The book on Processes of Recovery from Neural Trauma contains the proceedings of an international symposium which was sponsored by the Weizmann Institute of Science and was held in June 1984 in Israel. One of the central problems in neurobiology and clinical neurology are the processes which underlie the ability of the nervous system to recover from damage. Neurons of the mammalian nervous system cannot be replaced once the generative embryonic period has ended. Thus, recovery after trauma is limited by the degree to which regeneration of damaged neural processes is possible and by the capac ity of uninjured neurons to form new synaptic contacts or to use their existing ones more effectively. The lack of successful axon regeneration in the central nervous system is the reason for the permanent damage and the very limited recovery of function seen in victims of traumatic injury. Over the past few years, research on neural trauma has witnessed significant progress, resulting from interdis ciplinary research carried out in an increasing number of laboratories throughout the world. Accordingly, the book includes reports on the progress made in the forefront of research in this field. We hope that in addition to being a source of new informa tion, readers of the book will be stimulated to work and to generate new ideas and research strategies in this field of research.

The intention of the VIIth International Symposium on the Facial Nerve was to create a platform for an extensive exchange of knowledge and scientific infor mation between clinicians and basic research workers. This aim could only be realized on the basis of a common interest in the facial nerve, which unites the interdisciplinary scientific efforts of otologists, neurosurgeons, facial plastic surgeons, neurologists, neurophysiologists, and neuroanatomists. Therefore, a meeting of this kind remains in its aim to exchange ideas over scientific disciplines which do not come unique together normal conditions. The symposium has been held every four years since 1966. The VIIth sym posium was preceded by symposia in Stockholm (1966), Osaka (1970), ZUrich (1976), Los Angeles (1980), Bordeaux (1984) and Rio de Janeiro (1988), and marked an important milestone in the continuously developing knowledge about the facial nerve, its physiology, disorders, diagnostics and treatment. In contrast to the previous meetings this symposium extended in vitations to both clinicians and basic research workers. More than 350 scientists from 25 different nations met in Cologne, Germany, in June 1992 and their high-level presentations contributed to the overwhelming success of this international meeting. The symposium took place in the vicinity of the old cllthedral of Cologne, itself a vivid symbol of never-ending efforts to create something perfect and lasting."

The presence of nerve cells in the white matter of the spinal cord and in the spinal and cranial nerves has attracted the attention of some researchers in the past. Because of their location in such unexpected regions, these neurons provided a rich field of speculation regarding their nature and function. This was partic ularly true about the nerve cells lying in the spinal white matter. From phylogenetic considerations, neurons in the spinal white matter are present more abundantly in amphibians, reptiles and brids than in mammals. A. brief survey of literature on lower vertebrates indicates that GASKELL (1885, 1889) was the first to describe the displaced neurons in the white matter of the spinal cord of alligators and various species of birds. In his consideration they were displaced ganglion cells. In 1902 von KOELLIKER gave an exhaustive account of such neurons in the white matter of the spinal cord of reptiles and birds. In these animals he observed clusters of such neurons running in longitudinal columns and thus was able to group them into nuclei known as "Hofmann's nuclei." Further, he suggested that these nuclei arise from the mass of the ventral horn and that they may give rise t. o preganglionic fibers, motor fibers or ventral commissural fibers. In t. he ensuing years investigation of these nuclei was extended by STREE TER, KRAUSE, TERNI, HUBER and others (quoted from ARIENS KAPPERS et. aI., 1960, Vol. I, p. 206-210)."