In 1964-1965, Hans Helmut Kornhuber and Luder Deecke achieved a scientific breakthrough with the discovery of the Bereitschaftspotential (BP), or readiness potential. In The Will and its Brain, Kornhuber and Deecke present evidence that proves we can record activity from the human brain occurring prior to our volitional movements or actions. Such preparatory activity is generated by specific brain regions, particularly by the supplementary motor area (SMA) of the frontal lobe, which lies on the inner surface of the brain between the hemispheres. The primary (precentral) motor cortex (MI) later becomes activated in preparing for action. Consequently, the authors discriminate between two components of the preparatory activity of the Bereitschaftspotential: an early SMA-generated BP1 and a late MI-derived BP2. Between BP1 and BP2, the intentional activity runs over the so-called motor loop via the basal ganglia. Kornhuber and Deecke discuss these and other brain processing systems while focusing on the concept of free will. They claim that we, indeed, have free will. It may not be absolutely free, but free in terms of degrees. We can take efforts to increase our degrees of freedom through self-improvement, but we can also lose degrees of freedom through self-mismanagement.

In 1964 1965, Hans Helmut Kornhuber and Luder Deecke achieved a scientific breakthrough with the discovery of the Bereitschaftspotential (BP), or readiness potential. In The Will and its Brain, Kornhuber and Deecke present evidence that proves we can record activity from the human brain occurring prior to our volitional movements or actions. Such preparatory activity is generated by specific brain regions, particularly by the supplementary motor area (SMA) of the frontal lobe, which lies on the inner surface of the brain between the hemispheres. The primary (precentral) motor cortex (MI) later becomes activated in preparing for action. Consequently, the authors discriminate between two components of the preparatory activity of the Bereitschaftspotential: an early SMA-generated BP1 and a late MI-derived BP2. Between BP1 and BP2, the intentional activity runs over the so-called motor loop via the basal ganglia. Kornhuber and Deecke discuss these and other brain processing systems while focusing on the concept of free will. They claim that we, indeed, have free will. It may not be absolutely free, but free in terms of degrees. We can take efforts to increase our degrees of freedom through self-improvement, but we can also lose degrees of freedom through self-mismanagement.

A rich source of information about human voluntary movement in health and disease can be found in this book. The most esteemed researchers in their respective fields bring you up-to-date articles. Their collected work combines fundamental research in the life sciences with clinical neuroscience in a unique overview. The interdisciplinary aspects of motor physiology uncover a wealth of information for researchers from neighboring disciplines. For example, oculomotor research, vestibular research, equilibrium, sensory research and cognition, evolution, synaptic and elementary processes and the neurological sciences can be discovered.

The papers compiled in this supplementum are a selection of the best con th tributions presented at the 19 Central-European Neurological Symposium (CNS 19) held on June 29 - July 1, 1989 in Vienna. The main topic of this conference was degenerative and age-associated neurological diseases. In recent decades life expectancy has dramatically increased, at least in the industrialized countries. This has led to extreme distortions of the so-called population pyramids that no longer look like such but begin to almost resemble cylinders. As a consequence of this "overaging" of the population, diseases that are associated with age have become much more common than before. It was thus more than reasonable to devote a congress of the CNS series to these important neurological diseases. The following fields of interest are covered: Age-associated memory impairment (AAMI), Alzheimer's and other dementias, Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders, stroke and others. Concerning the de men tias, some papers deal with diagnosis employing neuro-imaging methods such as MRI, CT, PET and SPECT, others using electrophysiological methods. An important aspect in the early preclinical diagnosis of dementia is the inclusion of neuropsychological tests to enhance the chance of effec tive early treatment. Also drugs that are now under clinical investigation are discussed and preliminary results are presented."

Das Buch behandelt die neuesten Methoden und Ergebnisse der Darstellung von Hirnfunktionen und ihren krankheitsbedingten StArungen sowie die MAglichkeit, Struktur und Funktion einzelner Hirnstrukturen in Beziehung zu setzen. Die Ergebnisse haben BeitrAge zum VerstAndnis der Pathophysiologie motorischer und kognitiver Funktionen des Gehirns geliefert und besitzen wesentliche Bedeutung in der prAchirurgischen Epilepsiediagnostik, welche eine genaue Analyse topographischer Beziehungen von Fokus, LAsionen und funktionell wichtigen Hirnregionen erfordert. Die neuen Methoden bieten die MAglichkeit, die funktionelle Reorganisation der Hirnrinde nach Verletzungen zu analysieren. Die Methodik zur Untersuchung der Hirnfunktionen und ihren krankheitsbedingten StArungen ist breit gefAchert und reicht von Methoden der Elektrophysiologie (Elektroencephalographie und Magnetoencephalographie) A1/4ber Methoden der regionalen Hirndurchblutung (PET und SPECT) bis hin zur funktionellen Magnetresonanztomographie.

Dieses Buch gibt eine einfache EinfA1/4hrung in die Anfertigung und Befundung von akustisch evozierten Potentialen (AEP), wie sie routinemAAig in der Neurologie zu diagnostischen Zwecken eingesetzt werden. Die Anleitung zu dieser Methode ist didaktisch einfach gehalten und doch umfassend. Sie gibt dem Leser die notwendigen technischen und elektrophysiologischen Grundkenntnisse mit auf den Weg. Ein umstAndliches Suchen in umfangreichen, zumeist wissenschaftlich gehaltenen FachbA1/4chern nach den Wegen des praktischen Vorgehens entfAllt. Aufbauend auf ein einfaches medizinisches Grundwissen werden die MAglichkeiten und Grenzen der Methode aufgezeigt. Anhand vieler Fallbeispiele wird der Leser schlieAlich in die kritische WA1/4rdigung der Befunde eingefA1/4hrt.