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The Synaptic Organization of the Brain
The third edition of The Synaptic Organization of the Brain continues the tradition of earlier editions in focusing on the principles underlying the organization of neurons and synapses into functional circuits within the best-studied regions of the autonomic ganglia, spinal cord,
olfactory bulb, retina, cerebellum, thalamus, basal ganglia, olfactory cortex, hippocampus, and neocortex. To ensure authoritative coverage, the chapters have been written by leading researchers in each region. As in past editions, each chapter follows the same neural elements, synaptic
connections, basic circuits, physiological properties, neurotransmitters, and dendritic properties. Each chapter now has a concluding section which discusses functional implications. This organization gives a logical structure to the description of each region, and greatly facilitates comparisons
between regions and identification of common principles. Highlights include the first comprehensive attempt to incorporate intrinsic excitable membrane properties into neural circuits throughout the brain, the latest experimental results from patch recordings, brain slices, and intracellular
labelling, and 3-D reconstructions of neurons and connections. The book also provides up-to-date summaries of neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, second-messengers and ligand-and voltage-gated membrane channels for each brain region. Information on possible mechanisms underlying learning and
memory in brain circuits is emphasized. A special focus is on methods for modeling neurons and circuits, as a first step toward a "biophysics of neural computation" and the construction of more realistic neural networks.
olfactory bulb, retina, cerebellum, thalamus, basal ganglia, olfactory cortex, hippocampus, and neocortex. To ensure authoritative coverage, the chapters have been written by leading researchers in each region. As in past editions, each chapter follows the same neural elements, synaptic
connections, basic circuits, physiological properties, neurotransmitters, and dendritic properties. Each chapter now has a concluding section which discusses functional implications. This organization gives a logical structure to the description of each region, and greatly facilitates comparisons
between regions and identification of common principles. Highlights include the first comprehensive attempt to incorporate intrinsic excitable membrane properties into neural circuits throughout the brain, the latest experimental results from patch recordings, brain slices, and intracellular
labelling, and 3-D reconstructions of neurons and connections. The book also provides up-to-date summaries of neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, second-messengers and ligand-and voltage-gated membrane channels for each brain region. Information on possible mechanisms underlying learning and
memory in brain circuits is emphasized. A special focus is on methods for modeling neurons and circuits, as a first step toward a "biophysics of neural computation" and the construction of more realistic neural networks.
576 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 3, 2020
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.
November 15, 2020
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.
November 21, 2013
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 :)
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 :)
July 28, 2011
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.
April 29, 2012
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.
October 16, 2008
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.
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November 2, 2009recommended by Alice Parker
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews