Clinical neuropharmacology, vol. 1

300 of recent research in its historical context. The last is achieved by describing selected major advances towards the contemporary position, e.g. Galvani's early experiments on axonal transmission. The third part, 6 chapters long and entitled "physiological-behavioural correlates", surveys the major psychological topics of study and the relevant physiological processes. Sub-cortical mechanisms are described in relation to motivation, emotion and consciousness. One chapter is devoted to localization and frontal-lobe functions, another to learning and, finally, personality is considered from a biological viewpoint with reference to abnormal as well as normal variations and to psychomatic disorders. This leads naturally to Part IV which deals with social behaviour. One of the 2 chapters is concerned with drug and placebo effects. The other, less satisfactorily, deals with aggressive and affiliative social interactions. Brown seems over-optimistic about the physiological approach to this area claiming that further knowledge should make this the longest instead of one of the shortest chapters in the book. The final single-chapter part returns to the initial theme of mind-body relationships. After a brief historical review of various philosophical positions the selected contemporary viewpoints of Sperry, Eccles, Pribram and Rosenbleuth are described. Split-brain studies are mentioned but rather surprisingly, are not given the prominence which perhaps they deserve in this context. Altogether, the book provides a good course-text for students, such as those to whom Brow~ lectured, with minimal initial biological knowledge. It might well serve that function in psychology courses within some Social Science Departments in Britain. It might also serve as a biologically orientated introduction to behavioural science in some paramedical, nursing and pre-clinical medical courses. Full degree courses in psychology require a more advanced treatment. H. Gwynne Jones

ClinicalNeuropharmacology, Vol. 1, by H. L. K l a w a n s (Ed.), xii + 225 pages, 33 i l l u s t r a tions, 16 tables, R a v e n Press, N e w Y o r k , N . Y . , 1976, U S $ 22.00. The expanding discipline of clinical pharmacology has fathered many lusty infants in the last few years, of which neuropharmacology is unquestionably one of the most vigorous. A number of textbooks and monographs on this topic have appeared, varying considerably in their aims, scope and emphasis. Dr, Klawans has been a leader in the study of the pharmacology of the basal ganglia and hence ! opened this volume with considerable interest in order to determine how he decided to tackle this subject. His own doubts concerning the nature of the best approach emerge clearly from his Preface. After much deliberation he has chosen to produce a series of multi-author volumes of which this is the first, and he has given his authors their heads so that each chapter is an authoritative essay in its own right. In this volume we have chapters on schizophrenia, tardive dyskinesia, the use of physostigmine in neurology and psychiatry, Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome, vitamin B6, spasticity, increased intracranial pressure, anticonvulsants and pain, and the biochemical basis of migraine. To be frank, the editor's plan of campaign, despite his comprehensive preface, is mysterious. Why begin with schizophrenia? Why have some chapters dealing with a disease, others with clinical phenomena and their treatment, another with a single vitamin and yet others with single drugs or classes of drugs? When one dips more searchingly into the volume, a more logical plan of campaign begins to emerge and the chapters themselves are certainly well referenced and detailed reviews. That on anticonvulsants and pain, for instance, in a sense belies its title as it deals with painful syndromes such as tic douloureux which can be influenced by anticonvulsant drugs. No doubt as further volumes appear the overall concept and plan will be clarified, but one cannot resist a feeling that the first of the series demonstrates a somewhat idiosyncratic choice of topics, though each of the contributions is admirable in itself. John N. Walton

Transport Phenomena in the Nervous System - - Physiological and Pathological Aspects ( A d v a n c e s in E x p e r i m e n t a l M e d i c i n e a n d B i o l o g y , Vol. 69) ( P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e Satellite S y m p o s i u m o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l S o c i e t y f o r N e u r o c h e m i s t r y , P a d u a , 9-11 Sep-