The ability to quantify the sensory stimuli and resulting behavioral responses has enabled researchers over the past thirty years to gain an in-depth understanding of the physiological processes and neural pathways involved in the control of eye and head movements and posture. However, the molecular mechanisms and neurochemical processes that underlie neurotransmission of the vestibular and oculomotor pathways have begun to be defined only during the past decade. The first book available on this topic, Neurochemistry of the Vestibular System covers the proliferation of new information stemming from the technical advances in the areas of molecular biology and neurochemistry. It analyzes the recent developments in areas that relate to the neurochemical organization of the hair cells in the inner ear, the vestibular nerve, the vestibular nuclear complex, and central afferent and efferent vestibular projections. The book also identifies future directions for research in the areas of neurotransmitters, second messengers, transcription factors, and molecular mechanisms involved with both normal vestibular function and compensation. Features

This book is based on contributions presented at the symposion "The Primary Afferent Neuron: A survey oj recent morpho: functional aspects. H held in Zurich on March 24th. 1988 in connection with the 83rd Congregation of the German Anatomical SOCiety. Members of the Anatomical Society as well as non-member researchers were invited to join a circle of specialists to discuss the topiC of primary afferents. In addition. some aspects which had not been dealt with at the Symposion because of shortage of time are represented by invited reviews included in this volume. As sCientific research on the primary afferent neuron is so extensive. it is impossible to take inventory of all the present activities on this subject. This book attempts to provide an overview of various aspects of high actuality and. in particular. shows how morphological research contributes to our present -day concepts of the primary afferent neuron. Although fundamental knowledge on morphology and physiology of the spinal ganglion cell seems to be well established. many questions of the past and the present still await conclusive answers. Thus. many question-marks deter mine the conceptual layout of this book (Fig. 1): First. the peripheral sensory field. and. in particular, the peripheral sensory receptors are discussed."