Extensive research conducted by the Hasso Plattner Design Thinking Research Program at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, USA, and the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam, Germany, has yielded valuable insights on why and how design thinking works. The participating researchers have identified metrics, developed models, and conducted studies, which are featured in this book, and in the previous volumes of this series. Offering readers a closer look at design thinking, and its innovation processes and methods, this volume addresses the new and growing field of neurodesign, which applies insights from the neurosciences in order to improve design team performance. Thinking and devising innovations are inherently human activities - and so is design thinking. Accordingly, design thinking is not merely the result of special courses or of being gifted or trained: it is a way of dealing with our environment and improving techniques, technologies and life in general. As such, the research outcomes compiled in this book are intended to inform and provide inspiration for all those seeking to drive innovation - be they experienced design thinkers or newcomers.

This book shows how to develop efficient quantitative methods to characterize neural data and extra information that reveals underlying dynamics and neurophysiological mechanisms. Written by active experts in the field, it contains an exchange of innovative ideas among researchers at both computational and experimental ends, as well as those at the interface. Authors discuss research challenges and new directions in emerging areas with two goals in mind: to collect recent advances in statistics, signal processing, modeling, and control methods in neuroscience; and to welcome and foster innovative or cross-disciplinary ideas along this line of research and discuss important research issues in neural data analysis. Making use of both tutorial and review materials, this book is written for neural, electrical, and biomedical engineers; computational neuroscientists; statisticians; computer scientists; and clinical engineers.

1. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the Elderly: Another Geriatric Syndrome.- 2. Development of the 1994 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Case Definition and Clinical Evaluation Guidelines.- 3. The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Update on Important Issues.- 4. Efforts to Reduce Heterogeneity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research.- 5. Nonrestorative Sleep, Musculoskeletal Pain, Fatigue, and Psychological Distress in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Temporal Mandibular Joint Dysfunction Disorders (CFIT).- 6. Arguments for a Role of Abnormal Ionophore Function in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.- 7. Cytokine Patterns Associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.- 8. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Possible Integration of Hormonal and Immunological Observations.

Bipolar disorder is a common, complex and costly mental health disorder, which sits at the heart of the practice of clinical psychiatry.Effective treatments (pharmacological, psychological and brain stimulation based) have all been discovered serendipitously. With the huge advances in basic neuroscience the way is now clear for novel treatments to be developed based on brain science. This book reviews these possibilities.

This detailed volume collects protocols for experimentation into how neurons connect to produce the extraordinary functionalities of the nervous system. Contributed by experts and pioneers in their respective techniques, the book covers synapses in the brain and in culture, their constituents, their structures, their dynamics, and the assemblies they form, all in the structure of a laboratory guide. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include brief 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, Synapse Development: Methods and Protocols serves as an ideal guide to minimizing the barrier to entry for the integration of new approaches with existing expertise, producing syntheses that will foster novel perspectives on the many ways in which synapses form, transform, and transmit.

The purpose of this work is to review recent findings highlighting the mechanisms and functions of the neuronal oscillations that structure brain activity across the sleep-wake cycle. An increasing number of studies conducted in humans and animals, and using a variety of techniques ranging from intracellular recording to functional neuroimaging, has provided important insight into the mechanisms and functional properties of these brain rhythms. Studies of these rhythms are fundamental not only for basic neuroscience, but also for clinical neuroscience. At the basic science level, neuronal oscillations shape the interactions between different areas of the brain and profoundly impact neural responses to the environment, thereby mediating the processing of information in the brain. At the clinical level, brain oscillations are affected in numerous neurological conditions and might provide useful biomarkers that inform about patients' evolution and vulnerability. During sleep, these brain rhythms could provide functional support to internal states that govern the basic maintenance of local circuit and systemic interactions. During wake, the rhythmicity of cortical and subcortical circuits have been linked with sensory processing, cognitive operations, and preparation for action. This book will attempt to link together these sleep and wake functional roles at the level of neuroimaging and electroencephalographic measures, local field potentials, and even at the cellular level.

