We are at the midpoint in the "Decade of the Brain." Why do we know so much and yet understand so little about the brain? The field of neuroscience has exploded, and anyone who attends one of the large meetings has the impression of drinking from a fire hydran- as so aptly put by the late neuroanatomist Walle J. H. Nauta. Part of that feeling is a general-information problem, experienced in other fields of scienc as well. In brain research, however, the problem is accentuated by the rapid advances of molecular and cellular brain research. The dynamics created by these lines of research have multiplied published output, but have inevitably entailed a compartmentalization of scientific interests and research strategies. If the cost of gaining knowledge is a shrinking horizon of the individual scientist, neuroscience must develop strategies for organizing the acquisition of knowledge. Some of this guidance is given by the society -by medical and, perhaps, commercial needs. But who provides the backbone for establishing a generally accepted "schema" for basic brain research -a frame of reference onto which the millions of information fragments can be fitted, in a way acceptable to a multicultural and polymethodical neuroscience community? We believe that developmental and evolutionary biology has the potential to provide a commonly accepted frame of reference for that multilevel system approach needed to understand the workings of the brain.

Neural Engineering for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Volume Two: Diagnosis and Clinical Analysis presents the latest advances in neural engineering and biomedical engineering as applied to the clinical diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Advances in the role of neuroimaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, MRI, fMRI, DTI, video analysis of sensory-motor and social behaviors, and suitable data analytics useful for clinical diagnosis and research applications for Autism Spectrum Disorder are covered, including relevant case studies. The application of brain signal evaluation, EEG analytics, fuzzy model and temporal fractal analysis of rest state BOLD signals and brain signals are also presented. A clinical guide for general practitioners is provided along with a variety of assessment techniques such as magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The book is presented in two volumes, including Volume One: Imaging and Signal Analysis Techniques comprised of two Parts: Autism and Medical Imaging, and Autism and Signal Analysis. Volume Two: Diagnosis and Treatment includes Autism and Clinical Analysis: Diagnosis, and Autism and Clinical Analysis: Treatment.

In addition to surgery and radiotherapy, local treatment modalities for the management of brain tumours are increasingly being developed and clinically tested. This book describes for the first time basic tumour biology as well as all current procedures in progress at the most recent level of knowledge, presented by leading experts in the respective fields. Image guided resection procedures, fluorescence guided surgery, developments in interstitial radiosurgery are addressed, just as intracavitary chemotherapy and all current concepts and studies of interstitial targeted therapy. Owing to its topicality this book will remain for long the standard for this comprehensively treated subject.

Gliomas are fatal diseases, but also represent good models for tumor research with the aim to eventually discover new and appropriate therapeutics against this disease. Glioma experimental research models are of help to investigate tumorigenesis (tumor stem cell theory versus "classical" opinions), tumor angiogenesis (since they are highly vascularized) and tumor invasion (since they grow without limits). In addition, they have a very special microenvironment (the brain) and limited tumor stroma cells (mainly microglia and endothelial cells). This book addresses the molecular mechanisms of the various tumor stages, describes the interaction with the tumor microenvironment and furthermore depicts experimental models for Glioma research and future therapeutic concepts. The book is composed and written for Scientists and Medical Doctors in Oncology, Neurosciences and Molecular Biology. "

This book, the latest in the International Child Neurology Review series, is the first authoritative synthesis of the role of vitamin treatments in children with neurological disorders. It covers all the conditions seen in paediatric neurology that are treatable by vitamin supplementation and consists of up-to-date, concise reviews by an international group of experts in their specific fields. They cover: biotinidase deficiency; the role of vitamins in the developing nervous system, mitochondrial disorders and autism; homocysteinuria; conditions responsive to vitamin E or riboflavin; disorders of folic acid and vitamin B12 metabolism; folinic acid responsive seizures, and all aspects of pyridoxine-dependent and pyridoxine-responsive seizures. It is the first time that clinical and data research in this field has been drawn together in one source, making available previously unpublished material. This will be a unique data resource for anyone involved in the care of children with vitamin-responsive neurological disorders.

