G. Adam – författare

This international Symposium on the biology of memory was held in the Biological Research Institute at Tihany, Lake Balaton in September 1969. The meeting covered nearly all biological aspects of recent research on elementary learning and memory storage. This complex approach proved to be fruitful: the lectures, discussions, as well as the the chairmen's con­ cluding remarks reflected the main problems of this most exciting, but rather controversial field of interdisciplinary research. The volume contains the thirty papers read at the Symposium, arranged in a different sequence than they had been presented during the four-day meeting. These changes made by the Editor were necessary in order to follow the logical succession of the different topics, rather than the chron­ ology of the lectures, which was inevitably influenced by the itineraries of some of thc participants from ahroad. Consequently the sequence of the concluding remarks had to be altered, too. The division of the book into six parts according to the different topics is tentative because of the mul­ tiple overlappings. The discussions of the lectures had to be digested, since the presentation of a complete record would have been difficult.

The interdisciplinary approach so popular today is more than a matter of fashion. It is, in fact, a reflection of the recognition that a good many areas once considered ade­ quately treated by one or the other of the traditional disciplines straddle the boundaries of several. Interdisciplinary research then is, by definition, a coop­ erative venture by several autonomous branches of science into areas incompletely accessible to anyone of them. By stimulating cooperation among several related disciplines, such research may serve to enrich each of them; but, on the other hand, the existence of these border areas occa­ sionally serves as Ii, pretext for postponing the solution of seemingly insurmountable problems. Brain research seems to have become such a border area of science. The fortress of classical psychology is being assaulted before our very eyes, its peripheral and even its more integral areas being invaded by physiology, morphol­ ogy, physics, and chemistry. Neurophysiology, too, has ceased to be an autonomous and self-governing field, and has come increasingly to rely on the help proffered by gen­ eral psychology, epistemology, and logic, as well as exact sciences such as mathematics and physics. These border assaults have undoubtedly been beneficial for all involved. 9 Within the traditional boundaries of their stuffy principles most classical disciplines are today facing a methodological and epistemological crisis. The breaching of their walls may at least hold out some hope of a renaissance.

The interdisciplinary approach so popular today is more than a matter of fashion. It is, in fact, a reflection of the recognition that a good many areas once considered ade­ quately treated by one or the other of the traditional disciplines straddle the boundaries of several. Interdisciplinary research then is, by definition, a coop­ erative venture by several autonomous branches of science into areas incompletely accessible to anyone of them. By stimulating cooperation among several related disciplines, such research may serve to enrich each of them; but, on the other hand, the existence of these border areas occa­ sionally serves as Ii, pretext for postponing the solution of seemingly insurmountable problems. Brain research seems to have become such a border area of science. The fortress of classical psychology is being assaulted before our very eyes, its peripheral and even its more integral areas being invaded by physiology, morphol­ ogy, physics, and chemistry. Neurophysiology, too, has ceased to be an autonomous and self-governing field, and has come increasingly to rely on the help proffered by gen­ eral psychology, epistemology, and logic, as well as exact sciences such as mathematics and physics. These border assaults have undoubtedly been beneficial for all involved. 9 Within the traditional boundaries of their stuffy principles most classical disciplines are today facing a methodological and epistemological crisis. The breaching of their walls may at least hold out some hope of a renaissance.

Advances in Physiological Sciences, Volume 17: Brain and Behaviour documents the proceedings of the 28th International Congress of Physiological Sciences, held in Budapest 1980. This volume begins by discussing learning in isolated neuronal structures, and then explains the developmental plasticity of central nervous system. The mechanisms of conditioning, learning, and memory are then examined, which is followed by a topic on visceral learning. This book then introduces cortical sensory-motor integration, and then elaborates on this subject by explaining related topics such as caudato-cortical interrelations and functional organization of conditioned placing reaction. This text concludes with three parts examining the functions of mammalian associative cortex; psychophysiology of motivation; and electrophysiological basis of verbal and cognitive behavior. This book will be invaluable to students and experts in the fields of physiology and medicine.

The diagnosis and identification of plant pathogens provides the basis of plant pathology and phytomedicine. The Executive Committee of the EUROPEAN FOUNDATION FOR PLANT PATHOLOGY (EFPP) had no problem to identify this actual th topic as topic for the 4th Symposium, which was held from September 8 to the 12th at the University of Bonn. It was suggested to have introductory papers and papers on actual research on recently identified topics. The development of diagnosis and pathogen identification is very important to keep plants healthy and to provide a successful and efficient disease control. On the other hand the most important task of the EUROPEAN FOUNDATION FOR PLANT PATHOLOGY is to improve the international communication, especially in the European hemisphere. Another important duty is to provide the contact between all associated societies - of specific importance seems to be the contact to societies and colleagues from eastern European countries. Times have changed and gratefully we are obliged to hold the contact to our colleagues from the east. During the last meeting we could hold this contact to a certain extent and this should be a premise for the future. th During 1998 the EUROPEAN FOUNDATION FOR PLANT PATHOLOGY will join the 7 International Congress of Plant Pathology held at Edinburgh from August 9-14, 1998. th The 5 Symposium of the EUROPEAN FOUNDATION FOR PLANT PATHOLOGY will be arranged by our Italian colleagues.