The endocannabinoid system consists of cannabinoid receptors, their endogenous lipid ligands (endocannabinoids) and the enzymatic machinery for their synthesis and degradation. In the brain, endocannabinoids regulate ion channel activity and neurotransmitter release and thereby contribute to various aspects of brain function, including memory, reward and emotions. Their ability to modulate synaptic efficacy has a wide range of functional consequences and provides unique therapeutic possibilities. Unprecedented advances have been made in the understanding of the role of endocannabinoids in the regulation of the emotional brain over the past few years. However, a comprehensive book encompassing all these aspects is still lacking. The book will provide an overview of the role played by the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of emotional processes with particular emphasis on the modulation of memory and reward for emotionally arousing events and for the regulation of motivational aspects in cannabis use.

Modern Electroencephalographic Assessment Techniques: Theory and Applications presents numerous signal processing and connectivity analysis methodologies addressing a wide variety of clinical applications including epilepsy, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and even alcoholism. Among the different topics addressed, the neurophysiological basis of cognitive processes is also investigated. The goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the most modern and widely established approaches mainly applied in, but not limited to, decomposing high resolution multichannel Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetoencephalography (MEG) signals into functional interconnected brain regions. Synergistic approaches linking both EEG/ MEG and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) techniques are also discussed. In line with the popular Neuromethods series, chapters present the theoretical basis of each method along with prosperous application domains, in the form of a balanced mixture of theoretical tutorials, comprehensive reviews and original research. Emphasis is given to the underlying assumptions, to technical matters that greatly affect the outcome of each proposed method, to the ambitions and to the domain of application of each method. Furthermore, links to graph theory and visualization of connectivity motifs is also addressed in an attempt to better describe the functional characteristics of brain networks. Authoritative and practical, Modern Electroencephalographic Assessment Techniques: Theory and Applications touches upon both the biomedical and computational aspects of this exciting and rapidly evolving field and will allow for a more in-depth, vital understanding of the brain's complex underlying mechanisms.

This volume collects protocols and procedures utilizing cellular, tissue, and whole animal models that can be applied to the investigation of neurotrophic factors and other agents impacting on these systems. It begins with chapters on the culture of neurons and glia from the central and peripheral nervous systems, neuron-glia and glia-glia co-culture models, oligodendrocytes, and cell-based assays for the evaluation of cell vitality. This revised second edition expands to cover methodology encompassing site-specific direct labeling of neurotrophins and their receptors, angiogenesis assays, stem cells, pancreatic beta-cells, axonal transport, synapse biology, dendritic spine analysis, and brain endothelial cells. Subsequent 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, as well as protocols describing nanofiber- and nanoparticle-based methods for brain delivery of neurotrophic agents. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Neurotrophic Factors: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition is a valuable resource for a wide audience of readers as they explore nervous system function and pathology.

Focuses on the effects of natural products and their active components on brain function and neurodegenerative disease prevention. Phytochemicals such as alkaloids, terpenes, flavanoids, isoflavones, saponins etc are known to possess protective activity against many neurological diseases. The molecular mechanisms behind the curative effects rely mainly on the action of phytonutrients on distinct signaling pathways associated with protein folding and neuro-inflammation. The diverse array of bioactive nutrients present in these natural products plays a pivotal role in prevention and cure of various neurodegenerative diseases, disorders, or insults, such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, traumatic brain injury, and other neuronal dysfunctions. However, the use of these antioxidants in the management of neurodegenerative conditions has so far been not well understood. This is a comprehensive collection addressing the effects on the brain of natural products and edible items such as reservatrol, curcumin, gingerol, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and marine products.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are believed to be the largest family of membrane proteins involved in signal transduction and cellular responses. They dimerize (form a pair of macromolecules) with a wide variety of other receptors. The proposed book will provide a comprehensive overview of GPCR dimers, starting with a historical perspective and including, basic information about the different dimers, how they synthesize, their signaling properties, and the many diverse physiological processes in which they are involved. In addition to presenting information about healthy GPCR dimer activity, the book will also include a section on their pathology and therapeutic potentials.

