Nerve cells - neurons - are arguably the most complex of all cells. From the action of these cells comes movement, thought and consciousness. It is a challenging task to understand what molecules direct the various diverse aspects of their function. This has produced an ever-increasing amount of molecular information about neurons, and only in Molecular Biology of the Neuron can a large part of this information be found in one source. In this book, a non-specialist can learn about the molecules that control information flow in the brain or the progress of brain disease in an approachable format, while the expert has access to a wealth of detailed information from a wide range of topics impacting on his or her field of endeavour. The text is designed to achieve a balance of accessibility and broad coverage with up-to-date molecular detail. In the six years since the first edition of Molecular Biology of the Neuron there has been an explosion in the molecular information about neurons that has been discovered, and this information is incorporated into this second edition. Entirely new chapters have been introduced where recent advances have made a new aspect of neuronal function more comprehensible at the molecular level. Written by leading researchers in the field, the book provides an essential overview of the molecular structure and function of neurons, and will be an invaluable tool to students and researchers alike.

An understanding of the nervous system at virtually any level of analysis requires an understanding of its basic building block, the neuron. From Molecules to Networks provides the solid foundation of the morphologic, biochemical, and biophysical properties of nerve cells. All chapters have been thoroughly revised for this second edition to reflect the significant advances of the past 5 years. The new edition expands on the network aspects of cellular neurobiology by adding a new chapter, Information Processing in Neural Networks, and on the relation of cell biological processes to various neurological diseases. The new concluding chapter illustrates how the great strides in understanding the biochemical and biophysical properties of nerve cells have led to fundamental insights into important aspects of neurodegenerative disease. Written and edited by leading experts in the field, the second edition completely and comprehensively updates all chapters of this unique textbook Discusses emerging new understanding of non-classical molecules that affect neuronal signaling Full colour, professional graphics throughout Includes two new chapters: Information Processing in Neural Networks - describes the principles of operation of neural networks and the key circuit motifs that are common to many networks in the nervous system. Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative Disease - introduces the progress made in the last 20 years in elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying brain disorders, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson disease, and Alzheimer’s disease

Cellular and Molecular Neurophysiology, Fifth Edition is the only up-to-date textbook on the market that focuses on the molecular and cellular physiology of neurons and synapses. Hypothesis-driven rather than a dry presentation of the facts, the book promotes a real understanding of the function of nerve cells that is useful for practicing neurophysiologists and students in graduate-level courses on the topic alike. This new edition explains the molecular properties and functions of excitable cells in detail and teaches students how to construct and conduct intelligent research experiments. The content is firmly based on numerous experiments performed by top experts in the field. The new edition contains new chapters on recording neuronal activity, iconotrophic and metabotropic receptors for sensory transduction, and a section containing exercises for further learning. This book will be a useful resource for neurophysiologists, neurobiologists, neurologists, and students taking graduate-level courses on neurophysiology. Authoritative foundational coverage of basic cellular and molecular neurophysiology Includes new chapters on recording neuronal activity, iconotrophic and metabotropic receptors for sensory transduction Provides fifteen appendices that describe how neurobiological techniques are interspersed in the text Presents enhanced coverage of new methodologies and experimental techniques

Presents an account of the remarkable progress made in different areas of neurobiology. This book introduces the structure and development of the brain, showing how they are specialized for the functions they serve. It is concerned with hormones and neurotransmitters.

An understanding of the nervous system at virtually any level of analysis requires an understanding of its basic building block, the neuron. The third edition of From Molecules to Networks provides the solid foundation of the morphological, biochemical, and biophysical properties of nerve cells. In keeping with previous editions, the unique content focus on cellular and molecular neurobiology and related computational neuroscience is maintained and enhanced. All chapters have been thoroughly revised for this third edition to reflect the significant advances of the past five years. The new edition expands on the network aspects of cellular neurobiology by adding new coverage of specific research methods (e.g., patch-clamp electrophysiology, including applications for ion channel function and transmitter release; ligand binding; structural methods such as x-ray crystallography). Written and edited by leading experts in the field, the third edition completely and comprehensively updates all chapters of this unique textbook and insures that all references to primary research represent the latest results. The first treatment of cellular and molecular neuroscience that includes an introduction to mathematical modeling and simulation approaches 80% updated and new content New Chapter on "Biophysics of Voltage-Gated Ion Channels" New Chapter on "Synaptic Plasticity" Includes a chapter on the Neurobiology of Disease Highly referenced, comprehensive and quantitative Full color, professional graphics throughout All graphics are available in electronic version for teaching purposes

An introduction to Molecular Neurobiology, is a textbook of contemporary cellular and molecular neurobiology written for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and practising neurobiologists. This book describes the behaviour and properties of neurons and glia and how these arise from the molecules that constitute them. Major sections focus on the signals that neurons use and how they are produced, the molecular and cellular organization of neurons and glia, neuronal differentiation, synaptic plasticity, and the molecular basis of neuronal diseases. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field and gives an up-to-date account of major questions, experimental approaches, the present state of knowledge, and future directions. Boxes provide historical, technical, or biographical notes, and expand on points of particular interest to contemporary research. The book has been carefully edited to give uniformity of style and coverage, and is illustrated in two colours.

The field of cellular, molecular, and developmental neuroscience repre sents the interface between the three large, well established fields of neu roscience, cell biology, and molecular biology. In the last 10 to 15 years, this new field has emerged as one of the most rapidly growing and exciting subdisciplines of neuroscience. It is now becoming possible to understand many aspects of nervous system function at the molecular level, and there already are dramatic applications of this information to the treatment of nervous system injury, disease, and genetic disorders. Moreover, there is great optimism that new strategies will emerge soon as a result of the explosion of information. This book was written to introduce students to the major issues, ex perimental strategies, and current knowledge base in cellular, molecular, and developmental neuroscience. The concept for the book arose from a section of an introductory neuroscience course given to first-year medical students at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. The text pre sumes a basic, but not detailed, understanding of nervous system orga nization and function, and a background in biology. It is intended as an appropriate introductory text for first-year medical students or graduate students in neuroscience, neurobiology, psychobiology, or related pro grams;··and for advanced undergraduate students with appropriate back ground in biology and neuroscience. While some of the specific information presented undoubtedly will be outdated rapidly, the "gestalt" of this emerging field of inquiry as presented here should help the beginning stu dent organize new information.