This book focuses on neuro-engineering and neural computing, a multi-disciplinary field of research attracting considerable attention from engineers, neuroscientists, microbiologists and material scientists. It explores a range of topics concerning the design and development of innovative neural and brain interfacing technologies, as well as novel information acquisition and processing algorithms to make sense of the acquired data. The book also highlights emerging trends and advances regarding the applications of neuro-engineering in real-world scenarios, such as neural prostheses, diagnosis of neural degenerative diseases, deep brain stimulation, biosensors, real neural network-inspired artificial neural networks (ANNs) and the predictive modeling of information flows in neuronal networks. The book is broadly divided into three main sections including: current trends in technological developments, neural computation techniques to make sense of the neural behavioral data, and application of these technologies/techniques in the medical domain in the treatment of neural disorders.

Adding to a vitally important cycle of publications covering the latest research developments in our understanding of neoplasms affecting the human central nervous system, this edition focuses on numerous aspects of pineal, pituitary, and spinal tumors. As with the previous volumes in the series, this latest work addresses a central imperative in cancer research the need to standardize classifications, written definitions and investigative guidelines in order to achieve a measure of shared objectivity among academics engaged in one of the most important medical endeavors of our era. It brings together the very latest work by oncologists, neurosurgeons, physicians, research scientists, and pathologists, providing the medical community with a wealth of data and results that, taken together, will advance the cause of cancer research. The volume synthesizes work on diagnosis, drug development, and therapeutic approaches that are typically scattered in a variety of journals and books. It features promising recent work in applying molecular genetics to clinical practice and evidence-based therapy, covering molecular profiling of tumors as well as a number of surgical treatments such as resection and radiosurgery. Together with its counterpart publications, it represents a much-needed central resource that will inform and guide future research efforts."

Foreword by Walter J. Freeman.

The induction of unconsciousness using anesthetic agents demonstrates that the cerebral cortex can operate in two very different behavioral modes: alert and responsive vs. unaware and quiescent. But the states of wakefulness and sleep are not single-neuron properties---they emerge as bulk properties of cooperating populations of neurons, with the switchover between states being similar to the physical change of phase observed when water freezes or ice melts. Some brain-state transitions, such as sleep cycling, anesthetic induction, epileptic seizure, are obvious and detected readily with a few EEG electrodes; others, such as the emergence of gamma rhythms during cognition, or the ultra-slow BOLD rhythms of relaxed free-association, are much more subtle. The unifying theme of this book is the notion that all of these bulk changes in brain behavior can be treated as phase transitions between distinct brain states.

Modeling Phase Transitions in the Brain contains chapter contributions from leading researchers who apply state-space methods, network models, and biophysically-motivated continuum approaches to investigate a range of neuroscientifically relevant problems that include analysis of nonstationary EEG time-series; network topologies that limit epileptic spreading; saddle--node bifurcations for anesthesia, sleep-cycling, and the wake--sleep switch; prediction of dynamical and noise-induced spatiotemporal instabilities underlying BOLD, alpha-, and gamma-band Hopf oscillations, gap-junction-moderated Turing structures, and Hopf-Turing interactions leading to cortical waves.

A brain-computer interface (BCI) establishes a direct output channel between the human brain and external devices. BCIs infer user intent via direct measures of brain activity and thus enable communication and control without movement. This book, authored by experts in the field, provides an accessible introduction to the neurophysiological and signal-processing background required for BCI, presents state-of-the-art non-invasive and invasive approaches, gives an overview of current hardware and software solutions, and reviews the most interesting as well as new, emerging BCI applications. The book is intended not only for students and young researchers, but also for newcomers and other readers from diverse backgrounds keen to learn about this vital scientific endeavour.

Bringing together techniques and methods currently being applied to the study of exocytosis, "Exocytosis Methods" collects chapters from experts in the field, examining this fundamental process essential to functions ranging from protein secretion to hormone release and neurotransmission. The book begins with a section covering a range of techniques being applied to the study of single-vesicle fusion events, which are key in order to gain insight into the final steps of vesicle fusion. The volume continues with several model systems that are being employed to unravel the complexities of exocytosis. Written for the "Neuromethods" series, chapters included in this work present the kind of detail and vital implementation advice that leads to successful results.

Practical and authoritative, "Exocytosis Methods" seeks to promote the advent of new methods in microscopy and the development of new preparations, which would doubtlessly lead to many new and exciting discoveries in this field."