As an addition to the European postgraduate training system for young neurosurgeons we began to publish in 1974 this series of Advances and Technical Standards in Neurosurgery which was later sponsored by the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies. This series was first discussed in 1972 at a combined meeting of the Italian and German Neurosurgical Societies in Taormina, the founding fathers of the series being Jean Brihaye, Bernard Pertuiset, Fritz Loew and Hugo Krayenbiihl. Thus were established the principles of European co operation which have been born from the European spirit, flourished in the European Association, and have throughout been associated with this series. The fact that the English language is well on the way to becoming the international medium at European scientific conferences is a great asset in terms of mutual understanding. Therefore we have decided to publish all contributions in English, regardless of the native language of the authors. All contributions are submitted to the entire editorial board before publi cation of any volume. Our series is not intended to compete with the publications of original scientific papers in other neurosurgical journals. Our intention is, rather, to present fields of neurosurgery and related areas in which important recent advances have been made. The contributions are written by specialists in the given fields and constitute the first part of each volume.

Neuropsychologists are frequently asked to serve as experts for court cases where judgments must be made as to the cause of, and prognosis for, brain diseases and injuries, as well as the impact of brain dysfunction on legal competencies and responsibilities. This fully-updated second edition describes the application of neuropsychology to legal issues in both the civil and criminal courts. The book emphasizes the scientific basis of neuropsychology, as well as using a scientific approach in addressing forensic questions. All of the contributors are recognized experts in their fields, and the chapters cover common forensic issues such as appropriate scientific reasoning, the assessment of malingering, productive attorney-neuropsychologist interactions, admissibility of neuropsychological evidence, and ethics. Also covered are functional neuroimaging in forensic neuropsychology and the determination of damages in personal injury litigation, including pediatric brain injury (traumatic injury and perinatal birth injury), mild, moderate, and severe traumatic brain injury in adults, neurotoxic injury, chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, and assessment of medically unexplained symptoms. Civil competencies in elderly persons with dementia are addressed in a separate chapter, and two chapters deal with the assessment of competency and responsibility in criminal forensic neuropsychology. The book closes with a perspective on trends in forensic practice and research. Like the previous edition, this new volume is an invaluable resource for neuropsychologists, attorneys, neurologists, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and their students and trainees.

Rather than being an esoteric aspect of brain function, lateralization is a fundamental characteristic of the vertebrate brain essential to a broad range of neural and behavioral processes.' Professor Lesley J. Rogers, Chapter 1 of Side Bias: A Neuropsychological Perspective. This volume contains 14 chapters from a veritable United Nations' of experts in the field of lateralization of function. They write comprehensive reviews, present data, and pose new questions concerning the evolutionary origins and development of side bias, methodological concerns with the way we measure handedness and footedness, and some more unusual aspects of human beings' lateralized behavior, such as asymmetrical cradling and pseudoneglect. The book will be essential reading for students of behavioral neuroscience and neuropsychology interested in lateralization of function as well as for established researchers in the field.

Scientific investigations of a descriptive nature involve in creasingly refined definitions of a problem. An idea is trans formed after initial experiments into a working hypothesis that has a number of testable consequences. Rarely in the neurosci ences do such tests completely falsify the hypothesis; more commonly they lead to a modified, more general hypothesis. One could argue that in order to define a scientific problem, one must first understand it. This monograph is an attempt to draw together knowledge and understanding from various disciplines, collected from studies carried out over more than 80 yr, of the functions of the auditory midbrain. This part of the brain has been of continuing interest to me, from my days as a postgraduate student in the mid-1960s to the present time, because so many ideas about central auditory organization and function have developed from studies of this region. This book is dedicated to Jerzy E. Rose, Professor Emer itus of Neurophysiology at the University of Wisconsin. His intellect and clarity of mind have been responsible for many of the modern ideas of auditory neurophysiology. These ideas have been incorporated into a series of classic papers on audi tory neuroscience that will be important for a long time to corne. In addition, Jerzy Rose has been an inspired teacher whose precepts of brain structure and function have been a major influence on his students, including the author."

Edited by the 1991 winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, this Second Edition includes new chapters covering such applications as capacitance measurements; single-cell PCR measurements; whole-cell recording from brain slices in combination with imaging techniques; atomic force microscopy of cells and membranes attached to glass pipettes; and patch clamping.

