Uwe Windhorst - Böcker

The Encyclopedic Reference of Neuroscience is unique in its coverage of the breadth and complexity of the Neurosciences. Presented in five volumes, with an accompanying full-text CD-ROM, the Encyclopedia comprises over 10,000 entries in A-Z format. Entries include short keynotes, explaining essential terms and phrases, and in-depth essays, each extensively cross-referenced. In addition, more than 40 invited expert editors have contributed detailed review essays, providing an introduction to each of the 43 topic fields, ranging from the fundamentals of the neurosciences, such as neurobiology and neuroanatomy, the sensory and motor systems, behaviour and learning to the fascinating developments in the new, inter-disciplinary fields of Computational Neuroscience and Neurophilosophy. Springers authoritative Encyclopedic Reference of Neuroscience leaves its competitors standing, providing a one-stop reference for scientists in academia and industry, students, teachers and an essential library resource.

"Theorizing about brain functions is often considered slightly disreputable and anyhow a waste of time -perhaps even 'philoso- ical'" 1 P. S. CHURCHLAND At present there are no unanimously accepted general con­ cepts of brain operation and function. This is especially the case with regard to so-called "higher" functions such as per­ ception, memory or the coupling between sensory input and motor output. There are a number of different reasons for this. Some may be related to experimental limitations allowing the simultaneous recording of the activities of only a restricted number of neurones. But there are also conceptual difficulties hindering the transition from "single-neurone" schemes, in which neurones are assigned relatively specific tasks (such as feature detection), to more complex schemes of nerve cell as­ semblies (for a discussion of some of the difficulties see Abeles 1982; von der Malsburg 1981; Kriiger 1983). Whilst much is known about the basic properties and functions of single neu­ rones, whose operations we hope to understand in the foresee­ able future, this does not hold true in the same way for the working of large assemblies of neurones.

Nothing tends so much to the advancement of knowledge as the application of a new instrument. - Sir Humphry Davy, 1778-1829 Neuroscience has become a rapidly expanding endeavor that relies on a number of other sciences, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering, computer sci­ ence, general biology and medicine, genetics etc. In fact, many of its recent success­ es result from the application of ideas and methods borrowed from these fields. In­ sofar, it is a true interdisciplinary undertaking. This convergence of influences ac­ counts for part of its enormous attractiveness and fascination to students and re­ searchers from diverse walks of life, or science, for that matter. It is probably fair to say that a great number of neuroscience's most creative and productive proponents have been lured into this field not only by the excitement about the possibility to un­ mask the secrets of the human mind, but also by the appeal of a vast unknown land needing cultivation and tools to cultivate it. Danger may arise for any science if it is dominated by methods and techniques of investigation rather than by problems to be solved and concepts to be developed. This might concentrate efforts onto the technically feasible and doable, rather than On the real issues. But, On the other hand, especially the young and growing sciences are heavily dependent on the development and application of methods, often even before a problem relying on these methods may become apparent.