Chemical transmission in the brain — The role of amines, amino acids and peptides

144 assumes that the clinical features of each disorder require little description though there are excellent plates of some of the commoner dysmorphic disorders. In summary this is a book for the clinical geneticist and professional neurologist who is already familiar with genetic principles but who wants up-to-date information on genetic risks for neurological disorders, as well as guidance on the identification of some of the rarer genetic syndromes. For these individuals this book can be recommended without reservation. Developments in biochemistry and recombinant D N A over the next few years may well make genetic predictions in many of these disorders more accurate and perhaps Baraitser will be able to introduce these in further editions of his scholarly work. ALAN EMERY

EEG Primer, by R. Spehlmann (Ed.), xiv + 474 pages, Elsevier/North-Holland

Biomedical Press, Amsterdam, 1982, Dfl. 80.00, US$ 26.95. This book is an excellent introduction to the E E G for the resident, the interested student and the laboratory technician. The psychologic origin of the voltage changes, the recording principles and methods are lucidly set out, followed by a display and discussion of the normal EEG-curves and their changes with evolution and involution of the brain, then comes a more than adequate anthology of pathological curves with the clinical correlates, presented from the point of view of the clinical neurophysiologist and not from that of a clinical neurologist. This is a principal decision inasmuch as it is the clinical neurophysiologists' responsibility to derive from the recorded pattern the lesion in the underlying substrate. The way to go about this is presented in a balanced, systemic and educative way, well organised, and well-disciplined. For the advanced specialist of course weaknesses can he listed, such as the EEG's interpretative diagnostic ability, and probabilities in differential diagnoses. This, however, is outside the limits clearly set by the author: a fairly thorough introductory text. Spehlman achieved this with a rare measure of success. G.W. BRUYN

Chemical Transmission in the Brain - The Role of Amines, Amino Acids and Peptides

(Progress in Brain Research, Vol. 55), by R.M. Buijs, P. P6vet and D.F. Swaab (Eds.), xiv + 490 pages, Elsevier Biomedical Press, Amsterdam, 1982, Dfl. 220.00, US$ 93.50. This volume contains the proceedings of the 12th International Summer School of Brain Research held in Amsterdam, September 1981. During this course the attention of the contributors was directed towards the role ofneurotransmitters subclasses, viz. amines, amino acids, and peptides. The first section of this book deals with the anatomical CNS pathways and possible functions of the amines, amino acids and peptides. The function of a few neurotransmitters, as for instance acetylcholine and dopamine are rather well defined, and proved by a variety of experimental methods, for most of the other chemical transmitters in the brain the function is scarcely, fragmentarily known. The second section deals with the action of released neurotransmitters, the cellular matrix, and the neuronal environment, influenced by the astroglia, might play an important role in the neurotransmitter release. Some techniques to measure these actions are described. A new technique, applicable to patients to visualize the influence of the neurotransmitter in local brain areas is described. This may open perspectives in understanding the function of the h u m a n brain. In the final section some clinical aspects of the neurotransmitter functions and dysfunctions are reported. Alzheimer's disease, dementia, Huntington's chorea are discussed. This monograph provides a first-rate survey of the state of art of chemical transmission in the brain. R.A.C. R o o s