Neuroscience has made considerable progress in figuring out how the brain works. We know much about the molecular-genetic and biochemical underpinnings of sensory and motor functions. Recent neuroimaging work has opened the door to investigating the neural underpinnings of higher-order cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, and even free will. In these types of investigations, researchers apply specific stimuli to induce neural activity in the brain and look for the function in question. However, there may be more to the brain and its neuronal states than the changes in activity we induce by applying particular external stimuli. In Volume 2 of Unlocking the Brain, Georg Northoff addresses consciousness by hypothesizing about the relationship between particular neuronal mechanisms and the various phenomenal features of consciousness. Northoff puts consciousness in the context of the resting state of the brain thereby delivering a new point of view to the debate that permits very interesting insights into the nature of consciousness. Moreover, he describes and discusses detailed findings from different branches of neuroscience including single cell data, animal data, human imaging data, and psychiatric findings. This yields a unique and novel picture of the brain, and will have a major and lasting impact on neuroscientists working in neuroscience, psychiatry, and related fields.

Neuroscience has made considerable progress in figuring out how the brain works. We know much about the molecular-genetic and biochemical underpinnings of sensory and motor functions, and recent neuroimaging work has opened the door to investigating the neural underpinnings of higher-order cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, and even free will. In these types of investigations, researchers apply specific stimuli to induce neural activity in the brain and look for the function in question. However, there may be more to the brain and its neuronal states than the changes in activity we induce by applying particular external stimuli.
In Volume 1 of Unlocking the Brain, Georg Northoff presents his argument for how the brain must code the relationship between its resting state activity and stimulus-induced activity in order to enable and predispose mental states and consciousness. By presupposing such a basic sense of neural code, the author ventures into different territories and fields of current neuroscience, including a comprehensive exploration of the features of resting state activity as distinguishable from and stimulus-induced activity; sparse coding and predictive coding; and spatial and temporal features of the resting state itself. This yields a unique and novel picture of the brain, and will have a major and lasting impact on neuroscientists working in neuroscience, psychiatry, and related fields.

In this issue, guest editors bring their considerable expertise to this important topic. Provides in-depth reviews on the latest updates in the field, providing actionable insights for clinical practice. Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create these timely topic-based reviews.

Risk Factors for Cerebrovascular Disease and Stroke address the relationship of a wide variety of vascular risk factors in the spectrum of cerebrovascular diseases. An international group of professionals the forefront of research and education, provide their expertise about environmental and genetic determinants for cerebrovascular disease and stroke. The authors aim to provide information on developments of genetic, environmental and lifestyle-related risk factors of various subtypes of stroke, and MRI-markers of cerebrovascular disease. One in 2 men, and 1 in 3 women after the age of 40, will develop a stroke in their lifetime. The burden of cerebrovascular disease extends far beyond that of acute clinical events such as stroke, with "covert " vascular injury on brain MRI being highly prevalent in older community-dwelling persons. Therefore, improving our understanding of the risk factors for stroke and cerebrovascular disease is of paramount importance for improving prevention strategies. Secular trends in stroke epidemiology, risk factors, and intermediate markers (including carotid ultrasound, brain MRI and circulating biomarkers) are presented. Cutting edge information on genetic, environmental and lifestyle-related risk factors of various subtypes of stroke and MRI-markers of cerebrovascular diseases are displayed. This important book is an essential reference to physicians interested in more effective primary prevention of stroke.

This new edition of Evaluation and Treatment of Myopathies is written for the clinician who sees patients with muscle disease, or the patient with complaints pain or weakness of muscle. Like the original, this new edition is divided in to 3 primary sections: Approach to the Patient with Muscle Disease Specific Myopathies, and General Strategies of Clinical Management provides practical guidance on eliciting key history and on how to demonstrate findings on examination. This new edition also provides guidance on the next steps in diagnosisas well as the latest information on pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment, in an integrated manner, so as to give trainees, practicing clinicians and others who see neuromuscular disease, perspective on how to evaluate and care for patients. New and revised tables, figures and references are selected and organized to present information of clinical importance to provide the most up-to-date resource on the myopathies.

Since its discovery 50 years ago, brain dopamine has been implicated in the control of movement and cognition, and is concerned with diverse brain diseases such as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and drug addiction. This book is an illustrated biography of the dopamine molecule, from its synthesis in the brain to its signalling mechanisms and ultimately to its metabolic breakdown. Using colour illustrations of positron emission tomography (PET) scans, each chapter presents a specific stage in the biochemical pathway for dopamine. Writing for researchers and graduate students, Paul Cumming presents a compilation of all that has been learned about dopamine through molecular imaging, a technology which allows the measurement of formerly invisible processes in the living brain. He reviews current technical controversies in the interpretation of dopamine imaging, and presents key results illuminating brain dopamine in illness and health.

This well-established international series examines major areas of basic and clinical research within neuroscience, as well as emerging and promising subfields. This volume explores interdisciplinary research on invertebrate and vertebrate models of odor memory and perception, as well as human odor memory and perception. This book brings together a collection of authors that cut across model systems, techniques, levels of analysis and questions to highlight important and exciting advances in the area of olfactory memory and perception. The chapters highlight the unique aspects of olfactory system anatomy, local circuit function, odor coding and plasticity. The authors are leading authorities in the field.

Written by the leading researchers in the field of olfactory perception and memoryIncludes diverse models systems from invertebrates to humansIncludes diverse technical approaches to the study of olfactory memory and perceptionIncludes overview of the most recent research advances in this field