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Foundations of the neuron doctrine
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Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 114 (1993) 233-234 © 1993 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. All rights reserved 0022-510X/93/$06.00
Book reviews Foundations of the Neuron Doctrine, by Gordon M. Shepherd, 1991, Oxford University Press, Oxford/New York, 338 pages, 0-19-506491-7 This book is about one of the most important controversies that occurred in the development of neurology - whether neurons are separate entities of whether they form a nerve net. As we learned when we were taught the anatomy and physiology of the vertebrate nervous system, one of the ironies of history was that Cajal established the former view as correct, using and improving the stain invented by Golgi, who was the strongest supporter of the reticular hypothesis. They received the Nobel Prize together in 1906. One would have thought that a paper of 30 pages or so would have been the maximum for re-telling this 19th century controversy. But this book is more than 300 pages long. How does Professor Shepherd manage to fill these pages? His history takes account, as it should, of various philosophic views behind opinions and assumptions; developments in the microscope; advancing histological techniques related to new discoveries in the chemistry of dyes. Above all, the book includes biographies of those who took part in these attempts to acquire knowledge and translations of contributors such as Cajal, Nasen, K611iker and Waldeyer. It also reproduces in English the speeches made by Golgi and Cajal in Stockholm when they received the Nobel Prize. If the reader of this book has not read Haymaker's "The Founders of Neurology" and Clarke and O'Malley's "The Human Brain and Spinal Cord", he may not find it boring. Most of the book repeats what was written in these works and in Professor Alfred Meyer's "Historical Aspects of Cerebral Anatomy". The last chapter "Modern Revisions of the Neuron Doctrine" is informative, as it considers those aspects of neuronal function discovered within the last 25 years, which modify the original "law of dynamic polarization". This law is the general principle that the neuron collects information from its dendrites and passes it in one direction only, out along its axon. The author has no new point of view and has discovered no new facts that would justify writing such a long history about such a short, though important, subject. This book is recommended only to those who are very keen on the history of science and neurology. PETER NATHAN, M.D., F.R.C.P. Consultant Neurologist, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
Exploring Brain Functional Anatomy with Positron Tomography, Ciba Foundation Symposium 163, 1991, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK, U.S. $43.00, 287 pages. Twenty-seven selected scientists attended a two-day workshop at the Ciba Foundation in London in March 1991, at a conference organized by Richard Frackowiak. The attendees must have had a memorable experience if the transactions accurately portray the exciting communication of ideas during this important meeting. Attendees and speakers included those who have had a formative effect upon positron emission tomography, as well as key individuals in the field of neuropsychology and neurophysiology who provided new insights into brain function using this exciting new technology.
Because the field is so new, these pioneers developed techniques and devised experiments which demonstrate that limb movement increases contralateral neuronal metabolism which is reflected as an increase in blood flow of a focal nature. What is more astounding is the realization that the mere contemplation of moving the limb will also excite appropriate neurons and be similarly reflected in metabolism and blood flow. With this powerful technology which is initiating new concepts, one can begin to explore what are called "psychiatric" abnormalities which result in socially inappropriate behavior. Because the various disciplines represented were so extraordinary, this conference was a hatchery for new hypotheses, many of which are outlined in the free discussion following formal presentations. From the wealth of information which was provided in this extremely well edited and carefully presented material, only a few can be cited. One by S. Zeki describes a hypothetical experiment with positron emission tomography and how it would have solved enigmas regarding the visual cortex facing neuroanatomists, pathologists, and neuroclinicians a century ago. A second one by Frackowiak, Weiller and Chollet on the functional anatomy of recovery from brain injury has extreme importance for neurohabilitation and should be required reading for all who care for such patients. All in all, this book is a landmark which has the potential for becoming the standard by which future symposia on this topic are measured. It is must reading for all who deal with brain function, both normal and abnormal.
JAMES F. TOOLE, M.D. Editor
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
Neurological Disorders: Novel Experimental and Therapeutic Strategies, by Laszlo Vecsei, Andrew Freese, Kenton J. Swartz and M. Flint Beal (Eds.), 1992, Ellis Harwood Ltd., West Sussex, 273 pp., hard cover, $85.00, ISBN 0-13-617184-2 This multi-authored book sets out on an ambitious journey. Its seven chapters provide a compendious discussion on recent developments and novel strategies in neuroscience with emphasis on therapeutic applications. Across the path are strewn gems of many disciplines including pharmacology, physiology, biochemistry and genetics. The first two chapters guide the reader along myriad discoveries on the role of excitatory amino acids in brain ischemia and degenerative brain disorders. The section on replacement therapeutic approaches is a study in contrast. Nilsson's treatment of the subject of neural transplants is an elegantly crafted and cohesive review of an exciting topic. The clinical neurologist is well-advised to use it as an illuminating introduction of a dynamic field that encompasses issues dealing with graft survival, graft-hsot connections and trophic factors. The discussion on neurotrophic factors by Sabel et al. is also wellwritten, but here, one is left hoping that the topics of collateral sprouting and neurotransmitter regulation could have merited at least a paragraph or two. On the other hand, the chapter on replacement therapy is unfortuante in its insular use of somatostatin as the quintessential treatment strategy.
Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 114 (1993) 233-234 © 1993 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. All rights reserved 0022-510X/93/$06.00
Book reviews Foundations of the Neuron Doctrine, by Gordon M. Shepherd, 1991, Oxford University Press, Oxford/New York, 338 pages, 0-19-506491-7 This book is about one of the most important controversies that occurred in the development of neurology - whether neurons are separate entities of whether they form a nerve net. As we learned when we were taught the anatomy and physiology of the vertebrate nervous system, one of the ironies of history was that Cajal established the former view as correct, using and improving the stain invented by Golgi, who was the strongest supporter of the reticular hypothesis. They received the Nobel Prize together in 1906. One would have thought that a paper of 30 pages or so would have been the maximum for re-telling this 19th century controversy. But this book is more than 300 pages long. How does Professor Shepherd manage to fill these pages? His history takes account, as it should, of various philosophic views behind opinions and assumptions; developments in the microscope; advancing histological techniques related to new discoveries in the chemistry of dyes. Above all, the book includes biographies of those who took part in these attempts to acquire knowledge and translations of contributors such as Cajal, Nasen, K611iker and Waldeyer. It also reproduces in English the speeches made by Golgi and Cajal in Stockholm when they received the Nobel Prize. If the reader of this book has not read Haymaker's "The Founders of Neurology" and Clarke and O'Malley's "The Human Brain and Spinal Cord", he may not find it boring. Most of the book repeats what was written in these works and in Professor Alfred Meyer's "Historical Aspects of Cerebral Anatomy". The last chapter "Modern Revisions of the Neuron Doctrine" is informative, as it considers those aspects of neuronal function discovered within the last 25 years, which modify the original "law of dynamic polarization". This law is the general principle that the neuron collects information from its dendrites and passes it in one direction only, out along its axon. The author has no new point of view and has discovered no new facts that would justify writing such a long history about such a short, though important, subject. This book is recommended only to those who are very keen on the history of science and neurology. PETER NATHAN, M.D., F.R.C.P. Consultant Neurologist, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
Exploring Brain Functional Anatomy with Positron Tomography, Ciba Foundation Symposium 163, 1991, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK, U.S. $43.00, 287 pages. Twenty-seven selected scientists attended a two-day workshop at the Ciba Foundation in London in March 1991, at a conference organized by Richard Frackowiak. The attendees must have had a memorable experience if the transactions accurately portray the exciting communication of ideas during this important meeting. Attendees and speakers included those who have had a formative effect upon positron emission tomography, as well as key individuals in the field of neuropsychology and neurophysiology who provided new insights into brain function using this exciting new technology.
Because the field is so new, these pioneers developed techniques and devised experiments which demonstrate that limb movement increases contralateral neuronal metabolism which is reflected as an increase in blood flow of a focal nature. What is more astounding is the realization that the mere contemplation of moving the limb will also excite appropriate neurons and be similarly reflected in metabolism and blood flow. With this powerful technology which is initiating new concepts, one can begin to explore what are called "psychiatric" abnormalities which result in socially inappropriate behavior. Because the various disciplines represented were so extraordinary, this conference was a hatchery for new hypotheses, many of which are outlined in the free discussion following formal presentations. From the wealth of information which was provided in this extremely well edited and carefully presented material, only a few can be cited. One by S. Zeki describes a hypothetical experiment with positron emission tomography and how it would have solved enigmas regarding the visual cortex facing neuroanatomists, pathologists, and neuroclinicians a century ago. A second one by Frackowiak, Weiller and Chollet on the functional anatomy of recovery from brain injury has extreme importance for neurohabilitation and should be required reading for all who care for such patients. All in all, this book is a landmark which has the potential for becoming the standard by which future symposia on this topic are measured. It is must reading for all who deal with brain function, both normal and abnormal.
JAMES F. TOOLE, M.D. Editor
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
Neurological Disorders: Novel Experimental and Therapeutic Strategies, by Laszlo Vecsei, Andrew Freese, Kenton J. Swartz and M. Flint Beal (Eds.), 1992, Ellis Harwood Ltd., West Sussex, 273 pp., hard cover, $85.00, ISBN 0-13-617184-2 This multi-authored book sets out on an ambitious journey. Its seven chapters provide a compendious discussion on recent developments and novel strategies in neuroscience with emphasis on therapeutic applications. Across the path are strewn gems of many disciplines including pharmacology, physiology, biochemistry and genetics. The first two chapters guide the reader along myriad discoveries on the role of excitatory amino acids in brain ischemia and degenerative brain disorders. The section on replacement therapeutic approaches is a study in contrast. Nilsson's treatment of the subject of neural transplants is an elegantly crafted and cohesive review of an exciting topic. The clinical neurologist is well-advised to use it as an illuminating introduction of a dynamic field that encompasses issues dealing with graft survival, graft-hsot connections and trophic factors. The discussion on neurotrophic factors by Sabel et al. is also wellwritten, but here, one is left hoping that the topics of collateral sprouting and neurotransmitter regulation could have merited at least a paragraph or two. On the other hand, the chapter on replacement therapy is unfortuante in its insular use of somatostatin as the quintessential treatment strategy.