Two sigma receptor subtypes have been proposed, sigma1 and 2. Much of our understanding of this system is based on biochemical and pharmacological characterization of the cloned sigma1 receptor subtype (Sigma1). It has become clear that sigma receptors are not canonical receptors. Sigma1 is highly conserved among mammalian species, however, it does not share significant homology with any other mammalian protein. Although a range of structurally diverse small molecules bind Sigma1 with high affinity, and it has been associated with a broad range of signaling systems, Sigma1 itself has no known signaling or enzymatic activity. The evolution of this field over nearly four decades has more recently led to a fundamental shift in the concept of "sigma receptors" to what may more accurately and generally be called sigma proteins. Largely based on traditional pharmacologic approaches, the Sigma1 protein has been associated with a broad range of signaling systems, including G-protein coupled receptors, NMDA receptors, and ion channels. Sigma proteins have been linked to a range of physiological processes, including intracellular calcium signaling, neuroprotection, learning, memory, and cognition. Emerging genetic, clinical, and mechanism focused molecular pharmacology data demonstrate the involvement of proteins in a range of pathophysiologies and disorders including neurodegenerative disease, pain, addiction, psychomotor stimulant abuse, and cancer. However, an understanding of the physiological role of sigma proteins has remained elusive. Emerging data associate Sigma1 with chaperone-like activities or molecular scaffold functions. This book aims to provide an updated perspective on this rapidly evolving field undergoing changes in fundamental concepts of key importance to the discipline of pharmacology. It focusses on the reported roles of sigma proteins in pathophysiology and on emergent therapeutic initiatives.

This book integrates discoveries from recent years to show the diversity of molecular mechanisms that contribute to memory consolidation, reconsolidation, extinction, and forgetting. It provides a special focus on the processes that govern functional and structural plasticity of dendritic spines. In nine chapters, new and important ideas related to learning and memory processes will be presented. Themes discussed include the role of AMPA receptors in memory, two signalling cascades involved in local spine remodelling and memory, the role of extracellular matrix proteins in memory, the regulation of gene expression and protein translation, and mechanisms of retrieval-induced memory modulation and forgetting. We believe that the study of these topics represents a great step toward understanding the complexity of the brain and the processes it governs.

Since information in the brain is processed by the exchange of spikes among neurons, a study of such group dynamics is extremely important in understanding hippocampus dependent memory. These spike patterns and local field potentials (LFPs) have been analyzed by various statistical methods. These studies have led to important findings of memory information processing. For example, memory-trace replay, a reactivation of behaviorally induced neural patterns during subsequent sleep, has been suggested to play an important role in memory consolidation. It has also been suggested that a ripple/sharp wave event (one of the characteristics of LFPs in the hippocampus) and spiking activity in the cortex have a specific relationship that may facilitate the consolidation of hippocampal dependent memory from the hippocampus to the cortex. The book will provide a state-of-the-art finding of memory information processing through the analysis of multi-neuronal data. The first half of the book is devoted to this analysis aspect. Understanding memory information representation and its consolidation, however, cannot be achieved only by analyzing the data. It is extremely important to construct a computational model to seek an underlying mathematical principle. In other words, an entire picture of hippocampus dependent memory system would be elucidated through close collaboration among experiments, data analysis, and computational modeling. Not only does computational modeling benefit the data analysis of multi-electrode recordings, but it also provides useful insight for future experiments and analyses. The second half of the book will be devoted to the computational modeling of hippocampus-dependent memory.

Studying narratives is often the best way to gain a good understanding of how various aspects of human information are organized and integrated-the narrator employs specific informational methods to build the whole structure of a narrative through combining temporally constructed events in light of an array of relationships to the narratee and these methods reveal the interaction of the rational and the sensitive aspects of human information. Computational and Cognitive Approaches to Narratology discusses issues of narrative-related information and communication technologies, cognitive mechanism and analyses, and theoretical perspectives on narratives and the story generation process. Focusing on emerging research as well as applications in a variety of fields including marketing, philosophy, psychology, art, and literature, this timely publication is an essential reference source for researchers, professionals, and graduate students in various information technology, cognitive studies, design, and creative fields.

Psychophysiology is an ever expanding field. The application of psychophysiological investigations to psychiatric disorders is likewise expanding and has in fact shed much light on some of the neural processes contributing to the development of psychiatric symptoms and/or their amelioration following treatment. In the first part of this volume, we have selected a number of conditions where psychophysiological investigations have recently provided some insight into the pathophysiology of a particular manifestation (e.g., dissociation) or a disorder. Although this volume has a main focus on electrophysiological investigative modalities where neuroimaging was complimentary this added insight was included. The second part of the volume focuses on novel uses of psychophysiological measures, combining it with neuropsychology and imaging where possible, in the context of neuropsychiatric research and describes advanced analytical tools. Both basic and clinical investigators in this field should find the reviews and interpretations provided clear and informative. Clinicians will find this volume easy to assimilate. While direct clinical applications may be down the road, the insights provided should help the practicing clinicians to have firmer understanding of the complexity of the disorder they manage in everyday practice.

