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Fundamentals of electroencephalography, 2nd Edit.
756
BOOK REVIEWS
developed the interesting proposition that stiffness, rather than length, is the controlled parameter of reflex pathways. Also, we are reminded in the contributions of Phillips, Evarts and Fromm, Desmedt, Neilson and Lance that the type of muscle, the type of movement which is studied, and finally, the type of perturbation which is applied, may all call for different types of corrections. Thus, it is quite remarkable how different cortical neurones may react when load perturbations intervene during the execution of finely controlled or ballistic movements. In the latter case, it appears that the movement is largely pre-programmed and runs down its course without being influenced by feedback signals. A wealth of new insights into the pathophysiology of m o t o r disorders is discussed in the papers of Grimm and Nashner, Conrad, Marsden and collaborators and Mortimer and Webster. Even if many propositions made in this book are by no means fullproof and need further experimentation, it is clear that the new questions asked and the new methodological approaches, particularly in the analysis of m o t o r disorders in patients, open a promising new field of endeavour. Of course, most contributions have already appeared in some form in reviewed journals and are thus not 'original contributions' as pointed out by the editor in the preface; however, most authors have done a splendid job in building their own contributions into a broader context. An extensive compound list of references is attached at the end of the book (which is a small disadvantage since chapter reprints will have no reference list). The book is highly recommended for basic scientists interested in m o t o r control as well as for neurologists interested in pathophysiological mechanisms of m o t o r disorders. M. WIESENDANGER Dept. of Physiology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg (Switzerland)
Fundamentals of electroencephalography, 2nd Edit. - - K . A . Kooi, R.P. Tucker and R.E. Marshall (Harper and Row, Hagerstown, Md., 1979, $ 20.00)
249 p., U.S.
This is the second edition of a book written to meet the recognized need for a textbook of electroencephalography for students of this discipline. The material is divided into three major parts relating to the recording of electrical fields, the basis of electroencephalographic interpretation, and findings in specific disorders. The chapters related to electronics, instrumentation and electrical fields are extremely concise and clear and will be particularly useful to the stu-
dent who has some vague recollection of electronic terminology. The chapters dealinj with EEG interpretation in relation to specific disorders emphasize the views and experience of the senior author. Thus, a chapter entitled, 'Cerebral Reactions to Stimulation' presents the extensive work of the author relating to occipital EEG responses evoked by flash stimulation but contains no mention of the important new role for pattern stimulation in the diagnosis of clinical disorder of the visual system. The illustrations are numerous and excellent. Electrode placement for the figures is again according to the personal preferences of the authors and is described briefly in the legend to Fig. 5-2. Unfortunately, there is no discussion of the widely used 10-20 system except to suggest that some of the authors' placements are in 'generally corresponding positions'. It is important to emphasize that the electrode placements used by the authors may differ by several centimeters from those used in the 10-20 system. Recordings from these placements would not be strictly comparable to those from the 10-20 system, particularly in short distance transverse montages. This book will be very useful for students of clinical electroencephalography because it provides a broad and personal viewpoint based on the extensive experience of the authors. It is well edited and well presented. The fact that the reader must turn elsewhere to find information on topics that have fallen outside the interest or experience of the authors is but a minor distraction. RI CH A RD N. H A R N E R The Graduate Hospital, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. 19146 (U.S.A.) Progress in neurological surgery, Vol. 6. -- H. Krayenbiihl, P.E. Maspes and W.H. Sweet (Eds.) (Karger, Basel, 1975, 489 p., 157 fig., 54 tab., DM 281.--) This volume is mainly concerned with the clinical and physio-pathological study of tumours of the hypophysis and its treatment by irradiation and surgery. Progress in neurological surgery. Vol. 7. Pain, its neurosurgical management. Part I: Procedures on primary afferent neurons. - - H . Krayenbiihl, P.E. Maspes and W.H. Sweet (Eds.) (Karger, Basel, 1976, 266 p., 45 fig., DM 189.--) Progress in Neurological Surgery, Vol. 7. Pain, its neurosurgical Management. Part II. Central procedures These two volumes treat all aspects of today's neurosurgical possibilities of the managements of pain. The first article by Lynn deals with the physiology of pain activation.
