Principles of Neurobiology

Synopsis

1. An Invitation To Neurobiology. Nature And Nurture In Brain Function And Behavior ; How The Nervous System Organized ; General Methodology ; Summary -- 2. Signaling Within Neurons. Cell Biological And Electrical Properties Of Neurons ; How Do Electrical Signals Propagate From The Neuronal Cell Body To Its Axon Terminals? ; Summary -- 3. Signaling Across Synapses. How Is Neurotransmitter Release Controlled At The Presynaptic Terminal? ; How Do Neurotransmitters Act On Postsynaptic Neurons? ; Summary -- 4. Vision. How Do Rods And Cones Detect Light Signals? ; How Are Signals From Rods And Cones Analyzed In The Retina? ; How Is Information Processed In The Visual Cortex? ; Summary --^ 5. Wiring Of The Visual System. How Do Retinal Ganglion Cell Axons Find Their Targets? ; How Do Experience And Neuronal Activity Contribute To Wiring? ; How Do Molecular Determinants And Neuronal Activity Work Together? ; Visual System Development In Drosophila : Linking Cell Fate To Wiring Specificity ; Summary -- 6. Olfaction, Taste, Audition, And Somatosensation. How Do We Sense Odors? ; How Do Worms And Flies Sense Odors? ; Taste : To Eat, Or Not To Eat? ; Audition : How Do We Hear And Localize Sounds? ; Somatosensation : How Do We Sense Body Movement, Touch, Temperature, And Pain? ; Summary -- 7. Wiring Of The Nervous System. How Does Wiring Specificity Arise In The Developing Nervous System? ; Assembly Of Olfactory Circuits : How Do Neural Maps Form? ; How Do ~20,000 Genes Specify 10¹⁴ Connections? ; Summary --^ 8. Motor And Regulatory Systems. How Is Movement Controlled? ; How Does The Brain Regulate The Functions Of Internal Organs? ; How Is Eating Regulated? ; How Are Circadian Rhythms And Sleep Regulated? ; Summary -- 9. Sexual Behavior. How Do Genes Specify Sexual Behavior In The Fly? ; How Are Mammalian Sexual Behaviors Regulated? ; Summary -- 10. Memory, Learning, And Synaptic Plasticity. Prelude: What Is Memory, And How Is It Acquired By Learning? ; How Is Synaptic Plasticity Achieved? ; What Is The Relationship Between Learning And Synaptic Plasticity? ; Where Does Learning Occur, And Where Is Memory Stored In The Brain? ; Summary -- 11. Brain Disorders. Alzheimer's Disease And Other Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Psychiatric Disorders ; Neurodevelopmental Disorders ; Summary --^ 12. Evolution Of The Nervous System. General Concepts And Approaches In Evolutionary Analysis ; Evolution Of Neuronal Communication ; Evolution Of Sensory Systems ; Evolution Of Nervous System Structure And Development ; Summary -- 13. Ways Of Exploring. Animal Models In Neurobiology Research ; Genetic And Molecular Techniques ; Anatomical Techniques ; Recording And Manipulating Neuronal Activity ; Behavioral Analyses ; Summary And Perspectives -- Glossary. Liqun Luo. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.