summarizes knowledge of neuronal interaction in several brain regions and assimilates new findings to the classical view of neuron communication."--Journal of the American Medical Association

Synopsis

A new edition of this book with revisions by leading researchers in each field. It covers all aspects of the synaptic organization of the brain including the spinal cord, the olfactory bulb and cortex, the cerebellum and the retina, as well as membrane properties and neurotransmitter actions.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press, New York
• Publication date: 1990
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0195062566
• ISBN 13: 9780195062564
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 561