BOOK REVIEWS
developed the interesting proposition that stiffness, rather than length, is the controlled parameter of reflex pathways. Also, we are reminded in the contributions of Phillips, Evarts and Fromm, Desmedt, Neilson and Lance that the type of muscle, the type of movement which is studied, and finally, the type of perturbation which is applied, may all call for different types of corrections. Thus, it is quite remarkable how different cortical neurones may react when load perturbations intervene during the execution of finely controlled or ballistic movements. In the latter case, it appears that the movement is largely pre-programmed and runs down its course without being influenced by feedback signals. A wealth of new insights into the pathophysiology of m o t o r disorders is discussed in the papers of Grimm and Nashner, Conrad, Marsden and collaborators and Mortimer and Webster. Even if many propositions made in this book are by no means fullproof and need further experimentation, it is clear that the new questions asked and the new methodological approaches, particularly in the analysis of m o t o r disorders in patients, open a promising new field of endeavour. Of course, most contributions have already appeared in some form in reviewed journals and are thus not 'original contributions' as pointed out by the editor in the preface; however, most authors have done a splendid job in building their own contributions into a broader context. An extensive compound list of references is attached at the end of the book (which is a small disadvantage since chapter reprints will have no reference list). The book is highly recommended for basic scientists interested in m o t o r control as well as for neurologists interested in pathophysiological mechanisms of m o t o r disorders. M. WIESENDANGER Dept. of Physiology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg (Switzerland)
Fundamentals of electroencephalography, 2nd Edit. - - K . A . Kooi, R.P. Tucker and R.E. Marshall (Harper and Row, Hagerstown, Md., 1979, $ 20.00)
249 p., U.S.
This is the second edition of a book written to meet the recognized need for a textbook of electroencephalography for students of this discipline. The material is divided into three major parts relating to the recording of electrical fields, the basis of electroencephalographic interpretation, and findings in specific disorders. The chapters related to electronics, instrumentation and electrical fields are extremely concise and clear and will be particularly useful to the stu-
dent who has some vague recollection of electronic terminology. The chapters dealinj with EEG interpretation in relation to specific disorders emphasize the views and experience of the senior author. Thus, a chapter entitled, 'Cerebral Reactions to Stimulation' presents the extensive work of the author relating to occipital EEG responses evoked by flash stimulation but contains no mention of the important new role for pattern stimulation in the diagnosis of clinical disorder of the visual system. The illustrations are numerous and excellent. Electrode placement for the figures is again according to the personal preferences of the authors and is described briefly in the legend to Fig. 5-2. Unfortunately, there is no discussion of the widely used 10-20 system except to suggest that some of the authors' placements are in 'generally corresponding positions'. It is important to emphasize that the electrode placements used by the authors may differ by several centimeters from those used in the 10-20 system. Recordings from these placements would not be strictly comparable to those from the 10-20 system, particularly in short distance transverse montages. This book will be very useful for students of clinical electroencephalography because it provides a broad and personal viewpoint based on the extensive experience of the authors. It is well edited and well presented. The fact that the reader must turn elsewhere to find information on topics that have fallen outside the interest or experience of the authors is but a minor distraction. RI CH A RD N. H A R N E R The Graduate Hospital, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. 19146 (U.S.A.) Progress in neurological surgery, Vol. 6. -- H. Krayenbiihl, P.E. Maspes and W.H. Sweet (Eds.) (Karger, Basel, 1975, 489 p., 157 fig., 54 tab., DM 281.--) This volume is mainly concerned with the clinical and physio-pathological study of tumours of the hypophysis and its treatment by irradiation and surgery. Progress in neurological surgery. Vol. 7. Pain, its neurosurgical management. Part I: Procedures on primary afferent neurons. - - H . Krayenbiihl, P.E. Maspes and W.H. Sweet (Eds.) (Karger, Basel, 1976, 266 p., 45 fig., DM 189.--) Progress in Neurological Surgery, Vol. 7. Pain, its neurosurgical Management. Part II. Central procedures These two volumes treat all aspects of today's neurosurgical possibilities of the managements of pain. The first article by Lynn deals with the physiology of pain activation.