This volume presents methods for the analysis of genomic variability in vertebrate neurons and broadens our knowledge in the ways we understand the brain and its neurons. The chapters in this book are divided into 5 parts, and cover the following topics: principles and approaches for discovery of somatic mosaicism in the brain, aneuploidy and ploidy variation, DNA copy number variation, LINE-1 retrotransposition, and genetic and genomic mosaicism in aging and disease. In Neuromethods series style, chapters include the kind of detail and key advice from the specialists needed to get successful results in your laboratory. Cutting-edge and authoritative, Genomic Mosaicism in Neurons and Other Cell Types is a valuable resource for learning about the latest techniques for the analysis of genome and genetic mosaicism in vertebrate neurons.

Based upon two decades of research with patients who have experienced pathology in one hemisphere of the brain, this book deals with brain mechanisms in human communicative behaviour, and with related motor functions from a broadly biological point of view. The work discusses the possible evolutionary origins of human communication, the relation of brain mechanisms in communicative behaviour to analogous nonhuman behaviors, and the neural systems involved in various levels and kinds of communication. Noncommunicative mechanisms which parallel those used in communication are also outlined in detail. Individual differences in brain organization for some functions are also explored.

Much new data is presented along with the theoretical treatment of human communication which emphasizes a behavioral rather than a linguistic approach. The work will interest psycholinguists, cognitive psychologists, neurologists, clinical neuropsychologists, speech pathologists, and advanced students in these fields.

The 2nd World Congress on Genetics, Geriatrics and Neurodegenerative Disease Research (GeNeDis 2016), will focus on recent advances in geriatrics and neurodegeneration, ranging from basic science to clinical and pharmaceutical developments and will provide an international focum for the latest scientific discoveries, medical practices, and care initiatives. Advances information technologies will be discussed along with their implications for various research, implementation, and policy concerns. In addition, the conference will address European and global issues in the funding of long-term care and medico-social policies regarding elderly people. GeNeDis 2016 takes place in Sparta, Greece, 20-23 October, 2016. This volume focuses on thesessions that address neurodegenerative diseases.

Neuroendocrine Factors in Ulcer Pathogenesis: Role of Sensory Neurons in the Control of Gastric Mucosal Blood Flow and Protection; P. Holzer, et al. Sympathoadrenergic Regulation of Duodenal Mucosal Alkaline Secretion; L. Fandriks, C. Joenson. Potentiation of Intestinal Secretory Responses to Histamine: Pathophysiological Implications; P. Rangachari, et al. Braingut Interactions in Ulcer Pathogenesis: Neuroendocrine Control of Gastric Acid Secretion; Y. Osumi. Corticotropinreleasing Factor in Stressinduced Changes in Gastrointestinal Transit; T. Burks. Stress, Corticotrophinreleasing Factor; (CRF) and Gastric Function; H. Weiner. Novel Therapeutic Approaches to Gastrointestinal Ulceration: The Gastric Mucosal Barrier: A Dynamic, Multifunctional System; A. Garner, et al. New Approaches to Gastroprotection: Calcium Modulators; G.B. Glavin, A.M. Hall. Efficacy of Dopaminergic Agents in Peptic Ulcer Healing and Relapse Prevention: Further Indication of the Importance of Stomach Dopamine in the Stressorganoprotection Concept; P. Sikiric, et al. Dietary Factors Influencing Gastrointestinal Ulceration: The Luminal Regulatory System; F. Guarner, et al. 14 additional articles. Index.

This book is the first to summarize the progress of research on neural functions of the the delta opioid receptor (DOR) to date. This receptor, a member of the opioid receptor family, was traditionally thought to be primarily involved in pain modulation. Recent new findings have shown its unique role in neuroprotection and many other functions. Many scientists from a number of independent laboratories have now confirmed that DOR can provide neuroprotection against hypoxic/ischemic injuries. They have also found that it plays a role in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological events such as hypoxic encephalopathy, epilepsy, acupuncture, Parkinson's disease, etc. by regulating ionic homeostasis, glutamate transportation and signaling, and balancing intracellular survival/death signals. The book will provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of DOR research and provide a blueprint for future directions.

