This second edition volume expands on the previous edition with discussions on the latest techniques used to study synaptic transmissions. The chapters in this book are organized into six parts. Part One looks at the basic concepts, such as extracellular and intracellular recordings, and spatiotemporal effects of synaptic currents. Part Two describes the recording of synaptic currents, such as measuring kinetics of synaptic current and measuring reversal potentials. Part Three discusses basic experimentations of synaptic transmission and covers run-up and run-down, and amplitude. Parts Four and Five cover experimentations with computational components and molecular and visual components, such as measurement of a single synapse and electrophysiological and visual tags. Part Six explores in vivo recordings and talks about general considerations for in vivo exploration of synaptic plasticity. In the Neuromethods series style, chapters include the kind of detail and key advice from the specialists needed to get successful results in your laboratory. Authoritative and thorough, Electrophysiological Analysis of Synaptic Transmission, Second Edition is a valuable resource that introduces graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to important topics in this field and also expands these topics to practical electrophysiological approaches.

Understanding of memory and learning is one of the major goals of neuroscientists and psychologists. The author first introduces the reader into the current state of knowledge of the mechanisms underlying memory by providing extensive reviews of contemporary results including behavioural approaches and molecular studies. He presents results of his group obtained by analysing elec- trical activity - including single neuron meassures. As a major experimental model the phenomenon of hippocampal long- term potentiation was studied. The so-called quantal analy- sis - a quantitative method - was applied to study mammalian brain plasticity. Short- and long-term synaptic plasticities were registered both in vivo and in vitro mammalian brain preparations. Results show the involvement of mainly presynaptic location in memory, however, the possible involvement of postsynaptic mechanisms is indicated by changes in quantal amplitude as shown by the author.

This monograph summarizes the results of the authors' own in- vestigations as well as relevant literature data about the mechanism of synaptic transmission in sensory hair cells of the acousticolater- al system. It deals mainly with primary processes in hair cells. Ad- ditionally, data on the properties and selectivity of various ionic channels are presented, with data concerning the mechanism of release of the neurotransmitter from the hair cell and the proper- ties of postsynaptic responses of afferent fibres. The role of ex- citatory amino acids in synaptic transmission is analyzed. This book gives a comprehensive overview of current research on synaptic transmission in sensory hair cells, which should be valuable to both those in the field and neuroscientists of various disciplines. St. Petersburg, January 1993 G.N. Akoev G. N. Andrianov Table of Contents Introduction ...................................... . Chapter 1 Anatomy of the Mecha- and Electroreceptors of the Acousticolateral System 3 1.1 The Organ of Corti ............................ 3 1.2 Semicircular Canals ............................ 8 1.3 The Otolith Organs ............................ 11 1.4 Lateral-Line Organs ............................ 15 1.5 Electroreceptors ............................... 20 1.5.1 Ampullary Receptors ........................... 21 1.5.2 Tuberous Receptors ............................ 26 Chapter 2 Electrophysiological Analysis of Synaptic lhlnsmission in Hair Cells ................ 33 2.1 Electrical Characteristics of Hair Cells.