This volume explores the revolutionary fMRI field from basic principles to state-of-the-art research. It covers a broad spectrum of topics, including the history of fMRI's development using endogenous MR blood contrast, neurovascular coupling, pulse sequences for fMRI, quantitative fMRI; fMRI of the visual system, auditory cortex, and sensorimotor system; genetic imaging using fMRI, multimodal neuroimaging, brain bioenergetics and function and molecular-level fMRI. Comprehensive and intuitively structured, this book engages the reader with a first-person account of the development and history of the fMRI field by the authors. The subsequent sections examine the physiological basis of fMRI, the basic principles of fMRI and its applications and the latest advances of the technology, ending with a discussion of fMRI's future. fMRI: From Nuclear Spins to Brain Function, co-edited by leading and renowned fMRI researchers Kamil Ugurbil, Kamil Uludag and Lawrence Berliner, is an ideal resource for clinicians and researchers in the fields of neuroscience, psychology and MRI physics.

"Wrestling With Ghosts" summarizes and updates a growing literature that includes traditional cultural accounts, scientific research, and subjective reports about the uncanny sleep disorder referred to as sleep paralysis (SP). The book serves as an important tool to normalize the sleep paralysis experience by attempting to remove its often-publicized mystical and supernatural aura. Specifically, the book is a serious contribution to the psychological and social scientific literature as an example of behavioral/social methodology in clarifying psychological phenomena that can be misinterpreted individually or by culture as "paranormal." However, the book does not refute the very real phenomenology of the experience and is intended as a practical guide for recognizing and managing the disorder in creative and self-enhancing ways. Moreover, this work reiterates the aesthetic and creative power of uncanny dreaming regardless of its origin. This aesthetic dimension of sleep paralysis and lucid dreaming is part of mythical, shamanic, creative, personal and scientific multidisciplinary approach to studying and describing dream phenomenology. Additionally, this work provides a retrospective look at the history of this uncanny disorder in human evolution, its recent western medical history and its most recent empirical descriptions as so-called alien abduction cases, including a presentation of Jungian and Freudian mythical perspectives. The empirical data is presented in balance with traditional cross-cultural and folklore accounts of the disorder as well as in the context of numerous recent cases researched in conjunction with the long-term study. Part of the data presented includes a proposalabout psycho-geographical and psycho-geomagnetic distributions of "ghost" stories, dream attacks, and other SP related phenomena. These geographical zones correlate with geodynamic areas such as the Pacific "Ring of Fire" region where an increased number of cultural name

This book is designed to focus on the role of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) in health and disease. This peptide, originally discovered in the 1980s as a sensory neuropeptide with cardiovascular effects, is now known to play a distinct role in the pain processing of migraine. The various chapters address the origin, localization and function of CGRP and its receptor in the peripheral nervous system, in the cardiovascular system, and in other tissues and organs. Further attention is paid to the drug discovery pathway where recent findings show the beneficial effect of small molecule antagonists of the CGRP receptors for the relief of the migraine attack and of monoclonal antibodies against CGRP or the CGRP receptor for migraine prevention.

To foster a better understanding of dopamine receptor functionality, this detailed volume creates an interface between updated classical methods and new emerging technologies heretofore not available to new or seasoned researchers. Divided in five sections dedicated to experimental approaches investigating different facets of dopaminergic signal transduction, Dopamine Receptor Technologies covers epigenetic and post-transcriptional analysis, computational and biochemical techniques, visualization and imaging methods, molecular and cell biological tools, as well as behavioral assessment. The book, as a part of the popular Neuromethods series, provides insightful step-by-step protocols and methodological reviews that readers will find useful. Practical and versatile, Dopamine Receptor Technologies seeks to aid researchers in developing new pharmacological tools to improve our knowledge of in vivo roles played by each receptor subtype and the synthesis of prospective lead compounds for drug discovery.

