The International Basal Ganglia Society (IBAGS) furthers understanding of normal basal ganglia function and the pathophysiology of disorders of the basal ganglia. These disorders include Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and schizophrenia. IBAGS triennial meetings bring together research scientists from all disciplines, as well as clinicians who are actively involved in the treatment of basal ganglia disorders, to discuss the most recent advances in the field and to generate new approaches and ideas for the future. The Basal Ganglia IX features proceedings from the society's ninth meeting held in September of 2007. Topics discussed include neural systems of reinforcement for drug addiction, the impact of brain research on clinical practice, deep brain stimulation, and genetic aspects of movement disorders. The Basal Ganglia IX is part of Springer's Advances in Behavioral Biology series, and will be of interest to researchers of neuroscience, neuropharmacology, neurobiology, neuroanatomy, and neurophysiology.

The introduction of chlorpromazine in 1953, and haloperidol in 1958, into clinical practice dramatically altered the therapy of schizophrenic patients. Although representing by no means a cure for this severe psychiatric ill ness, it allowed, for the first time, to adequately control the severe hallu cinations and delusional beliefs which prevent these patients from leading a more or less independent life. Indeed these antipsychotics (and the many congeners that were to follow) significantly reduced the number ofchronic schizophrenic inpatients in psychiatric clinics all over the world. However soon after their introduction it became clear that, like all other available drugs, antipsychotics were by no means miracle drugs. In fact, two major problems appeared. First, the antipsychotics had very little effect on the so-called negative or defect symptoms, like social isolation, apathy and anhedonia, and secondly virtually all antipsychotics produced a number of side-effects, of which the neurological (often called extra pyramidal) side-effects were the most troublesome. Especially the tardive dyskinesia, which occurred in about 15 to 20% of the patients after pro longed treatment, represented a major problem in the treatment of schizo phrenic patients."

This volume reviews the current state of research within the behavioral pharmacology of 5-HT. The book opens exciting new approaches to the interdisciplinary study of behavior and pharmacology with special reference to ethology, endocrinology, neuroanatomy and comparative aspects of drug action, and notes new developments in therapeutic drugs of the future.

This volume reviews the current state of research within the behavioral pharmacology of 5-HT. The book opens exciting new approaches to the interdisciplinary study of behavior and pharmacology with special reference to ethology, endocrinology, neuroanatomy and comparative aspects of drug action, and notes new developments in therapeutic drugs of the future.

The introduction of chlorpromazine in 1953, and haloperidol in 1958, into clinical practice dramatically altered the therapy of schizophrenic patients. Although representing by no means a cure for this severe psychiatric ill ness, it allowed, for the first time, to adequately control the severe hallu cinations and delusional beliefs which prevent these patients from leading a more or less independent life. Indeed these antipsychotics (and the many congeners that were to follow) significantly reduced the number ofchronic schizophrenic inpatients in psychiatric clinics all over the world. However soon after their introduction it became clear that, like all other available drugs, antipsychotics were by no means miracle drugs. In fact, two major problems appeared. First, the antipsychotics had very little effect on the so-called negative or defect symptoms, like social isolation, apathy and anhedonia, and secondly virtually all antipsychotics produced a number of side-effects, of which the neurological (often called extra pyramidal) side-effects were the most troublesome. Especially the tardive dyskinesia, which occurred in about 15 to 20% of the patients after pro longed treatment, represented a major problem in the treatment of schizo phrenic patients."

The aim of the International Basal Ganglia Society (IBAGS) is to further our understanding of normal basal ganglia function and the pathophysiology of disorders of the basal ganglia, including Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and schizophrenia. Each triennial meeting of IBAGS brings together basic research scientists from all disciplines as well as clinicians who are actively involved in the treatment of basal ganglia disorders, to discuss the most recent advances in the field and to generate new approaches and ideas for the future. This volume comprises the proceedings of the 9th meeting of IBAGS, held in Egmond aan Zee, The Netherlands, September 2nd-6th, 2007.