"Dangerous Motherhood" is the first study of the close and complex relationship between mental disorder and childbirth. Exploring the relationship between women, their families and their doctors reveals how explanations for the onset of puerperal insanity were drawn from a broad set of moral, social and environmental frameworks, rather than being bound to ideas that women as a whole were likely to be vulnerable to mental illness. The horror of this devastating disorder which upturned the household and turned gentle mothers into disruptive and dangerous, mad women, was magnified by its occurrence at a time when it was anticipated that women would be most happy in the fulfillment of their role as mothers.

This volume is comprised of the majority of lecture presentations and a few select posters presented at the International Workshop, "Basal Ganglia and Thalamus in Health and Movement Disorders," held in Moscow, Russia, on May 29-31, 2000. The International Committee responsible for organizing this workshop included Alexander Konovalov, Director, Burdenko Institute of Neurosurgery of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Mahlon DeLong, Chair, Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, USA, Alim Louis Benabid, Chief, Neurosurgery Service, University of Joseph Fourrier, Grenoble, France, and the two undersigned. The workshop was conceived out of a desire to provide a forum for discussions of both basal ganglia-and motor thalamus-related issues by bringing together basic scientists and clinicians representing different disciplines, research directions, and philosophies. The primary goals were to encourage an exchange of information and ideas in an informal environment, to stimulate integration of the data from different disciplines, and to identifY controversial issues and the most essential questions to be addressed in future research.

"Many researchers live in their laboratories, and their careers and self-esteem like most everyone s these days are built on gaining recognition, not doing what is right. Most have never seen a patient, a person in pain, suffering the hurt of their circumstances someone who might shock them back into seeing what they know to be true. Moreover, academics rarely read outside their area of interest and often actively ignore obviously related research if it threatens to make their work seem less special. This struck me hard. As an idealistic graduate student, I was able to take a course at another university with an esteemed researcher whose work I then greatly admired. I was for a time quite thrilled. My disillusionment came when I enthusiastically expressed the opinion that his general conclusions were supported by the work of another psychologist who was studying the same subject with different methods. 'I don t know his work, ' he said, shaking his head and grimacing with disgust. It was as if I had asked him to taste something horrible. I guess I had.The particular path I have chosen connects what I can of this vast new field before us in order to better understand human nature, and especially what leads to our self-imposed inhibitions and self-inflicted mental pain. It offers a view from a practical perspective that addresses central clinical questions: What keeps us from fully realizing our capacities to understand ourselves and others, and what can be done to change?I do not claim great expertise in research design, statistics, or the interpretation of brain scans, but I believe I have learned enough to exclude the merely sensational. I have chosen not to present controversies in the interpretation of MRI data, although I know they exist because I know we are far from the end of the story. Some findings will remain accepted and others will not. I have tried to present the work of reputable researchers that has gained support, either through replication or by virtue of fitting in with a pattern of related studies. I do not privilege brain science over social science or from what we gather from the clinical encounter. I believe we have to struggle to see how it all fits in order to better understand what it means to be human." Michael Moskowitz, from the Introduction"

Dr Daniel Gibbs is one of 50 million people worldwide with an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. Unlike most patients with Alzheimer's, however, Dr Gibbs worked as a neurologist for twenty-five years, caring for patients with the very disease now affecting him. Also unusual is that Dr Gibbs had begun to suspect he had Alzheimer's several years before any official diagnosis could be made. Forewarned by genetic testing showing he carried alleles that increased the risk of developing the disease, he noticed symptoms of mild cognitive impairment long before any tests would have alerted him. In this highly personal account, Dr Gibbs documents the effect his diagnosis has had on his life and explains his advocacy for improving early recognition of Alzheimer's. Weaving clinical knowledge from decades caring for dementia patients with his personal experience of the disease, this is an optimistic tale of one man's journey with early-stage Alzheimer's disease.

In a readable and highly accessible ethnographic account that is shaped by the stories of families and the voices of parents, De Wolfe examines how parents of children with autism navigate the educational and medical systems, understand their own and their children's bodies, and support and educate one another.

This handbook offers a theoretical foundation for the adaptation of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. The volume examines current treatments for children with ASD and provides a rationale for why PCIT is considered a strong option to address many of the concerns found within this population of children and families. It presents an overview of PCIT theory, the goals of PCIT, the unique aspects of the treatment, and the exceptional outcomes. The handbook demonstrates the versatility of PCIT in conjunction with standard science-based therapies in addressing specific behavioral problems in this young population. Chapters provide a theoretical basis for PCIT, the empirical evidence for its efficacy, clinical considerations, and training issues. Chapters also offer a selection of case studies that help illustrate how PCIT has been successful in treating children with autism. The handbook concludes by identifying the gaps that need to be addressed by future research. Topics featured in the Handbook include: A clinical description of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. The effects of medication for individuals with ASD. The importance of parent-child interactions in social communication and development. Teaching complex social behavior to children with ASD. Internet-delivered PCIT (I-PCIT) for children with autism. Child-Directed Interaction treatments for children with ASD. Parent-Directed Interaction treatments for children on the autism spectrum. The Handbook of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Children on the Autism Spectrum is a must-have resource for researchers, professors, clinicians/practitioners/therapists, and graduate students across many interrelated disciplines, including child and school psychology, behavioral therapy, social work, child and adolescent psychiatry, pediatrics, and family studies as well as occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavior analysis, and speech therapy.

Neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, mood disorders, Alzheimer s disease, epilepsy, alcoholism, substance abuse and others are one of the most debilitating illnesses worldwide characterizing by the complexity of the causes, and lacking the laboratory tests that may promote diagnostic and prognostic procedures. Recent advances in neuroscience, genomic, genetic, proteomic and metabolomic knowledge and technologies have opened the way to searching biomarkers and endophenotypes, which may offer powerful and exciting opportunity to understand the etiology and the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders. The challenge now is to translate these advances into meaningful diagnostic and therapeutic advances. This book offers a broad synthesis of the current knowledge about diverse topics of the biomarker and endophenotype strategies in neuropsychiatry. The book is organized into four interconnected volumes: Neuropsychological Endophenotypes and Biomarkers (with overview of methodological issues of the biomarker and endophenotype approaches in neuropsychiatry and some technological advances), Neuroanatomical and Neuroimaging Endophenotypes and Biomarkers, Metabolic and Peripheral Biomarkers and Molecular Genetic and Genomic Markers . The contributors are internationally and nationally recognized researchers and experts from 16 countries. This four-volume handbook is intended for a broad spectrum of readers including neuroscientists, psychiatrists, neurologists, endocrinologists, pharmacologists, clinical psychologists, general practitioners, geriatricians, health care providers in the field of neurology and mental health interested in trends that have crystallized in the last decade, and trends that can be expected to further evolve in the coming years. It is hoped that this book will also be a useful resource for the teaching of psychiatry, neurology, psychology and mental health. "

Etienne-Emile Baulieu, the discoverer of neurosteroids, and a panel of distinguished scientists and clinical researchers exhaustively and critically review all facets of neurosteroids involved in behavior, stress, memory, depression, anxiety, aging of the brain, and neurodegenerative diseases. These contributors illuminate the role of neurosteroids in brain development and plasticity and detail their neuromodulatory influence on GABAA, ionotropic glutamate receptors, acetylcholine receptors, sigma receptors, and calcium channels. Clearly pointing the way toward novel pharmaceutical agents that may be of significant therapeutic value, particularly with regard to aging mental functions, Neurosteroids: A New Regulatory Function in the Nervous System offers neurobiologists, psychiatrists, neurosurgeons, pharmacologists, and geriatricians the first comprehensive, state-of-the-art review of these important bioactive molecules.

Unraveling the functional properties of structural elements in the brain is one of the fundamental goals of neuroscientific research. In the cerebral cortex this is no mean feat, since cortical areas are defined microstructurally in post-mortem brains but functionally in living brains with electrophysiological or neuroimaging techniques - and cortical areas vary in their topographical properties across individual brains. Being able to map both microstructure and function in the same brains noninvasively in vivo would represent a huge leap forward. In recent years, high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies with spatial resolution below 0.5 mm have set the stage for this by detecting structural differences within the human cerebral cortex, beyond the Stria of Gennari. This provides the basis for an in vivo microanatomical brain map, with the enormous potential to make direct correlations between microstructure and function in living human brains. This book starts with Brodmann's post-mortem map published in the early 20th century, moves on to the almost forgotten microstructural maps of von Economo and Koskinas and the Vogt-Vogt school, sheds some light on more recent approaches that aim at mapping cortical areas noninvasively in living human brains, and culminates with the concept of "in vivo Brodmann mapping" using high-field MRI, which was introduced in the early 21st century.