In this provocative text, a noted neuroscientist reexamines Freud's posthumously published Project of Scientific Psychology in the light of modern neuroscience. This expanded "thermodynamics of the mind" model includes robust conceptions of the cellular and neural processes that accompany creation of consciousness and memory, their contributions to such conditions as depression, dissociative disorders, and schizophrenia, and implications for practice, from imaging to talk-based therapies to pharmacotherapy. Central to this construct is Freud's proposal of specific "omega" neurons as the most volatile carriers of consciousness between mind and brain, which is applied to current issues regarding complexity and executive functioning. In addition, the book is extensively referenced, allowing readers to investigate these and related phenomena in greater detail. Among the topics covered: Neural reductionism in Freud's "Project" and neuropsychoanalysis. Thermodynamics and brain self-organization. Conflicting information and the dissociated mind. The Cartesian model of the mind and the binding problem. Neuroendocrine and immune response to stress. The concept of omega neurons and modern chaos theory. Rigorous, challenging, and occasionally startling, The Brain and Conscious Unity is a milestone in the neuroscience and mind/brain literature to be read and discussed by psychiatrists, psychologists, and neuropsychologists.

5-HT2A receptors are G-protein coupled receptors that are widely distributed throughout the brain, most notably on neuronal and glial cells. 5-HT2A receptors have been implicated in various central physiological functions including mood regulation, memory, sleep, nociception, eating, and reward behaviors, and they are also believed to control the cardiovascular system. This book provides a comprehensive overview of these receptors including sections on their properties and distribution, approaches for their study, their role in a number of brain functions and diseases, and their role as therapeutic targets.

The world within reach is characterised to a large extent by our ability to sense objects through touch. Research into the sensation of touch has a long history. However, it is only relatively recently that significant advances have been made in understanding how information about objects we touch is represented in both the peripheral and central divisions of the nervous systems. This volume draws together the increasing body of knowledge regarding the mechanisms underlying tactile sensation and how they relate to tactile perception.
Individual chapters address; the response of mechanoreceptors to stimuli (including movement and shape), the role of the somatosensory cortex in processing tactile information, the psychophysics and neurophysiology of the detection and categorisation of somesthetic stimuli, perceptual constancy, recent findings in regard to short term and long term plasticity in the somatosensory cortex and the psychophysical correlates of this plasticity, and parallel versus serial information processing in the cortex.
The authors look at past and current research, and comment on the direction of future investigation, relating findings from psychophysical studies of tactile behavior to our growing understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms.

This work is motivated by the ongoing open question of how information in the outside world is represented and processed by the brain. Consequently, several novel methods are developed. A new mathematical formulation is proposed for the encoding and decoding of analog signals using integrate-and-fire neuron models. Based on this formulation, a novel algorithm, significantly faster than the state-of-the-art method, is proposed for reconstructing the input of the neuron. Two new identification methods are proposed for neural circuits comprising a filter in series with a spiking neuron model. These methods reduce the number of assumptions made by the state-of-the-art identification framework, allowing for a wider range of models of sensory processing circuits to be inferred directly from input-output observations. A third contribution is an algorithm that computes the spike time sequence generated by an integrate-and-fire neuron model in response to the output of a linear filter, given the input of the filter encoded with the same neuron model.

The Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses is a lysosomal disease which have recently been confirmed by important genetic studies on the NCL which revealed a diversity of at least 8 gene loci related to this group of diseases. ECA-"NCL" represents a multi-national, multi-disciplinary network of researchers on the NCL which have provided new data on this group of diseases. In this book, clinical features, neuroradiological and electrophysiological data, morphological aspects, genetic data and biochemical results will be provided. This book is written for active researchers on NCL and other lysosomal and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as for those interested in NCL for other reasons, foremost patients (and their parents). Tables, illustrations, and most recent references will accompany the text produced and edited by an editorial board consisting of participants of this ECA-"NCL." At the end of this presentation, future lines of research including therapies - will be outlined and emphasized what will have to be done to arrive at complete elucidation of this group of progressive neurodegenerative disorders.

Insect Hearing provides a broadly based view of the functions, mechanisms, and evolution of hearing in insects. With a single exception, the chapters focus on problems of hearing and their solutions, rather than being focused on particular taxa. The exception, hearing in Drosophila, is justified because, due to its ever growing toolbox of genetic and optical techniques, Drosophila is rapidly becoming one of the most important model systems in neurobiology, including the neurobiology of hearing. Auditory systems, whether insectan or vertebrate, must perform a number of basic tasks: capturing mechanical stimuli and transducing these into neural activity, representing the timing and frequency of sound signals, distinguishing between behaviorally relevant signals and other sounds and localizing sound sources. Studying how these are accomplished in insects offers a valuable comparative view that helps to reveal general principles of auditory function.