Twenty years ago, the idea that Alzheimer's disease (AD) involved any sort of inflammatory or immune component seemed implausible. Now, there are hundreds of laboratories world-wide that are pursuing basic research in this area, and multi-site clinical trials are underway. How this dramatic sea-change came about is made clear in this book, both through overviews of the field and through focused papers on specific topics of recent interest. Complement, cytokines and the complex host of other acute phase reactants are covered, as are summaries of many epidemiologic and clinical-pathological findings. Written by established investigators who have led neuroinflammatory research for two decades, this volume particularly emphasizes correlations between inflammatory phenomena in the brains of AD patients with findings of the "classic" approach, such as pathophysiologic effects of amyloid b peptide. The book documents and synthesizes earlier and recent findings in AD to help a broad range of scientists in gaining a broader and more comprehensive knowledge of the complexities AD presents. In addition, many of the concepts and results that have emerged from AD inflammation research may have implications for other neurologic disorders that involve inflammatory components, including multiple sclerosis and stroke.

The second edition of this successful book provides further and in-depth insight into theoretical models dealing with Internet addiction, as well as includes new therapeutical approaches. The editors also broach the emerging topic of smartphone addiction. This book combines a scholarly introduction with state-of-the-art research in the characterization of Internet addiction. It is intended for a broad audience including scientists, students and practitioners. The first part of the book contains an introduction to Internet addiction and their pathogenesis. The second part of the book is dedicated to an in-depth review of neuroscientific findings which cover studies using a variety of biological techniques including brain imaging and molecular genetics. The third part of the book focuses on therapeutic interventions for Internet addiction. The fourth part of the present book is an extension to the first edition and deals with a new emerging potential disorder related to Internet addiction - smartphone addiction. Moreover, in this second edition of the book new content has been added. Among others, the reader will find an overview of theoretical models dealing with Internet addiction, results from twin studies in the context of Internet addiction and additional insights into therapeutic approaches to Internet addiction.

This ground breaking title presents the many different neurologic syndromes and vastly expanding data in the brain sciences from an evolutionary, or neuro-archeological, perspective, as well as a clinical one. The neuro-archeological perspective offers a more thorough picture of the field - providing hindsight that leads to great insight and foresight. It thus provides the reader with the core foundational aspects of many perplexing neurologic syndromes. Authored by a noted authority in cognitive neurology and including ample tables, diagrams and images, the book covers the full range of behavioral neurological, psychological and neuropsychiatric syndromes, as well as their underlying disease states, relevant neuropsychological tests and contemporary neuroimaging, both structural and functional. The evolutionary approach offers a comprehensive, novel, and completely updated overview of each topic. An invaluable title unlike any other in the field, Cognitive, Conative and Behavioral Neurology: An Evolutionary Perspective is a landmark resource and will be of great interest to neurologists, psychiatrists, neuroscientists, and trainees in all fields.

These are short stories that I have written going on this long lonely journey of being a caregiver taking care of my husband Chuck. Try to imagine in your mind as you read these stories what I was going through each day. The Lord also blessed me with writing stories of my journey and poetry that has expressed my feeling as you read them throughout this book. I pray as you read these stories they will give you some insight, understanding and hope of what it's like for your loved one to has this disease, "Alzheimer's," and to not know you after being with them for so many years.

