The complexity of the brain and the protean nature of behavior remain the most elusive area of science, but also the most important. van Hemmen and Sejnowski invited 23 experts from the many areas--from evolution to qualia--of systems neuroscience to formulate one problem each. Although each chapter was written independently and can be read separately, together they provide a useful roadmap to the field of systems neuroscience and will serve as a source of inspirations for future explorers...

In the gritty underbelly of 1970s New York City, a shocking crime sends shockwaves through the city. When a young black woman is found brutally murdered, her body mutilated and painted black, Detective Sergeant Phil Garrett is assigned to the case. As he delves deeper into the investigation, Garrett uncovers a sinister world of racial hatred and sexual violence. With each clue he unravels, he comes closer to the truth, but also to a danger that threatens to consume him.

The prefrontal cortex makes up almost a quarter of the human brain, and it expanded dramatically during primate evolution. The Neurobiology of the Prefrontal Cortex presents a new theory about its fundamental function. In this important new book, the authors argue that primate-specific parts of the prefrontal cortex evolved to reduce errors in foraging choices, so that particular ancestors of modern humans could overcome periodic food shortages. These developments laid the foundation for w...

"Brain Imaging Techniques" is a book chapter of the college-level textbook for the book volume in the Principles of Neuropsychopharmacology course. It is a part of the Science Textbook Series authored by Nicoladie Tam, Ph.D. that also includes the Principles of Biology course.This book is written with specific pedagogical considerations to facilitate students' learning. It applies the proven best practices to motivate students in learning. It uses multiple pedagogical methodologies...

The Physiology of Synapses covers the considerable advances in understanding the complex physiology of synapses. This book is divided into 16 chapters that emphasize the mechanism of synaptic transmission. The first chapters describe the structural and physiological features of chemically transmitting synapses. The subsequent chapters deal with the excitatory postsynaptic responses to presynaptic impulse and the release of transmitter by presynaptic impulses. These topics are followed by d...

What, if anything, do dreams tell us about ourselves? What is the relationship between types of sleep and types of dreams? Does dreaming serve any purpose? Or are dreams simply meaningless mental noise--"unmusical fingers wandering over the piano keys"? With expertise in philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience, Owen Flanagan is uniquely qualified to answer these questions. In this groundbreaking work, he provides both an accessible survey of the latest research on sleep and dreams and a c...

This book is intended for students of medicine, pharmacy and other biological disciplines, who want to have a working knowledge of the mechanisms of action, uses and adverse effects of drugs which modify the activity of neurotransmitters in the peripheral and central nervous systems. It is suitable for undergraduates and for post-graduates on taught higher degree courses and diplomas. New information and concepts have been incorporated into the text as appropriate, and references have been...

Cilia are tiny microtubule-based organelles projecting from the plasma membrane of practically all cells in the body. In the past 10 years a flurry of research has indicated a crucial role of this long-neglected organelle in the development and function of the central nervous system. A common theme of these studies is the critical dependency of signal transduction of the Sonic hedgehog, and more recently, Wnt signaling pathways upon cilia to regulate fate decisions and morphogenesis. Both ...

In a clear exposition this inspirational book shows the in situ three-dimensional morphology of cerebellar neurons, intracortical circuits and synaptic connections that underpin the functioning of cerebellar neurons in networks. It brings together in one volume a new view of the three-dimensional cytoarchitectonic arrangement of the cerebellar cortex.The book shows the cerebellar extrinsic and intrinsic intracortical circuits formed by mossy and climbing fibers as exposed ...

This book reviews the growing literature that is consistent with the hypothesis that hormones can regulate auditory physiology and perception across a broad range of animal taxa, including humans. Understanding how hormones modulate auditory function has far reaching implications for advancing our knowledge in the basic biomedical sciences and in understanding the evolution of acoustic communication systems. A fundamental goal of neuroscience is to understand how hormones modulate neural c...

Phytochemicals Signal Transduction and Neurological Disorders Phytochemicals are heterogeneous group of bioactive compounds produced by plants, which are extensively researched by scientists for their health-promoting potentials in human diseases. Unlike vitamins and minerals, phytochemicals are not required for sustaining cell viability, but they play an important role in protecting tissues and cells from the harmful effects of oxidative stress and inflammation. Examples of phytochemicals...

Making decisions is such a regular activity that it is mostly taken for granted. However, damage or abnormality in the areas of the brain involved in decision-making can severely affect personality and the ability to manage even simple tasks. Here, Barbara Sahakian and Jamie Nicole LaBuzetta discuss the process of normal decision making - our strategies for making decisions, biases that affect us, and influential factors - and then describe the abnormal patterns found in patients with cond...