NEURONS AND NETWORKS: An Introduction to Neuroscience

How the brain perceives our environment and controls our actions is a subject that we have only begun to understand during the 20th century. The pace of brain research has accelerated dramatically and neuroscience is now one of the most active branches of all the natural sciences. This illustrated book presents an introduction for beginning students and others that joins two major approaches to the field. First, since the brain - like any other organ - is made up of cells, Dowling covers the essentials of cellular and molecular neurobiology, introducing the specialized structure and function of individual nerve cells. In the second half of the book he presents an overview of integrative neuroscience, which describes the processing of information by aggregates of nerve cells, for it is from these networks of the nervous system that behaviour emerges. "Neurons and Networks" does not aim to be encyclopaedic; instead, it offers in-depth coverage of carefully selected topics. Tangential matters and technical jargon are avoided. The author draws examples from invertebrate and vertebrate nervous systems, reflecting the variety of organisms that have been studied over the years, and especially from the visual system, which is perhaps better understood than any other system of the brain. Throughout, basic biological principles are kept in the forefront to ensure that readers grasp the mechanisms underlying neuronal functions. John Dowling draws on more than 20 years of research and undergraduate teaching to create a book that aims to meet the needs of a wide range of students. He incorporates over 250 illustrations based on actual recordings and experiments to ground the biological concepts in the real world of the laboratory. To convey the vitality of the science, Dowling describes the experimental observations leading to important discoveries, then explains or speculates on the significance of the findings. This introduction to a dynamic field should attract curious general readers as well as beginning students of brain function, including computer scientists, psychologists, molecular biologists and budding neuroscientists.

"This book is exceptionally well written--clear, concise, and even entertaining. The illustrations are superb." --Anne C. Bekoff, University of Colorado at Boulder (went on the jacket) "YNeurons and Networks covers the classic material of neurobiology. It has evolved from years of lectures given to undergraduates at Harvard University by the renowned retinal physiologist John Dowling....Overall, this is a sober and scholarly volume that strikes me, with its terse, no-frills style and reliance on the history of ideas, as very Harvard. Although intended as an introduction to basic neurobiology, it is a satisfying book at several levels." --Michael R. Hanley, Nature "YNeurons and Networks provides an up-to-date introduction to the whole field of neuroscience....It falls into two parts, each consisting of nine chapters: neurons (cellular neuroscience) and networks (integrative neuroscience). Dowling uses the foundations in the cell biology, biophysics and biochemistry of neurons laid in the first part to develop an account of the system properties of networks such as memory, visual processing and motor control." --C. U. M. Smith, Times Higher Education Supplement "John Dowling's Neurons and Networks: An Introduction to Neuroscience is a rarity among modern American textbooks. It is written in simple, direct language, it is of modest length, and it is unambiguously focused on explaining a limited set of complex matters clearly rather than providing a comprehensive overview of the entire field. "How well does the selective approach work? I recently used the book in a one-quarter course taken primarily by senior students, most of whom had had no exposure to neuroscience beyond theintroductory biology series. I found it very satisfying to work with a book written at a relatively elementary level and to bring in more sophistication as needed...instead of having a comprehensive textbook of which only carefully selected portions could be covered. The feedback was better than on any other text I have tried over the years. Most students really appreciated having a book written for beginners rather than for emerging professionals....YT here were many favorable comments and no widespread complaints about Dowling's book. In my experience this is a distinctly rare event. ..."clearly a book for students." --John Palka, Cell "What a wonderful text this is! It is very clearly written and provides a much needed introductory text for neuroscience courses. The diagrams are clear and the organization almost perfect. I particularly like the progression from description to quantitative information." --Russell D. Fernald, Stanford University "Neurons and Networks has made an enormous contribution to my undergraduate course, 'Brain: Perception and Behavior.' It is the perfect text for the course, which is taken by humanities students as well as a wide range of science and math students. All of them find the book extremely interesting. The writing is clear and concise and written at a level our sophomores can grasp." --Hugh R. Wilson, Visual Sciences Center, University of Chicago "As a teaching text this volume is unusual, in that it provides a very personal account--in this case of the lecture course for biology students at Harvard given by Professor John Dowling. At the outset, Dowling suggests that it has been his intention to introduce his subject as early as possible in theeducational careers of his students, thereby necessitating a simple text. The text has been clearly divided into two distinct parts--basic cellular neuroscience and integrative neuroscience. Given his eminent background in retinal neurobiology, it is not surprising that the author has chosen to utilise the retina in particular, and visual neuroscience in general, as the major topics of the text. The style of the text, written in such a personal way (first person throughout) is easily readable--probably one of the most important factors in encouraging undergraduate students to learn!" --K. L. Grieve, Trends in Neuroscience "This book is highly appropriate for undergraduate courses in neuroscience. I like its breadth of coverage, the care taken to present difficult topics in a clear and simplified fashion, the richness of the illustrations, and the familiar tone of the writing style, which reminds us that the author is another human being." --Robert Josephson, Department of Psychobiology, University of California, Irvine (Note: all quotes not from publications have been cleared for promotional use.)