The sciences philosophy, psychology and neuroscience share the basis that all refer to the human being. Therefore, an interdisciplinary collaboration would be desirable. The exchange of criticism is an essential requirement for interdisciplinary collaboration. Criticism must be heard and - if possible - considered. Indeed, criticism can be valid or unwarranted. However, whether criticism is unwarranted can only emerge from discussion and conversation. In the discussion of cognitive neuroscience, some criticism can easily be considered (such as the mereological fallacy that represents that talking about the person is substituted with talking bout the brain). Another issue for an interdisciplinary discussion of cognitive neuroscience is the interpretation of the readiness potential including re-considering Benjamin Libet's classic experiments. Additionally, a critical discussion on cognitive neuroscience must address ethical questions, such as the possibility of the abuse of neuroscientific insight.

This book presents an analysis of the correlation between the mind and the body, a complex topic of study and discussion by scientists and philosophers. Drawing largely on neuroscience and philosophy, the author utilizes the scientific method and incorporates lessons learned from a vast array of sources. Based on the most recent cutting-edge scientific discoveries on the Mind-Body problem, Tomasi presents a full examination of multiple fields related to neuroscience. The volume offers a scientist-based and student-friendly journey into medicine, psychology, artificial intelligence, embodied cognition, and social, ecological and anthropological models of perception, to discover our truest self.

This book provides a fresh look at one of the most enduring, absorbing, and universal questions human beings face: What happens to us after we die? In secular thought, the standard answer is simple: we disappear into oblivion. David Harmon takes us in a different direction, by making the case that a nonconscious portion of our personality survives death-literally, not figuratively-and explains how this kind of naturalistic afterlife can be emotionally relevant to us while we are still living. Combining insights from the arts, history, philosophy, and science, a compelling argument takes shape for an afterlife without God.

Presents a comprehensive review of nonhuman primate audition and vocal communication. These are obviously intimately related topics, but are often addressed separately. The hearing abilities of primates have been tested experimentally in a large number of species across the primate order, and these studies have revealed both consistent patterns as well as interesting variation within and between taxonomic groups. Recent studies have shed light on how variation in anatomical structures along the auditory pathway relates to variation in auditory sensitivity. At the same time, ongoing studies of vocal communication in wild primate populations continue to reveal new insights into the social and environmental contexts of many primate calls, and the range of known primate vocalizations has increased dramatically with the development of more sophisticated and accessible auditory equipment and software that enables the recording and analysis of higher-fidelity and broader-band recordings, including documenting very high frequency (i.e. ultrasound) vocalizations. Historically the relative importance of primate calls has been evaluated qualitatively by the perception of the researcher, but new methods and approaches now enable a greater appreciation for how signals are used and perceived by the primates in question. The integration of anatomical and behavioral data on acoustic communication and the environmental correlates thereof has significant potential for reconstructing behavior in the fossil record. This confluence of factors and accumulating evidence for the sophistication and complexity in both the signal and its interpretation indicate that a book synthesizing this information across primates is warranted and represents an important contribution to the literature.

This book synthesizes and analyzes research on early vocal contact (EVC) for preterm infants, an early healthcare strategy aimed at reducing the long-term impact of neonatal hospitalization, minimizing negative impacts of premature birth, and promoting positive brain development. Chapters begin by examining research on the maternal voice and its unique and fundamental role in infant development during the fetal and neonatal period. The book discusses the rationale for EVC with preterm infants, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms, and the challenges for infants' development. Subsequent chapters highlight various EVCs that are used in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), including direct talking and singing to preterm infants. In addition, the book also presents and evaluates early family-centered therapies as well as paternal and other caregiver voice interventions. Topics featured in this book include: Early vocal contact and the language development of preterm infants. The maternal voice and its influence on the stability and the sleep of preterm infants. Parental singing as a form of early interactive contact with the preterm infant. Recorded or live music interventions in the bioecology of the NICU. The role of the music therapist to hospitalized infants. The Calming Cycle Theory and its implementation in preterm infants. Early Vocal Contact and Preterm Infant Brain Development is an essential reference for researchers, clinicians and related professionals, and graduate students in developmental psychology, pediatrics, neuroscience, obstetrics and nursing.