Is a pear sweeter than a peach? Which of Mona Lisa's hands is crossed over the other? What would the Moonlight Sonata sound like played by a brass band? Although these are questions that appeal to mental imagery in a variety of sensory modalities, mental imagery research has been dominated by visual imagery. With the emergence of a well-established multisensory research community, however, it is time to look at mental imagery in a wider sensory context. Part I of this book provides overviews of unisensory imagery in each sensory modality, including motor imagery, together with discussions of multisensory and cross-modal interactions, synesthesia, imagery in the blind and following brain damage, and methodological considerations. Part II reviews the application of mental imagery research in a range of settings including individual differences, skilled performance such as sports and surgical training, psychopathology and therapy, through to stroke rehabilitation. This combination of comprehensive coverage of the senses with reviews from both theoretical and applied perspectives not only complements the growing multisensory literature but also responds to recent calls for translational research in the multisensory field.

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. "

This volume provides the reader with a pathophysiological perspective on the role of CNS in puberty and adolescence, starting from genetic/molecular aspects, going through structural/imaging changes and leading to physical/behavioral characteristics. Therefore, renowned investigators involved in both animal and human research shared recent data as well as overall appraisal of relevant questions around CNS control of puberty and adolescence. No doubt that this volume will inspire those involved in either scientific research or clinical practice or both in the fascinating field of puberty and adolescence.

In a singularly fundamental challenge to the positions widespread among social scientists, White distances himself from the reductionist models of the human brain. He asserts, basing his thought on the authoritative findings of modern neuroscientists, the causal potency of human self-awareness. The acceptance of such a potential in mankind transforms the behavioral sciences into the science of human action. Implicit in the evolutionary context of this perspective is a basic indeterminism inherent in human science. White stresses the central role of conscious purpose in human action and emphasizes the importance of choice and its consequences at the level of political community. In urging a consideration of the significance that neuroscience has for the behavioral sciences, White explores truly basic issues at the heart of those disciplines. He makes a persuasive case for interpreting human action as purposeful, conscious, choice-based, and cumulatively unpredictable.

Behavioral neuroscience encompasses the disciplines of neurobiology and psychology to study mechanisms of behavior. This volume provides a contemporary overview of the current state of how ethics informs behavioral neuroscience research. There is dual emphasis on ethical challenges in experimental animal approaches and in clinical and nonclinical research involving human participants.

The successful previous volume on this topic provided a detailed benchwork manual for the most commonly used animal models of acute neurological injuries including cerebral ischemia, hemorrhage, vasospasm, and traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Animal Models of Acute Neurological Injuries II: Injury and Mechanistic Assessments aims to collect chapters on assessing these disorders from cells and molecules to behavior and imaging. These comprehensive assessments are the key for understanding disease mechanisms as well as developing novel therapeutic strategies to ameliorate or even prevent damages to the nervous system. Volume 2 examines global cerebral ischemia, focal cerebral ischemia, and neonatal hypoxia-ischemia, as well as intensive sections covering traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. Designed to provide both expert guidance and step-by-step procedures, chapters serve to increase understanding in what, why, when, where, and how a particular assessment is used. Accessible and essential, Animal Models of Acute Neurological Injuries II: Injury and Mechanistic Assessments will be useful for trainees or beginners in their assessments of acute neurological injuries, for experienced scientists from other research fields who are interested in either switching fields or exploring new opportunities, and for established scientists within the field who wish to employ new assessments.

The discovery of stem and progenitor cells in the adult mammalian CNS challenged the long standing no new neuron doctrine and opened the door to the potential for cell replacement therapy. The process from discovery to clinical applications can be long and tortuous, requiring rigorous steps involving standardized and precise protocols. "Neural Progenitor Cells: Methods and Protocols "is a collection of practical articles describing techniques used to study neural stem and progenitor cells. The volume also highlights the promise of stem cell-based therapeutic applications for CNS disorders. Written in the successful "Methods in Molecular Biology" 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, "Neural Progenitor Cells: Methods and Protocols "serves both professionals and novices with its well-honed methodologies. "