Over the last decade, the considerable progress made in biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics and neuropharmacology has revealed some ofthe intimate mechanisms ofthe neurodegenerative disorders. There is increasing evidence linking genetic defects affecting mitochondria to Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease and some other neurological disorders. Advances in knowledge are fueled through improved animal models that use mitochondrial toxins, excitotoxins, and transgenic animals. Therapeutic studies in these models have strengthened the possibility for effective treatments in man. By defining the pathomechanisms, we hope to be in the position to prevent cell death by protecting neurons. Indeed serious preclinical and clinical research is going on in the field of neuroprotection in stroke, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, demyelinating disorders and dementia. Based on these scientific ideas, the Symposium in honour of Professor Abel Lajtha was organized by the European Society for ClinicalNeuropharmacology(ESCNP) and the Danube Symposium for Neurological Sciences in Budapest, Hungary, October 24-25, 2002. Professor Lajtha was born in Budapest in 1922 and his home town is an ideal venue for strengthening the bonds between Western and Eastern European Neuroscientists. Professor Peter Riederer (Wurzburg) held the 2002 special "Dezso Miskolczy Memorial Lecture" in Abel Lajtha's Honour. Thanks are due to the invited speakersofthis Symposium for their excellentcontribution. Laszlo Vecsei vii CONTENTS Advances in Neuroprotection Research for Neurodegenerative Diseases 1 Mario E. Gotz and Peter Riederer Neurotransmitter Release in Experimental Stroke Models: The Role of Glutamate-GABA Interaction 21 Laszlo G. Harsing, Jr.

The first evidence that electrical changes can cause muscles to contract was p- vided by Galvani (1791). Galvani's ideas about 'animal electricity' were explored during the 19th and 20th century when it was firmly established that 'electricity' is one of the most important mechanisms used for communication by the nervous system and muscle. These researches lead to the development of ever more soph- ticated equipment that could either record the electrical changes in nerves and muscles, or elicit functional changes by electrically stimulating these structures. It was indeed the combination of these two methods that elucidated many of the basic principles about the function of the nervous system. Following these exciting findings, it was discovered that electrical stimulation and the functions elicited by it also lead to long-term changes in the properties of nerves and particularly muscles. Recent findings help us to understand the mec- nisms by which activity induced by electrical stimulation can influence mature, fully differentiated cells, in particular muscles, blood vessels and nerves. Electrically elicited activity determines the properties of muscle fibres by activating a sequence of signalling pathways that change the gene expression of the muscle. Thus, elect- cal activity graduated from a simple mechanism that is used to elicit muscle c- traction, to a system that could induce permanent changes in muscles and modify most of its characteristic properties.

This new Springer volume, which comes complete with a free DVD, is a comprehensive and detailed overview of the synapse with emphasis on the glutamatergic synapse. Most chapters relate the synapse 's functional aspects to its molecular mechanisms. This approach shows which mechanisms are characterized on both the functional and structural level and can thus be considered firmly established. It 's an important text for neuroscientists and disease-oriented clinicians in neurology.

The object ofthis text is to examine, and elaborate on the meaning of the established premise that 'taste is a chemical sense.' In particular, the major effort is directed toward the degree to which chemical principles apply to phenomena associated with the inductive (recognition) phase of taste. A second objective is to describe the structure and properties of compounds with varying taste that allow decisions to be made with respect to the probable nature of the recognition chemistry for the different tastes, and the probable nature of the receptor(s) for those tastes. A final objective is to include appropriate interdisciplinary observations that have application to solving problems related to the chemical nature of taste. Taste is the most easily accessible chemical structure-biological activity relationship, and taste chemistry studies, i.e. the chemistry of sweetness, saltiness, sourness, and bitterness, have application to general biology, physiology, and pharmacology. Because it involves sensory perception, taste is also of interest to psychologists, and has application to the food and agricultural industries. The largest portion of the text is directed toward sweetness as, due to economic and other factors, the majority of the scientific studies are concerned with sweetness. The text begins with a prologue to describe the problems associated with the study of taste chemistry. Then, there is an introductory chapter to serve as an overview of the general interdisciplinary knowledge of the subject. It is followed by a chapter on the fundamental chemical principles that apply to taste induction chemistry.

As the leading cause of adult disability, stroke poses substantial economic and psychological burdens to populations around the world. Against this dismal backdrop, several novel "neurorestorative" approaches are being investigated as adjunctive treatments to physiotherapy. Stroke Recovery with Cellular Therapies discusses the promising investigations around the world on cell-based therapies to enhance recovery from stroke. Throughout this groundbreaking text, chapters detail the potential benefits of various types of cells and approaches for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, and all studies rely upon traditional histological and functional outcomes. Among the topics detailed in this volume are transplanting immortalized neural stem cells, transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells, adipose-derived stem cells, endogenous neural stem cells in tissue remodeling, and an investigation into the ethics of stem cell research. This text provides an overview of the field, stimulates ideas for further research, and will help serve as a foundation for cell-based therapies to move forward as a viable approach for stroke recovery in the future.

Despite considerable progress in clinical and basic neurosciences, the cure of psychiatric disorders is still remote, little is known about their prevention, and the etiology and molecular mechanisms of mental disorders are still obscure. Diagnoses are still guided by patients' stories. The mission of animal models is to bridge the gap between `the story and the synapse.' Contemporary Issues in Modeling of Psychopathology attempts to do this by examining such questions as `What good might come from such a model? Are we wasting our time? How far can we carry results from model animals, such as rats and mice, without causing a highly distorted view of the field and its goals?' This book serves as the opening volume for a new series, Neurobiological Foundation of Aberrant Behaviors.