Our visual system can process information at both conscious and unconscious levels. Understanding the factors that control whether a stimulus reaches our awareness, and the fate of those stimuli that remain at an unconscious level, are the major challenges of brain science in the new millennium. Since its publication in 1984, Visual Masking has established itself as a classic text in the field of cognitive psychology. In the years since, there have been considerable advances in the cognitive neurosciences, and a growth of interest in the topic of consciousness, and the time is ripe for a new edition of this text. Where most current approaches to the study of visual consciousness adopt a 'steady-state' view, the approach presented in this book explores its dynamic properties. This new edition uses the technique of visual masking to explore temporal aspects of conscious and unconscious processes down to a resolution in the millisecond range. The 'time slices' through conscious and unconscious vision revealed by the visual masking technique can shed light on both normal and abnormal operations in the brain. The main focus of this book is on the microgenesis of visual form and pattern perception - microgenesis referring to the processes occurring in the visual system from the time of stimulus presentation on the retinae to the time, a few hundred milliseconds later, of its registration at conscious or unconscious perceptual and behavioural levels. The book takes a highly integrative approach by presenting microgenesis within a broad context encompassing visuo-temporal phenomena, attention, and consciousness.

This book provides an overview of neural information processing research, which is one of the most important branches of neuroscience today. Neural information processing is an interdisciplinary subject, and the merging interaction between neuroscience and mathematics, physics, as well as information science plays a key role in the development of this field. This book begins with the anatomy of the central nervous system, followed by an introduction to various information processing models at different levels. The authors all have extensive experience in mathematics, physics and biomedical engineering, and have worked in this multidisciplinary area for a number of years. They present classical examples of how the pioneers in this field used theoretical analysis, mathematical modeling and computer simulation to solve neurobiological problems, and share their experiences and lessons learned. The book is intended for researchers and students with a mathematics, physics or informatics background who are interested in brain research and keen to understand the necessary neurobiology and how they can use their specialties to address neurobiological problems. It is also provides inspiration for neuroscience students who are interested in learning how to use mathematics, physics or informatics approaches to solve problems in their field.

This book is intended for use in advanced graduate courses in statistics / machine learning, as well as for all experimental neuroscientists seeking to understand statistical methods at a deeper level, and theoretical neuroscientists with a limited background in statistics. It reviews almost all areas of applied statistics, from basic statistical estimation and test theory, linear and nonlinear approaches for regression and classification, to model selection and methods for dimensionality reduction, density estimation and unsupervised clustering. Its focus, however, is linear and nonlinear time series analysis from a dynamical systems perspective, based on which it aims to convey an understanding also of the dynamical mechanisms that could have generated observed time series. Further, it integrates computational modeling of behavioral and neural dynamics with statistical estimation and hypothesis testing. This way computational models in neuroscience are not only explanatory frameworks, but become powerful, quantitative data-analytical tools in themselves that enable researchers to look beyond the data surface and unravel underlying mechanisms. Interactive examples of most methods are provided through a package of MatLab routines, encouraging a playful approach to the subject, and providing readers with a better feel for the practical aspects of the methods covered. "Computational neuroscience is essential for integrating and providing a basis for understanding the myriads of remarkable laboratory data on nervous system functions. Daniel Durstewitz has excellently covered the breadth of computational neuroscience from statistical interpretations of data to biophysically based modeling of the neurobiological sources of those data. His presentation is clear, pedagogically sound, and readily useable by experts and beginners alike. It is a pleasure to recommend this very well crafted discussion to experimental neuroscientists as well as mathematically well versed Physicists. The book acts as a window to the issues, to the questions, and to the tools for finding the answers to interesting inquiries about brains and how they function." Henry D. I. Abarbanel Physics and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego "This book delivers a clear and thorough introduction to sophisticated analysis approaches useful in computational neuroscience. The models described and the examples provided will help readers develop critical intuitions into what the methods reveal about data. The overall approach of the book reflects the extensive experience Prof. Durstewitz has developed as a leading practitioner of computational neuroscience. " Bruno B. Averbeck