Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are devices that enable people to communicate via thought alone. Brain signals can be directly translated into messages or commands. Until recently, these devices were used primarily to help people who could not move. However, BCIs are now becoming practical tools for a wide variety of people, in many different situations. What will BCIs in the future be like? Who will use them, and why? This book, written by many of the top BCI researchers and developers, reviews the latest progress in the different components of BCIs. Chapters also discuss practical issues in an emerging BCI enabled community. The book is intended both for professionals and for interested laypeople who are not experts in BCI research.

The contributors to this volume have provided a detailed and integrated introduction to the behavioural, anatomical, and physiological changes that occur in the auditory system of developing animals. Edwin W Rubel is Virginia Merrill Bloedel Professor of Hearing Sciences at the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center at the University of Washington, Arthur N. Popper is Professor and Chair of the Department of Zoology at the University of Maryland, while Richard R. Fay is Associate Director of the Parmly Hearing Institute and Professor of Psychology at Loyola University of Chicago. Each volume in this series is independent and authoritative; taken as a set, the series will be the definitive resource in the field.

In this second edition, the authors present a thorough, advanced review of the interactions between motoneurones and muscles in vertebrates. The book discusses the significance of nerve-muscle interactions for the normal development and maintenance of the vertebrate neuromuscular system and reviews the consequences of their disruption. The plasticity of nerve-muscle interactions and the potential for repair is analyzed, as is the importance of neuromuscular activity in development. The subject is approached from a broad viewpoint and the authors integrate results from many disciplines to illustrate the significance of neuromuscular interaction for normal locomotor activity. This approach makes the book useful for clinical researchers of neuromuscular disease.

Transcriptomics and proteomics, studying the profile of the expression of nucleic acids and proteins respectively, are increasingly applied to gain a mechanistic insight into a wide spectrum of investigation, and the use of expression profiling studies for the central nervous system and brain function aids in the understanding of neurodegenerative disorders and tumor development mechanisms. In Expression Profiling in Neuroscience, expert researchers provide a survey of the most commonly used approaches in the field and scan the different ways of studying the central nervous system/brain environment through expression profiling. The first part addresses the gene expression profiling of the brain at a large scale or to a specific cell type such as blood-brain barrier endothelium. Then, the second part describes the protein expression studies and the different technologies applied. Written for the popular Neuromethods series, chapters include corresponding background information, tested laboratory protocols, and step-by-step methods for reproducible laboratory experiments. Detailed and authoritative, Expression Profiling in Neuroscience presents the state-of-the-art techniques necessary to expand research further into this vital area of study.

Human consciousness has perplexed philosophers, artists and scientists for centuries. Some hold it to be purely physical, while others believe it transcends the material world. Now comes a book that offers a new perspective - based entirely on evidence from the natural sciences - whereby materialism and dualism co-exist. The author - a distinguished pioneer of nonlinear dynamics - bases his argument on a hierarchical view of mental organization; a stairway. Atoms give rise to molecules, neurons form the brain and individual consciousness leads to shared culture. All steps are needed to complete the picture and each level derives from the previous one. The book shows specialists how each of their fields adds to the overall picture, while providing general readers with an introduction to this investigation.

Neuroscience has raised many questions for philosophy and its traditional focus on the mind, but what does the emerging field of neurophilosophy teach us about the relationship between mind and brain? How have the new debates transformed our understanding of consciousness, the self and free will? Georg Northoff is a world-leading expert in this exciting area, and in Minding the Brain he provides a comprehensive introduction to non-reductive neurophilosophy, charting the developments of the discipline and applying its ideas to the debates that have captivated philosophers for centuries. Minding the Brain: * employs extensive pedagogy to help the reader get to grips with complex concepts * takes a transdisciplinary approach unifying science, psychology and philosophy Unearthing new ways to tackle age-old debates, Minding the Brain is a stimulating text for anyone interested in philosophy, psychology, the cognitive sciences and neuroscience.

A comprehensive survey of the many recent advances in the field of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). The authors describe the current knowledge of GPCR receptor structure and function, the different mechanisms involved in the regulation of GPCR function, and the role of pharmacological chaperones in GPCR folding and maturation. They also present new findings about how GPCR dimerization/oligomerization modifies the properties of individual receptors and show how recent developments are leading to significant advances in drug discovery, such as the detection of ligands for orphan GPCRs. Also discussed are the most recent developments that could lead to new drug discoveries: the role of GPCRs in mediating pain, the development of receptor-type selective drugs based on the structural plasticity of receptor activation, and the identification of natural ligands of orphan GPCRs (deorphanization) as possible drug targets.

Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage of progress in the major areas of chemical research. Written by experts in their specialist fields the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, supplying regular critical in-depth accounts of progress in particular areas of chemistry. For over 80 years the Royal Society of Chemistry and its predecessor, the Chemical Society, have been publishing reports charting developments in chemistry, which originally took the form of Annual Reports. However, by 1967 the whole spectrum of chemistry could no longer be contained within one volume and the series Specialist Periodical Reports was born. The Annual Reports themselves still existed but were divided into two, and subsequently three, volumes covering Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. For more general coverage of the highlights in chemistry they remain a 'must'. Since that time the SPR series has altered according to the fluctuating degree of activity in various fields of chemistry. Some titles have remained unchanged, while others have altered their emphasis along with their titles; some have been combined under a new name whereas others have had to be discontinued. The current list of Specialist Periodical Reports can be seen on the inside flap of this volume.

This volume covers the current status of research in the neurobiology of motivated behaviors in humans and other animals in healthy condition. This includes consideration of the psychological processes that drive motivated behavior and the anatomical, electrophysiological and neurochemical mechanisms which drive these processes and regulate behavioural output. The volume also includes chapters on pathological disturbances in motivation including apathy, or motivational deficit as well as addictions, the pathological misdirection of motivated behavior. As with the chapters on healthy motivational processes, the chapters on disease provide a comprehensive up to date review of the neurobiological abnormalities that underlie motivation, as determined by studies of patient populations as well as animal models of disease. The book closes with a section on recent developments in treatments for motivational disorders.

This volume presents the most current reviews on how cancer stem cells (CSCs) hypothesis dictates that the continued proliferation of a tumor is dependent on a sub-population of self-renewing and asymmetrically dividing neoplastic stem cells that supply a largely differentiated tumor. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the characteristics of CSCs, their role in central nervous system (CNS) tumors, and the recent CSC-specific treatment modalities being used. The emerging focus on CSCs in brain tumors represents a paradigm shift in our understanding of the pathogenesis of these neoplasms. Importantly, the realization that a distinct sub-population of cells contributes disproportionately to the growth and sustenance of central nervous system tumors has important implications for the treatment of such tumors. To treat CNS tumors, there is now a growing need to treat CSCs to achieve adequate tumor control.

Computational Neurosciences is a burgeoning field of research where only the combined effort of neuroscientists, biologists, psychologists, physicists, mathematicians, computer scientists, engineers and other specialists, e.g. from linguistics and medicine, seem to be able to expand the limits of our knowledge.

The present volume is an introduction, largely from the physicists' perspective, to the subject matter with in-depth contributions by system neuroscientists. A conceptual model for complex networks of neurons is introduced that incorporates many important features of the real brain, such as various types of neurons, various brain areas, inhibitory and excitatory coupling and the plasticity of the network. The computational implementation on supercomputers, which is introduced and discussed in detail in this book, will enable the readers to modify and adapt the algortihm for their own research. Worked-out examples of applications are presented for networks of Morris-Lecar neurons to model the cortical connections of a cat's brain, supported with data from experimental studies.

This book is particularly suited for graduate students and nonspecialists from related fields with a general science background, looking for a substantial but hands-on introduction to the subject matter. "

Exocytosis is a fundamental cellular process that is used by eukaryotic cells to release a variety of biological compounds including peptide hormones and neurotransmitters or to insert specific lipids and proteins in the plasma membrane. In recent years, a multidisciplinary approach promoted an extraordinary progress in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating exocytosis. This led to the discovery of a large number of components belonging to the machinery that governs the fusion of secretory vesicles with plasma membranes in different cell systems, including neuronal and endocrine cells. The basic machinery required for vesicle fusion turned out to be well conserved through evolution from yeast to man. So far, because of the large number of components involved, understanding of the molecular basis of exocytosis has remained the privilege of a relatively small group of specialists. This book, written by recognized experts in the field aims at clarifying for a non-specialist audience the role of the key players in the exocytotic process not only in neuronal and endocrine cells but also in a variety of other relevant cell systems. introduce researchers and students to the forefront of this rapidly moving and fascinating field.

This volume provides the reader with detailed protocols that describe a variety of in vitro and in vivo techniques that study reductionist systems and human samples. The methods covered in this book explore a broad selection of topics such as functional aspects of alpha-synuclein biology, its lipid-interactions and misfolding, and functional deficits in cells and mice. Chapters also cover topics such as kinetic measurements of endocytosis and exocytosis in cultured neurons; electrochemiluminescence-based detection; yeast-based screens to target alpha-synuclein toxicity; mass-spectrometry of alpha-synuclein in rat cortical neurons; and expression and purification of untagged a-synuclein. 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 tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and thorough, Alpha-Synuclein: Methods and Protocols is a valuable reference guide that aids researchers working on topics related to alpha-synuclein and its various aspects.

