The Synaptic Organization of the Brain

Shepherd, Gordon M.

ISBN 10: 0195062566 / ISBN 13: 9780195062564

Published by Oxford University Press (edition 3), 1990

About this Item

The item might be beaten up but readable. May contain markings or highlighting, as well as stains, bent corners, or any other major defect, but the text is not obscured in any way.

Seller Inventory # 0195062566-7-1

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Synaptic Organization of the Brain
• Publisher: Oxford University Press (edition 3)
• Publication Date: 1990
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0195062566
• ISBN 13: 9780195062564
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: 3.
• Condition: Fair

About this title

Synopsis

The third edition of The Synaptic Organization of the Brain continues the tradition of earlier editions in focusing on the principles underlying the organization of neurons and synapses into functional circuits within the best-studied regions of the brain: autonomic ganglia, spinal cord, olfactory bulb, retina, cerebellum, thalamus, basal ganglia, olfactory cortex, hippocampus, and neocortex. To ensure authoritative coverage, the chapters have been written by leading researchers in each region. As in past editions, each chapter follows the same format: neural elements, synaptic connections, basic circuits, physiological properties, neurotransmitters, and dendritic properties. Each chapter now has a concluding section which discusses functional implications. This organization gives a logical structure to the description of each region, and greatly facilitates comparisons between regions and identification of common principles. Highlights include the first comprehensive attempt to incorporate intrinsic excitable membrane properties into neural circuits throughout the brain, the latest experimental results from patch recordings, brain slices, and intracellular labelling, and 3-D reconstructions of neurons and connections. The book also provides up-to-date summaries of neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, second-messengers and ligand-and voltage-gated membrane channels for each brain region. Information on possible mechanisms underlying learning and memory in brain circuits is emphasized. A special focus is on methods for modeling neurons and circuits, as a first step toward a "biophysics of neural computation" and the construction of more realistic neural networks.

About the Author

Gordon M. Shepherd is Professor of Neuroscience, Yale University.