Neurons and networks : an introduction to neuroscience

Author(s)

• Dowling, John E.

Bibliographic Information

Neurons and networks : an introduction to neuroscience

John E. Dowling

Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1992

Note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

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.

Table of Contents

• Part 1 Neurons - cellular neuroscience: probing the brain - anatomical approaches - visualizing neurons, physiological approaches - recording electrical activity, molecular biological approaches - mapping molecules
• cells and synapses - neurons and glia, neuronal structure, synapses
• membranes and the resting potential - properties of neural potentials, membranes - their structure and electrical properties, resting potentials
• action potentials and their propagation - the generation of action potentials, the propagation of action potentials
• synaptic potentials - excitatory and inhibitory synapses, the Axon Hillock and the generation of action potentials, analyzing synaptic potentials, the neuromuscular junction
• the chemistry of synaptic transmission - mechanisms of synaptic transmission, myasthenia gravis - a neuromuscular disease, neurotransmitters and neuromodulators
• receptor potentials - mechanoreceptors, invertebrate photoreceptors, vertebrate photoreceptors
• membrane channels and receptor proteins - the acetylcholine-gated channel
• "Shaker" flies and potassium channels, visual pigments and receptor proteins. Part 2 Networks - integrative neuroscience: invertebrate nervous systems - nervous system design, mechanisms underlying behaviour
• control of rhythmic motor behaviour - the heartbeat in the leech, swimming in "Tritonia", modulation of neural circuits
• an invertabrate model of memory and learning - early theories, the Gill-withdrawal reflex in "Aplysia"
• the neural circuitry of the reflex, long-term habituation and sensitization, a summary scheme of habituation and sensitization
• the vertebrate brain - the central nervous system, the spinal cord, the brain
• motor control in vertebrates - the autonomic nervous system, voluntary movement
• retinal processing of visual information - the retina, the initial stages of visual processing, cellular mechanisms, functional organization of the retina, modulation of retinal synapses
• cortical processing of visual information - the lateral geniculate nucleus, the visual cortex, binocular interaction and depth perception
• the architecture of the visual cortex - lateral geniculate architecture, the visual cortex - area V1, cortical plasticity - the effects of visual deprivation, mechanisms underlying deprivation changes
• the development of the brain - the neural plate, tube, and crest, the differentiation of enurons, axon projection and and synapse formation, axonal guidance
• toward an understanding of higher brain function - higher cortical processing, studying the human brain. Appendix: electrical charge and circuits.

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details

• NCID: BA17174065
• ISBN:
  • 0674608208
• LCCN: 91023583
• Country Code: us
• Title Language Code: eng
• Text Language Code: eng
• Place of Publication: Cambridge, Mass.
• Pages/Volumes: xix, 447 p.
• Size: 24 cm
• Classification:
  • LCC : QP355.2
  • NLM : WL 102.5 D747n
  • DC20 : 591.1/88
• Subject Headings:
  • LCSH : Neurology
  • MESH : Nerve Net
  • MESH : Nervous System
  • MESH : Neurons