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In review, the amount of information available on the morphological
and func tional properties of the frog nervous system is very
extensive indeed and in certain areas is the only available source
of information in vertebrates. Further more, much of the now
classical knowledge in neurobiology was originally ob tained and
elaborated in depth in this vertebrate. To cite only a few
examples, studies of nerve conduction, neuromuscular transmission,
neuronal integration, sense organs, development, and locomotion
have been developed with great detail in the frog and in
conjunction provide the most complete holistic descrip tion of any
nervous system. Added to the above considerations, the ease with
which these animals may be maintained (both as adults and during
development) and the advantage of their lower cost as compared with
other vertebrate forms make the frog one of the most important
laboratory animals in neurobiology. With these thoughts in mind, we
decided to compile this volume. Our goal in doing so was to
assemble as much as possible of the information available on frog
neurobiology and to have the different topics covered by
authorities in each of the fields represented. To keep the handbook
restricted to one volume, we found it necessary to omit the large
field of amphibian muscle neurobiology, which has already been
summarized in various other publications."
Sensorimotor systems are not rigidly wired predetermined networks
but rather highly plastic structures that learn and modify their
entire performance in response to changes in external or internal
conditions. Lesions or distortions of the system's input, which
initially cause a functional disorganization, induce an active
reorganization which often leads to a recovery of function.
Examples of lesion-induced neural plasticity have been known for
some hundred years; however, an awareness of their value as
research tools is relatively new. This current interest is a
consequence of rapid ly changing ideas concerning the nature of CNS
organization. Out of these, concepts are emerging which describe
neural nets as modifiable, highly dynamic, self-organizing
structures. This trend is clearly reflected in this volume, which
contains the proceedings of a symposium held in Bremen in July 1980
as a satellite meeting of the XXVIIIth International Congress of
Physiological Sciences. The first part of this conference was
devoted to some gen eral aspects of plasticity, discussing the
current theories of functional recovery as well as morphological,
neurochemical, physiological, molecular, and ontogenetic aspects.
The second part dealt with lesion induced plasticity in specific
sensorimotor systems of the spinal cord, brain stem, and cerebral
cortex."
Over the past few semesters a group of neurologists,
neurophysiologists, and brain theorists in various departments of
Tlibingen University have gathered periodically in an effort to
review ideas and evidence on cerebel lar functions. At times,
general solutions seemed close, when credit was given to various
theoretical proposals advanced since the early days of cer ebellar
physiology, however, it became clear in every case that a large
part of the available facts refused to submit to the general ideas.
As believers in the power of scientific discussion, we felt that
the time was ripe for posing the problem of the cerebellum once
more to a well articulated group of specialists that would include
proponents of every disparate point of view. The sponsorship of the
Max Planck Society and of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, to
whom we express our profound gratitude, made it possible to
organize an international meeting in Septem ber, 1983. The aim of
making new, even extravagant ideas palatable to each other was well
accomplished by the participants. We trust that some of the ensuing
excitement has been carried over into the printed version."
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