This book puts the critical into dementia studies. It makes a timely and novel contribution to the field, offering a provocative and thought-provoking critique of current thinking and debate on dementia. Collectively the contributions gathered together in this text make a powerful case for a more politically engaged, deconstructive and critical treatment of dementia and the systems and structures that currently govern and frame it. The book is interdisciplinary and draws together leading dementia scholars alongside dementia activists from around the world. It frames dementia as first and foremost a political category. The book advances both theoretical and methodological thinking in the field as well as sharing learning from empirical research. Outlining the limits to existing efforts to frame and theorise the condition it proposes a new critical movement for the field of dementia studies and practice. The book will be of direct interest to researchers and scholars in the field of dementia studies and wider fields of health, disability and care. It will provide a novel resource for students and practitioners in the fields of dementia, health care and social care. The book also has implications for dementia policymaking, commissioning and community development.

Preparing Kids for the Real World and Their Best SelvesThe greatest gifts we can give a child are those that help them grow into their best self. Parents and professionals alike strive to guide youngsters in developing a sense of self-worth and functioning in line with their highest capabilities. No matter what specific challenges a child may face, success is reaching the level of independence and engagement in the world they are realistically capable of achieving. Since the 1st edition of our book, the prevalence rate of children diagnosed as autistic has continued to rise. Greater numbers of kids are transitioning into adulthood with a spectrum label than ever before. Researchers around the world churn out studies, many aimed at learning more about the factors that help autistic children learn and gain skills. Community awareness of autism has risen, and companies and colleges are taking notice.

This book is dedicated to the memory of two colleagues and friends, Amico Big- nami and Hendrick Vander Los. They were both pioneers in their fields: Bignami on on- togenesis and function of neuroglia, and Van der Los on brain plasticity and neuronal circuitry. Their ideas are further pursued by the authors in this book. Some of the chapters are products of a conference dedicated to these two scientists entitled "Recent Advances in Neurobiology: Plasticity and Regeneration." The conference was organized by the Insti- tute of Developmental Neuroscience and Aging and sponsored by the Region della Valle d' Aosta. Also, several chapters are written by colleagues who knew well either Amico or Hendrick and were invited to contribute to this dedication. The book is divided in four sections. The first part covers neurons, neuroglia includ- ing microglia, their plasticity and phenotypic expression, and specific functions and inter- actions. It is now established that neuroglia are an intimate component of the neuronal environment and thought to regulate several neuronal functions. More recently microglia have become prominent as the immune cells in the CNS. This part contributes new infor- mation for these cellular interactions. The second part deals with neuronal and glial cell plasticity as it relates to regeneration and neurodegeneration, more or less an extension of Part I. In recent years the role of transplantation in regeneration has become promising.

Perspective of Neurochemistry in Neurological Disorders.- Selegiline Induces "Trophic-Like" Rescue of Dying Neurons without Mao Inhibition.- Aliphatic Propargylamines, a New Series of Potent Selective, Irreversible Non-Amphetamine-Like MAO-B Inhibitors.- Medical Treatment of Parkinson's Disease.- Neuropharmacological Effects of (-)-Stepholidine and Its Analogues on Brain Dopaminergic System.- Neurotoxicity of MPTP and Uptake of MPPT into Dopamine and Norepinephrine Neurons in Mice.- Linopirdine.- Differential Changes in Regional Brain Ganglioside and Neutral Glycosphingolipid Contents in Alzheimer's Disease.- Action of Organophosphate Anticholinesterases on the Three Conformational States of Nicotinic Receptor.- Purification and Characterization of a Novel Neurotoxin-Kappa Bungarotoxin.- Development of Antidepressant Drugs.- The Identification of Heterogeneity of 5-HT Receptors with [H]Rs-42358-197.- Advances in Clinical Research on Common Mental Disorders with Computer Controlled Electro-Acupuncture Treatment.- The Importance of Glutamate Receptors in Brain Ischemia.- Biochemical Study of the Postischemic Neuronal Damage.- Effects of Ilexonin A on Circulatory Neuroregulation.- Study on Cerebrovascular Disease of the Elderly in China.- Cellular Physiology of Epileptogenic Phenomena.- The Clinical Pharmacology of Antiepileptic Drugs.- Hemodynamic Actions of Huatuo Reconstruction Pill on Anesthetized Animals.- Treatment of Affective Disorders.- Studies of Diagnosis and Pathogenesis of Wilson's Disease.- Evidence for Presynaptic Damage in Myasthenia Gravis.