White matter injury can result from both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke as well as a host of other CNS diseases and conditions such as neonatal injuries, neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injuries, carbon monoxide poisoning, and drug or alcohol overdoses. The extent of white matter injury is extremely important to patient outcomes. Several recent technological developments including advanced neuroimaging and the breeding of new rodent models of white matter injury have provided growing insight into initial damage and repair after a stroke or other damaging event. The proposed book will be the first to provide a systematic expert summary of normal white matter morphology as well as white matter injury following stroke and other CNS injuries.

What is Thinking? - Trying to Define an Equally Fascinating and Elusive Phenomenon Human thinking is probably the most complex phenomenon that evolution has come up with until now. There exists a broad spectrum of definitions, from subs- ing almost all processes of cognition to limiting it to language-based, sometimes even only to formalizable reasoning processes. We work with a "medium sized" definition according to which thinking encompasses all operations by which cog- tive agents link mental content in order to gain new insights or perspectives. Mental content is, thus, a prerequisite for and the substrate on which thinking operations are executed. The largely unconscious acts of perceptual object stabilization, ca- gorization, emotional evaluation - and retrieving all the above from memory inscriptions - are the processes by which mental content is generated, and are, therefore, seen as prerequisites for thinking operations. In terms of a differentia specifica, the notion of "thinking" is seen as narrower than the notion of "cognition" and as wider than the notion of "reasoning". Thinking is, thus, seen as a subset of cognition processes; and reasoning processes are seen as a subset of thinking. Besides reasoning, the notion of thinking includes also nonexplicit, intuitive, and associative processes of linking mental content. According to this definition, thinking is not dependant on language, i. e. also many animals and certainly all mammals show early forms of thinking.

Recent advances in understanding the role of protein dysmetabolism in neurodegeneration was the theme of the Fondation IPSEN meeting addressing Genotype-Proteotype-Phenotype relationships. Experts from international laboratories contributed to the current volume to produce a comprehensive overview of the role of protein misfolding in neurodegeneration. Links between genotype and protein characteristics and between proteotype and clinical phenomenology were discussed across diseases categories. Progress in understanding the role of abnormalities of protein metabolism may lead to the identification of biological markers relevant to disease monitoring and to the development of new therapeutic agents capable of modifying and ameliorating basic neurodegenerative mechanisms.

This book describes the specific surgical techniques currently employed in patients with intractable epilepsy; it also covers the relevant technical aspects of general neurosurgery. All of the approaches associated with the various foci of epilepsy within the cerebral hemispheres are considered, including temporal and frontal lobectomies and corticectomies, parietal and occipital lobe resections, corpus callosotomy, hemispherectomy, and multiple subpial incisions. In addition, an individual chapter is devoted to electrocortical stimulation and functional localization of the so-called eloquent cortex. The more general topics on which guidance is provided include bipolar coagulation (with coverage of the physical principles, strength of the coagulating current, use of coagulation forceps, the advantages of correct irrigation, and use of cottonoid patties) and all of the measures required during the performance of operations under local anesthesia. The book is designed to meet the need for a practically oriented source of precise information on the operative procedures employed in epilepsy patients and will be of special value for neurosurgical residents and fellows.

This new volume of "Advances in Pharmacology" explores the Current State of Alzheimer's Disease Research and Therapeutics. Chapters cover such topics as the The role heat shock proteins play in the Alzheimer's Theater, Gamma-Secretase as a Target for Alzheimer's Disease, and Identification of protein kinase C for the treatment of dementias.With a variety of chapters and the best authors in the field, the volume is an essential resource for pharmacologists, immunologists and biochemists alike.
Explores the current state of Alzheimer's disease research and therapeuticsChapters cover a variety of topics such as the role heat shock proteins play in the Alzheimer's theater, gamma-secretase as a target for Alzheimer's disease, and identification of protein kinase C for the treatment of dementiasWith the best authors in the field, the volume is an essential resource for pharmacologists, immunologists and biochemists alike"

Toward the Psychology of Malefaction This is a book about human wickedness. I would like to identify two obstacles in the path that this book seeks to traverse. One obstacle is an inappropriate scientism; the other is an inappropriate moralism. There is a kind of scientism that prevents us from seeing that human beings are responsible for what happens on the planet. It is a view that, in the name of science, downplays the role of human beings as agents in what takes place. This view is often expressed in a paradigm that regards human conduct as the "dependent variable," while anything that impinges on the human being is considered the "independent variable." The paradigm further takes the relationship between the dependent and independent variable to be the result of natural law. It charac teristically ignores the possibility that individual or collective deci sion or policy, generated by human beings and not by natural law, is and can be regulatory of conduct."