Behavioral neurology is founded on lesions of cortical gray matter, but recently the contributions of cerebral white matter to cognitive and emotional dysfunction have also attracted attention. The Behavioral Neurology of White Matter surveys this broad and fascinating field from a clinical perspective. Stimulated by recent improvements in neuroimaging, white matter has been carefully studied, and its role in the operations of cognition and emotion clarified by correlations with clinical observations. The relevance of normal and abnormal white matter to behavioral neurology is apparent in every context where this question has been examined: in development, aging, and in a host of diseases, intoxications, and injuries. Since the first edition of this book in 2001, steady advances have been made in understanding the neurobiology of white matter and its clinical significance; this edition provides a comprehensive update on this rapidly expanding field. Every chapter has been extensively rewritten, including a comprehensive revision of the account of the neuropsychiatry of white matter, a particularly challenging area. The syndrome of white matter dementia is discussed in detail, and its refinement with new information is considered along with the proposal of mild cognitive dysfunction as a precursor syndrome in many clinical settings. In addition, two new chapters have been added, one on the emerging area of white matter changes associated with neurodegenerative disorders such Alzheimer's Disease, and another on neurologic aspects of white matter including intriguing new information on white matter plasticity. A unifying theme is the concept of connectivity, as it is clear the white matter forms an essential component of the widespread distributed neural networks by which cognition and emotion are organized. In addition to the microconnectivity within gray matter that subserves information processing, the macroconnectivity of white matter enables information transfer - both are critical for the functions of the human mind.

This volume is the most recent installment of the Progress in Motor Control series. It contains contributions based on presentations by invited speakers at the Progress in Motor Control IX meeting held in at McGill University, Montreal, in July, 2013. Progress in Motor Control is the official scientific meeting of the International Society of Motor Control (ISMC). The Progress in Motor Control IXI meeting, and consequently this volume, provide a broad perspective on the latest research on motor control in humans and other species."

The past decade has seen an exponential increase in our knowledge and understanding of adipose tissue biology. This has coincided with the continued rise in obesity across all generations. Clearly despite substantial advances in research into adipose tissue this still has had limited impact on the on-going obesity epidemic across a majority of countries in the world. This book brings together many leading experts in the field to provide an up to date and comprehensive review of the key aspects of adipose tissue. It therefore includes chapters on evolution, development and inflammation together with a detailed review of brown and beige adipose tissue biology and their potential significance in preventing or combating obesity. These chapters are complemented by those on genetics and gender influences, together with nutrition through the life cycle. Ultimately the book provides an overview of the complexities of adipose tissue biology and the continuing challenge to combat obesity in the 21st century.

Perception and Action have long been considered as two separate information processes and have accordingly been investigated in relative isolation from one another. However, it is now acknowledged that perception and action are functionally related. This special issue presents original contributions from cognitive neuroscientists and cognitive neuropsychologists who address this area from different complementary perspectives. Functional imaging investigations have recently extended to the study of several cognitive processes involved in the recognition of actions or body parts. Two papers report on brain-activation experiments in healthy human subjects during the recognition of hand positions and during the perception of human actions. The visual mechanisms underlying the perception of biological movements are investigated in normal subjects, with the use of the apparent motion paradigm. Several papers deal with neuropsychological cases, with apraxic patients, with Parkinson patients, and with an agnosic patient. The study of perception and action is relevant to psychopathology, as attested to by the work on autistic patients. A review paper on willed action and its physiological basis is also presented.

Cerebral hypoxia/ischemia is a common cause of neurologic dysfunction following cardiopulmonary resuscitation. With the advent of aggressive resuscitatiQ,il;m.ethods to treat cardiopulmonary arrest, more patients are surviving to live with posthypoxic/ postischemic neurologic syndromes. Thus, there is an urgent need to understand the basic aspects of the problem. This monograph consists of reviews from :s'c5ientists using advanced techniques for basic research into the molecular neurob~ology of the mechanisms and effects of cerebral hypoXia/ischemia, and from cliniciahs ~ctively involved in managing patients with these syndromes. The first five chapters contain several basic topics of neurobiology to help under- stand brain function, followed by five chapters that deal with the mechanisms of cerebral hypoxia/ischemia and potential protective measures against it. The first chapter describes functional proteins in the presynaptic terminal which regulate transmitter release. This is followed by a chapter demonstrating the molecu- lar structure and physiological function of the glutamate receptor channel, which may determine the rate and quantity of calcium ion influx into the nerve cell. The third chapter surveys the metabolic glutamate responses and the intracellular mechanisms believed to play an important role in pathogenesis of hypoxic/ischemic cell injury. The fourth chapter deals with long-term potentiation and drugs, the basis for under- standing memory disturbance caused by cerebral hypoxia/ischemia. The fifth chapter describes distributions of nitric oxide synthase mRNAs in the brain, currently one of the most advanced fields in neurobiology.

