The Synaptic Organization of the Brain, 5th Edition

by Gordon M. Shepherd (Editor)

It is widely recognized that the neural basis of brain function can be fully understood only by integrating many disciplines at many levels. Studies of synaptic organization are bringing about a quiet revolution in achieving this goal, as documented by this unique book over the past 30 years. In this fifth edition, the results of the mouse and human genome projects are incorporated for the first time. Molecular biologists interested in functional genomics and proteomics of the brain will find answers here to the critical what are the cell and circuit functions of gene products? Also for the first time, the reader is oriented to supporting neuroscience databases. Among the new advances covered are 2-photon confocal laser microscopy of dendrites and dendritic spines, biochemical analyses, and dual patch and multielectrode recordings, applied together with an increasing range of behavioral and gene-targeting methods. Leading experts in the best understood brain regions bring together the molecular, anatomical, functional, and behavioral data in authoritative integrated accounts. The chapters are organized in the same format, covering the neural elements, synaptic connections, basic circuits, physiology, neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, membrane properties, dendritic properties, and with a final section on how the circuits mediate specific behaviors. The uniform framework for each chapter enables the authors to higlight the principles that are common to all regions, as well as the adaptations unique to each, thus serving as a model for understanding the neural basis of behavior.

Genres: Neuroscience, Science, Nonfiction, Reference

719 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Jacob Bornheimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read relevant sections on the hippocampus and on synapse types. I'll keep hold of this for later reference. Though dated (1974), it still provides excellent background, and is well written to boot. I understand there are newer editions, which are likely great.

[Jamie is · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just found when I was reorganizing my closet- pleasant memory of college. Unsure how much has changed since then as I've completely fallen out of the field but lauded for being a groundbreaking work of its time.

[Kazutaka Ogaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very useful for me because I'm building a so-called simulator of 'Thinking'. For this purpose, I would give 5 stars on this book.

But for general readers, this book is too much.
I recommend Christof Koch's (one of co-author of this book) work "Consciousness: Confessions of a Romantic Reductionist" to taste scientific sense of wonder in studying human-brain.

As for my purpose, 'Wet-ware' architecture of 'CPU in human heads' is described in detail. And, its quantity approach is also helpful to implement simulation program.

If you were a researcher of this area, you'd know better than me :)

[Michael Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book elaborated in great detail on circuitry of the spinal cord, cochlear nucleus, olfactory bulb, retina, cerebellum, thalamus, basal ganglia, olfactory cortex, hippocampus and cerebral cortex and how groups of neurons give rise to brain functions. It was also helpful for theoretical neurophysiology book from the morphological and physiological modeling assemblies at the cell or systems level.

[David Olmsted · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not a general introduction into neuroscience, instead it is an introduction into neurophysiology. The editor, Gordon Shepherd, was the main discoverer of neural microcircuits (covered at the beginning of the book) which is just another clue showing that the standard model of the neuron as a summation node with a threshold is way too simplistic.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic in the field of Neuroscience. I give it a five for historical reasons, although it's certainly a bit dated now. It was written in 1979. Definitely only for hardcore types, though. Requires a great deal of background in neuroscience.

[DJ]

recommended by Alice Parker