Under the name of Frontotemporal Dementias (FTD) numerous hereditary and sporadic disorders are listed. FTD may take away speech and language, social skills and ethical judgement, wishes and will, empathy and emotions; it may also impair motor functions. FTD may affect men and women in midlife or during old age leading to the demolition of the uniqueness of the human mind. In the last decade of the 20th century and in the first two decades of the 21st century, progress in the understanding of clinical, neuropathological, biochemical, and genetic aspects of FTD has accelerated. The novel awareness about FTD has directed young generations of researchers toward the study of this complex group of disorders. This Volume has been formulated with the participation of some of the leading scientists who have contributed to the development of knowledge in the clinical and basic science arenas. It captures the current central elements that are relevant to an up-to-date understanding of causes and pathogenesis of multiple forms of FTD. The volume is an opus that represents a distillation of the work of many scientists and addresses the current directions in the study of one of the most complex groups of diseases. In view of its structure, the book could also be used as a textbook, that offers both a broad and deep analysis of major areas in FTD. This book, planned by the International Society for Frontotemporal Dementias, is distinctive as it opens a window to a wide landscape about the biology of FTD. Thus, the book represents a moment of reflection on the present state of our knowledge of FTD and a collective vision toward scientific progress. The authors of each chapter share their knowledge and vision aimed at reducing the suffering which is caused by FTD.

This book focuses on two fundamental aspects of brain-language relations: one concerns the neural organization of language in the healthy brain; the other challenges current approaches to treatment of aphasia and offers a new theory for recovery from aphasia. The essence of the book lies in the phrase neural multifunctionality: the constant and dynamic incorporation of non-linguistic functions into language models of the intact brain. The book makes the claim that language is a construction, created as we use it, and cannot be understood as being supported by neurally based linguistic networks only. Rather, language emerges from the constant and dynamic interaction among neural networks subserving cognitive, affective, and praxic functions with neural networks subserving lexical retrieval (naming), sentence processing (comprehension), and discourse (communication, conversation). In persons with stroke-induced aphasia, neural networks for executive system function, attention, memory, motor system function, visual system function, and emotion interact with neural networks for language to produce the aphasia profile and to influence recovery from aphasia. Consequently, neural multifunctionality in aphasia explains individual differences in the lesion-deficit model and continued recovery over time, redefining the concept of recovery from aphasia and offering new opportunities for treatment.

This broad and thought-provoking volume provides an overview of recent intellectual and scientific advances that bridge the gap between psychiatry and neuroscience, offering a wide range of penetrating insights in both disciplines. The third volume on the topic in the last several years from a varying panel of international experts, this title identifies the borders, trends and implications in both fields today and goes beyond that into related disciplines to seek out connections and influences. Similar to its two Update book predecessors, Psychiatry and Neuroscience - Volume III presents the current state-of-the-art in the main disciplines - psychiatry and neuroscience - and attempts to provide deeper comprehension or explication of the normal and diseased human mind, its biological correlates and its biographical and existential implications. This engaging volume continues the previous style of exploring different disciplines and trying to integrate disciplinary evidence from varying points of view in an organic manner. Developed for clinicians and researchers in the fields of medicine, psychiatry, psychology and biology, this third volume also will be of great interest to students and university professors of diverse disciplines.

This book provides a concise overview of VR systems and their cybersickness effects, giving a description of possible reasons and existing solutions to reduce or avoid them. Moreover, the book explores the impact that understanding how efficiently our brains are producing a coherent and rich representation of the perceived outside world would have on helping VR technics to be more efficient and friendly to use. Getting Rid of Cybersickness will help readers to understand the underlying technics and social stakes involved, from engineering design to autonomous vehicle motion sickness to video games, with the hope of providing an insight of VR sickness induced by the emerging immersive technologies. This book will therefore be of interest to academics, researchers and designers within the field of VR, as well as industrial users of VR and driving simulators.

This book presents a unique exploration of common myths about autism by examining these myths through the perspectives of autistic individuals. Examining the history of attitudes and beliefs about autism and autistic people, this book highlights the ways that these beliefs are continuing to impact autistic individuals and their families, and offers insights as to how viewing these myths from an autistic perspective can facilitate the transformation of these myths into a more positive direction. From 'savant syndrome' to the conception that people with autism lack empathy, each chapter examines a different social myth - tracing its origins, highlighting the implications it has had for autistic individuals and their families, debunking misconceptions and reconstructing the myth with recommendations for current and future practice. By offering an alternative view of autistic individuals as competent and capable of constructing their own futures, this book offers researchers, practitioners, individuals and families a deeper, more accurate, more comprehensive understanding of prevalent views about the abilities of autistic individuals as well as practical ways to re-shape these into more proactive and supportive practices.