In this book, the major ideas behind Organic Computing are delineated, together with a sparse sample of computational projects undertaken in this new field. Biological metaphors include evolution, neural networks, gene-regulatory networks, networks of brain modules, hormone system, insect swarms, and ant colonies. Applications are as diverse as system design, optimization, artificial growth, task allocation, clustering, routing, face recognition, and sign language understanding.

Neuroprotection has been placed on a firm scientific basis during the past decade due to an improved understanding of the molecular basis of neurological diseases and the knowledge that treatment of neurological disorders should not be merely symptomatic but preventative against the progression of the underlying disease, as well as regenerative. The Handbook of Neuroprotection serves as a comprehensive review of neuroprotection based on knowledge of the molecular basis of neurological disorders. Neuroprotective effects of older, established drugs, as well as new drugs in development, are well documented in this detailed volume, featuring the most cutting-edge and innovative methods currently in use. In-depth and authoritative, The Handbook of Neuroprotection features a compendium of vital knowledge aimed at providing researchers with an essential reference for this key neurological area of study.

A fascinating look at what’s rattling around in your skull.

Neuroscience For Dummies introduces you to the mind-boggling study of the human brain. It tracks to the content of a typical introductory neuroscience class at the college level ―and it’s perfect for anyone curious about what makes us tick. New technologies and an explosion of research have completely transformed our understanding of memory, depression, the mind-body connection, learning, and genetics. This updated edition―still in classic, beginner-friendly Dummies style―covers the latest research advances and technologies in the field of neuroscience. Put some knowledge about the brain into your brain.

• Grasp the basic concepts and applications of neuroscience
• Understand the brain’s structure and function
• Explore how the brain impacts memory, learning, and emotions
• Discover how the brain is connected with other physical systems

For students and general readers alike, Neuroscience For Dummies is a great way to understand what’s going on inside our heads.

Dr. Howard House, founder of the House Ear Institute and House Ear Clinic often uses the analogy of planting a seed when referring to establishing the House Ear Institute in 1946. Two grateful patients of Dr. House put forth the idea that his knowledge and innovative skills could be used to expand the understanding of hearing impairment and its treatment. Those two early patients provided the "seed money" to begin the Institute. Since that time, the growth has been phenomenal from a one-man laboratory to a multidisciplinary facility boasting over 175 scien tists, physicians, and support staff, all dedicated to the advancement of otologic research and education. Six years ago after a half-century of remarkable success with prosthetic and device research, the Institute began cultivating a new field of endeavor-cell and molecular biology. Don Nielsen, then the Institute's Executive Vice President for Research and Scientific Director, began exploring the potential for hair cell regen eration and presented his ideas to the Board of Trustees. For a period of six months, we did a lot of fact finding to assess what role the Institute might take in this excit ing new field."

Cognition and artificial intelligence are entering a new era in which the aspects of symbolic manipulation and of connectionism begin to come together. This leads to a dialog of truly interdisciplinary character. The book covers aspects of fuzzy logic, case based reasoning, learning as well as meaning, language, and consciousness. The authors of this topical volume have their background in logic, computer science, physics and mathematics, philosophy, psychology and neurobiology.

Empirical data on neural control of motor action and perception have not yet been put into the context of a coherent theory. Dr. Feldman's goal for the proposed book is to illustrate that the field is now at a stage where the data can be used to formulate some core principles that underlie action and perception and to present the foundation of a scientific theory of motor control. Dr. Feldman is a well-known expert and has been active in the field for a long time. In the proposed book he will outline an approach to the analysis of action and perception that he and his colleagues have been using for the past 50 years or so. His theoretical approach will not only help to explain past empirical research, but should also help to inform and provide a structure for future empirical studies.

Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage of progress in the major areas of chemical research. Written by experts in their specialist fields the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, supplying regular critical in-depth accounts of progress in particular areas of chemistry. For over 80 years the Royal Society of Chemistry and its predecessor, the Chemical Society, have been publishing reports charting developments in chemistry, which originally took the form of Annual Reports. However, by 1967 the whole spectrum of chemistry could no longer be contained within one volume and the series Specialist Periodical Reports was born. The Annual Reports themselves still existed but were divided into two, and subsequently three, volumes covering Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. For more general coverage of the highlights in chemistry they remain a 'must'. Since that time the SPR series has altered according to the fluctuating degree of activity in various fields of chemistry. Some titles have remained unchanged, while others have altered their emphasis along with their titles; some have been combined under a new name whereas others have had to be discontinued. The current list of Specialist Periodical Reports can be seen on the inside flap of this volume.