This book brings together leading international experts to discuss recent advances in functional studies on key proteins and protein complexes involved in each synaptic vesicle phase. These include proteins that control the final step of neurotransmitter release, in response to a neural signal, and the first step of vesicle endocytosis, which helps maintain stable neurotransmitter release in response to unceasing neural signals arriving at presynaptic terminals. Neural networks transmit input and output signals of action potentials using chemical synapses. The strength of the signal from one to another neuron can be tuned by the neural signal itself as it induces Ca2+ entry and by other neurons' signals that modify Ca2+ entry through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels at the active zone, where chemical neurotransmitters are released from synaptic vesicles via exocytosis. Synaptic vesicles are docked and primed at the active zone prior to exocytosis and are endocytosed after exocytosis for reuse at a small presynaptic terminal. Recycled vesicles are refilled with transmitters and stored for a future round of exocytosis. Thus, synaptic vesicles in presynaptic terminals go through various phases. Each vesicle phase is well orchestrated by numerous proteins and advance step-by-step with neural activities. The fine regulations of synaptic vesicle phases by numerous proteins is an exciting subject, and systematic, well-organized explanations in this book will help the reader easily learn about complicated molecular mechanisms in presynaptic terminals.

Photoswitching Proteins: Methods and Protocols, focuses on proven applications of photoswitching proteins in cell and neurobiology. Optical approaches have been mostly embraced by the neurosciences to allow fast, high-resolution characterization and manipulation of single cells in complex neuronal tissue. These tools, including photoswitching of proteins, are now successfully used in almost all fields of biological research. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.Comprehensive and practical, Photoswitching Proteins: Methods and Protocols highlights many of the possibilities for research based on light-inducible, high-resolution manipulation of biological systems.

Psychopaths constitute less than 1% of the general population but over 20% of prison populations. They commit a disproportionate amount of crime and violence in society. Given that the economic burden of crime in the United States is estimated to be over $2.3 trillion per year, psychopaths likely constitute one of the most expensive mental health conditions known today. This volume chronicles the latest science of psychopathy and the various ways the condition intersects with the criminal justice system. From the modern techniques to assess the symptoms, to its utility in predicting violent recidivism, to the latest neuroscience youth and adults, and the most promising avenues for treatment, this volume captures the modern science of the condition and discusses ethical and legal issues surrounding psychopaths.

This volume presents techniques and recently developments in extracellular recording. The chapters in this book explore topics such as mouse, rat and zebrafish models; extracellular recordings on human cognition; single-unit recordings and multi-electrode arrays; and recordings in perinatal and early developing mice. 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, Extracellular Recording Approaches is a valuable resource that provides readers with up-to-date applications and methods to study brain regions involved in sensory, motor, and cognitive functions.

During the past two decades, there has been a dramatic increase in interest in the study of ageing-related changes in cognitive abilities. In this volume researchers from a variety of theoretical perspectives discuss adult age differences in a wide range of cognitive skills. Of special interest is the extent to which ageing effects on performance are related to variations in the representation, organization and utilization of knowledge, broadly defined. Recent research and theory in the field of ageing has emphasized the need to examine such processes more closely in order to provide a more complete understanding of ageing effects on cognitive behaviour.

Now in its Fifth Edition, Clinical Neuropsychology reviews the major neurobehavioral disorders associated with brain dysfunction and injury. Like previous editions of this book, the Fifth Edition focuses on the clinical presentation of the major neurobehavioral syndromes, including symptoms, signs, methods of assessment that are useful for diagnosis, and also their underlying anatomy, physiology, and pathology. The major behavioral disorders that are covered include aphasia, agraphia, alexia, amnesia, apraxia, neglect, executive disorders and dementia. The text also discusses advances in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of these disorders. The authors attempt to explain the cognitive mechanisms that can account for specific symptoms and signs, and to provide new information about treatment and management. The authors have drawn from a wealth of new information and research that has emerged since the Fourth Edition was published in 2003. The editors have added a chapter on creativity to the Fifth Edition, since there has been increased interest in creativity, and brain disorders can either enhance or impair creativity. This text will be of value to clinicians, investigators, and students from a variety of disciplines, including neurology, psychology, cognitive neuroscience, psychiatry, and speech pathology.

A comprehensive overview of nicotinic receptors that addresses their history from crystal structure to behavior as well as their implications in disease and potential as therapeutic targets. It includes background information on all subtypes of nicotinic receptors, the most recent information on the distribution throughout the nervous system and discussion of their implications in learning and memory, addiction and neurological and psychiatric disease such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Takes advantage of several recent developments in the fields of optogenetics, viral expression and gene analysis to focus on current knowledge on the functional aspects of nicotinic receptors.