For more than 35 years the Swiss Society of Neuropathology has organiseditstraditionalInternationalWinterMeeting.Themainaimofthis venue is to bring together neuropathologists and clinicians as well as neuroscientistsinterestedindiseasemechanisms.TheXVIIIthInternational WinterMeeting washeld inMarch 2000 in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The topicofthe2000Meetingwas"NeuropathologyandGeneticsofDementia." Aprogrammeofinvitedplenarylecturesofhigheducationalvalueaswellas platform andposterpresentations given by manyparticipantscoveredthe broadspectrumofdementingdisorders.Encouragedbythehighstandardof the meeting, and probably also influenced by the advent of a new Millenniumwedecided, togetherwithKluwerAcademiclPlenumPublishers, topublishtheProceedingsofthe2000Meetinginthepresentbook. The increaseofthe agedpopulation challenges social and health care systemsinindustrializedsocieties.Maintenanceofhealthandautonomyinto oldage isakeyfactor, andtheautonomyandindependenceofoldpersons crucially depend on mental health. However, neurodegenerative disorders accompanied bydementiaaffect 5-10%ofindividualsoverthe ageof65, and for the age group between 65 and 95 the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction doubles every 5 years. With this challenge in mind, Rossor discusses the clinical syndrome of dementia which encompasses an enormousvarietyofunderlyingdisorders. Over the last few years it has become apparent that many neurodegenerative disorders are characterised by protein misfolding and aberrant polymerization and may therefore be viewed as "aggregation proteopathies." Among them a substantial subsetofdementing disorders, either with or without motor dysfunction, are characterised by abundant v VI Preface neuronaland/orglialaccumulationofhyperphosphorylatedtauprotein.The molecular parametersofthese "tauopathies" are reviewed by Delacourte. Therecentdiscoverythatmutationsofthetaugenearecausativeforfamilial formsoffrontotemporaldementiaandParkinsonism(FTDP-17)broughtthe "taupathway"and the"tauopathies"tothecentrestage.Thisextraordinary breakthroughwillbecoveredbySpillantiniandGoedert.Thereisincreasing evidence that argyrophilic grain disease is much more frequent in older patients than previously thought. Tolnay et al. are reviewing recent contributionstothepathologyofthislate-onsetdementingdisorderinwhich ofamyloidbetadeposits, isalmost taupathology, inthealmosttotalabsence exclusivelyrestricted to the limbic lobe and the amygdala. Schultzet al. report an intriguing age-related progression of neuronal and glial tau pathologyinbaboonsthusrenderingthe baboonapotentialprimatemodel forage-relatedhuman"tauopathies." Gotzetal. introducetransgenicmice expressingmutated human tau as valuable animal models for reproducing formationofneuro-andglialfibrillarylesions.

This volume is a collection of a variety of brain proteins and peptides whose structures and functions are relatively well known. Each chapter provides a succinct and up-to-date summary of a protein or peptide as well as a review of the individual's contributions to the field. The volume explores the progress that has been made in the field over the past few years and provides insight into the field today.

A REVISED AND EXPANDED EDITION Winner of the Autism Society of America's Dr Temple Grandin Award Autism is a different way of being human. By understanding autistic behaviours as strategies to cope with a world that feels chaotic and overwhelming, Barry Prizant seeks to enhance abilities, to teach new skills, help individuals build on their strengths and develop coping strategies to achieve a better quality of life. Revised and updated with new material on identity and intersectionality and a chapter on autistic advocacy, Uniquely Human offers a compassionate and insightful perspective that could be life-changing. With a wealth of inspiring stories and practical advice from thousands of autistic people and their families this is a ground-breaking book by one of the world's leading experts - essential reading for anyone who cares for people on the autism spectrum. 'Common sense practical advice based on a forty-year career' Temple Grandin, author of The Autistic Brain 'Will change our perception and understanding of autism ... I strongly recommend this book to parents and professionals' Tony Attwood, author of The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome

