Brain Control of Wakefulness and Sleep

Brain Control of Wakefulness and Sleeping explores the history of efforts to understand the nature of waking and sleeping states from a biological point of view. This research represents the synthesis of the work of two individuals who have devoted their careers to investigating the mysterious states of the mind. This landmark book will interest the beginner scientist/researcher as well as the sleep clinician, with chapters on subjects including Neuronal Control of REM Sleep, Motor Systems and the Role of Active Forebrain, and Humoral Systems in Sleep Control. The authors explore the behavioral and physiological events of waking and sleep, analyzing the current realities and the future possibilities of unifying basic studies on anatomy and cellular psychology.

Steriade and McCarley have done a sterling job of bringing together much of what is relevant (and some of what is not) into a present-day light...The book is rich in references and leaves no aspect of the problem untouched. The morphological, pharmacological, physiological and mathematical modeling aspects of different components of the subject are treated to exhaustion...the book is richly illustrated and down-right comprehensive. It will delight those interested in the field, will inform those who need a context for their research efforts and is a must for graduate and medical libraries.

-Reprinted from Neuroscience, Vol. 42, No. 2, R.R. Llinas, Book Reviews, pp. 613-615, Copyright 1991, with permssion from Elsevier.