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It is now about 10 years since the first edition of Nerve Cells and Nervous Systems was published. There have been many important advances across the whole field of neuro science since 1990 and it was obvious that the first edition had become much less useful than when it was published. Hence this new edition. I have attempted to keep to the aims of the first edition by presenting the general principles of neuroscience in the context of experimental evidence. As with the first edition, the selection of material to include, or exclude, has been difficult and invariably reflects my personal biases. I hope that not too many readers will be disappointed with the selections. I have unashamedly retained material, and, in particular, illustrations where I think they remain of importance to an understanding of the field and to its historical development. As before, I have attempted as reasonable a coverage as possible within the confines of a book that should be easy to carry around, to handle and, I hope, to read. The book should be useful for anyone studying the nervous system at both undergraduate and immediate postgraduate levels. In particular, under graduates reading neuroscience or any course containing a neuroscience component, such as physiology, pharmacology, biomedical sciences or psychology, as well as medicine and veterinary medicine should find the book helpful.
List of contents
1 Introduction to Nerve Cells and Nervous Systems.- 2 The Cell Membrane: Ionic Permeability and Electrotonic Properties.- 3 The Action Potential and the Nerve Impulse.- 4 Voltage-Gated Ion Channels in Excitable Membranes.- 5 General Properties of Intercellular Communication in the Nervous System.- 6 The Presynaptic Neuron I: Release of Neurotransmitter.- 7 The Presynaptic Neuron II: Neurotransmitters.- 8 The Postsynaptic Neuron I: Actions of Neurotransmitters.- 9 The Postsynaptic Neuron II: The Neuron as an Integrative Device.- 10 Transmission Between Pairs of Identified Neurons.- 11 Sense Organ Mechanisms.- 12 Functional Organisation in Groups of Neurons.- 13 Structural Organisation of Sensory and Motor Systems.- 14 Functional Properties of Specific Sensory and Motor Systems.- 15 The Nervous System and the Internal and External Environments - Homeostasis and Interactions.- 16 Formation, Maintenance and Plasticity of Synapses.- 17 Learning and Memory.- References.
Summary
It is now about 10 years since the first edition of Nerve Cells and Nervous Systems was published. There have been many important advances across the whole field of neuro science since 1990 and it was obvious that the first edition had become much less useful than when it was published. Hence this new edition. I have attempted to keep to the aims of the first edition by presenting the general principles of neuroscience in the context of experimental evidence. As with the first edition, the selection of material to include, or exclude, has been difficult and invariably reflects my personal biases. I hope that not too many readers will be disappointed with the selections. I have unashamedly retained material, and, in particular, illustrations where I think they remain of importance to an understanding of the field and to its historical development. As before, I have attempted as reasonable a coverage as possible within the confines of a book that should be easy to carry around, to handle and, I hope, to read. The book should be useful for anyone studying the nervous system at both undergraduate and immediate postgraduate levels. In particular, under graduates reading neuroscience or any course containing a neuroscience component, such as physiology, pharmacology, biomedical sciences or psychology, as well as medicine and veterinary medicine should find the book helpful.