Because of the increasing burden of hepatitis C and fatty liver disease, there is an explosion in the prevalence of chronic liver failure and hence its complications. The onset of Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) in these patients has a significant impact on the quality of life, morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, the approach observed by most clinicians to this complex disorder is minimalistic. Hepatic Encephalopathy provides a comprehensive review on pathophysiology and clinically important aspects in HE. Topics in basic physiology, nitrogen metabolism, new insights into pathogenesis and brain edema are covered in great detail. The authors have made a special effort by simplifying the complex aspects of pathogenesis and diagnosis so that it can be easily understood and applied clinically. This volume also focuses on recent developments regarding diagnoses of subtle forms of HE, also known as minimal or covert HE as well as on new treatments. Hepatic Encephalopathy will be of great value to gastroenterologists, hepatologists, pathologists, medical residents, fellows, internists, and general practitioners who treat patients with hepatic encephalopathy.

Multiple Sclerosis continues to be one of the most baffling and destructive diseases of our time, disabling a multitude of people around the globe. For researchers in various disciplines who are concerned with readily locating published data that are relevant to the sociodemographic factors in the epidemiology of MS, this volume makes accessible subject topics that focus on the demographic, sociocultural, and methodological correlates of the disease. Compiler George W. Lowis has gathered four decades of published research findings into this unique and useful volume. He provides summaries of 213 projects grouped according to whether they could possibly be implicated, either positively or negatively, as determinants of MS prevalence or incidence. Summaries of 192 projects look at 11 different demographic and sociocultural correlates of MS such as diet, ethnicity, urban-rural residence, and more. An additional 21 projects focus on the methodology or case ascertainment used. The majority of sample projects were abstracted from medical literature published in journals and books since 1960. Each project has been edited and presented in such a way that the author's purpose for conducting the research is made explicit, as are the main findings and conclusion. Divided into two parts, the volume first zeroes in on the sociodemographic projects. Included in the eleven chapters of this section are the demographic factors that may be implicated in MS such as age, sex, ethnicity, occupation, place of birth or residence, and population migration. Etiological factors in the sociocultural part of the environment include such variables as the types of social relationships and patterns of living that characterize people of different sexes, ages, races, and social classes and the ideas, values, and norms possessed and used by people in matters such as diet and nutrition, sanitation, and pet ownership. The second section reviews methodologic projects from the point of view of data collection and case ascertainment techniques used. Each of the 213 projects contains five sets of research information: a discussion of the purpose and occasionally the locale of the study; data relevant to the population studied; a report on the findings of the project; a brief concluding summary; and finally, an overview of other factors positively or negatively implicated. As the only book that approaches the epidemiology of MS with this focus, this annotated bibliography will be a tool of inestimable value to researchers in the fields of medical sociology, epidemiology, social epidemiology, public health, environmental health, and medical anthropology.

Nervous system development evolves from the well-orchestrated processes of neural induction, cell proliferation, differentiation, cell migration, survival, and synapse formation. Among these environmental cues, neurotrophic factors are secreted proteins that promote neurite outgrowth, neuronal cell differentiation and survival both in vivo and in vitro. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is the founding and best characterized member of the neurotrophin family of neurotrophic polypeptides. Neurotrophic Factors: Methods and Protocols presents a selection of protocols and procedures which make use of cellular, tissue, and whole animal models which can be applied to the investigation of neurotrophic factors and other agents impacting on these systems. Chapters cover a wide-range of topics such as dealing with the culture of neurons and glia from the central and peripheral nervous systems, neuron-glia co-culture models, and cell-based assays for the evaluation of neuroprotective molecules, as well as assays which can be applied to the study of agents with neuroregenerative potential. Protocols describing viral- and nanoparticle-based delivery methods to neural cells are also presented, following by chapters dealing with organotypic slice culture protocols. Lastly, several chapters are dedicated to in vivo lesion models of relevance to nervous system pathology, which can be applied to the investigation of neurotrophic factors and peptides. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and easily accessible, Neurotrophic Factors: Methods and Protocols seeks to serve both professionals and novices alike with its well-honed methodologies in an effort to further our knowledge of what has been described as the last frontier of science.