The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has evolved greatly since Asperger's day. And as our clinical understanding of this spectrum of disorders has grown, so has recognition of the connections between anxiety disorders and ASD a welcome development, but also a source of confusion for many in the field.

The "Handbook of Autism and Anxiety" brings together leading experts to explain this comorbidity, the diagnostic similarities and differences between the two disorders and the extent to which treatment for each can be coordinated for optimum results. Focusing on repetitive behaviors, social difficulties and fears as core components of anxiety disorders as well as ASD, contributors discuss specific symptoms in depth to aid in diagnosis. Assessment and treatment issues relevant to the autism-anxiety connection are considered in clinical and school contexts. And an especially timely conclusion details how key changes in the "DSM-5 "affect the diagnosis and conceptualization of each disorder.

Key topics addressed in the "Handbook "include: Phenotypic variability in ASD: clinical considerations.Etiologic factors and transdiagnostic processes.Social worries and difficulties: autism and/or social anxiety disorder?Implementing group CBT interventions for youth with ASD and anxiety in clinical practice.Autism and anxiety in school settings."DSM"-"5" and autism spectrum disorder.

The "Handbook of Autism and Anxiety" is an essential resource for researchers, clinicians/professionals and graduate students in child and school psychology, psychiatry, social work, education, clinical counseling and behavioral therapy."

This book offers a compilation of papers on the role of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) in sleep, sleep disorders and neuroendocrine functions. Leading experts in sleep medicine, psychiatry and neuroendocrinology provide a broad perspective on the field, from the anatomical structure and physiology of the MCH system to the connection with other systems influencing sleep and diseases like anxiety and depression. The potential of MCHR-1 antagonists as anxiolytic/antidepressant drugs is also reviewed. The book will represent an interdisciplinary guide for sleep disorder specialists, sleep researchers, psychiatrists, neurologists, psychologists, and behavioral sleep medicine specialists.

I wrote this book urged by the overwhelming desire that arises towards the end of life to recapitulate the past. My goal was to summarize my experience of practicing science at the end of the 20th and early 21st centuries in Argentina, a country located far away from the world's leading scientific centers. In the book, I summarize the intricacies of the pineal gland ("the stone of madness") as historical, mystical and medical entity and its entry in contemporary medicine with the description of melatonin. I also reflect on how being associated with an unexplored subject at the beginning of his scientific career impacts the life of a scientist throughout their entire life. Today we know that in humans pineal melatonin is released every day late in the evening, and there is evidence that it is the trigger for the sleep process. But the most exciting aspect of melatonin is that it is a substance that is present in all living creatures, from unicellular organisms to plants and higher mammals, a fact that evinces its importance for life. Further, the neuroprotective action of melatonin promises to be crucial for the control of neurodegenerative diseases we face as a pandemic in this century. The discoverer of melatonin, Aaron Lerner, based its name on melano, the Greek word for black, because of its effect on the pigment cells of the skin. As in "La vie en rose", the immortal Edith Piaf song written in 1946, my lifelong work with melatonin could well be called "Ma vie en noir".

Pain is the most common reason people seek medical help. The treatment of chronic pain is a major unmet clinical need and its impact on health, well-being, society and the economy is immense. Pain is an integrative, whole-systems (patho)physiological phenomenon and behavioural neuroscience plays a key role in advancing our understanding of pain. This volume brings together a series of authoritative chapters written by leading experts in preclinical and clinical aspects of pain neurobiology. Behavioural approaches to the study of persistent or chronic pain in animal models or humans are at the core of the volume, but the anatomical, physiological, neurochemical and molecular mechanisms that underpin behavioural alterations are also emphasized.