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Henri gastaut and the marseilles school's contribution to the neurosciences
Journal of the NeurologicalSciences, 1984, 64:219-223
219
Elsevier
Book Reviews
Chemical Transmission in the Brain - - The Role of Amines, Amino Acids and Peptides ( P r o g r e s s in B r a i n R e s e a r c h , Vol. 55), by R . M . Buijs, P. P 6 v e t a n d D . F . S w a a b (Eds.), xiv + 490 pages, E l s e v i e r B i o m e d i c a l Press, A m s t e r d a m , 1982, Dfl. 220.00, U S $ 93.50. This book consists of a collection of 29 chapters divided in the following sections: (I) Aminergic, amino acid and peptidergic pathways and their possible function; (II) Transmitter release; (III) Action of neurotransmitters; and (IV) Neurotransmitters and brain functions. The publication is the result of a summer school of Brain Research held in the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences under the auspices of the European Training Programme in Brain and Behaviour Research. The aim of this gathering was to review some of the fundamental ideas of chemical transmission in the light of new biochemical and anatomical information. The focus of the chapters vary widely from general reviews of a particular subject to research reports. Despite the differential focus of the contributions the book provides a rather wide and comprehensive view of the most investigated aspects related to chemical transmission in connection with the organisation of the central nervous system. Most chapters contain abundant background information and are very well referenced. Although most of the material discussed relates to mammalian nervous system there are incidental examples of studies of chemical transmission in other vertebrates and invertebrates. The last section of the book attempts to cover the relationship between transmitter and defined higher functions and this section might prove to be of interest to neurologists. Perhaps the most interesting aspects of the book can be found in the discussions which followed the presentations which are fully transcribed. These provide a good insight on current ideas and doubts about aspects dealt with during the course. As is characteristic of this Elsevier series, the book has been printed on good quality glossy paper which benefits micrograph reproductions. The major pitfall of the book, as for any of this type, is the relatively short life due to the fast evolution of this field. It would, nevertheless, be a useful addition to Departmental libraries. A.C. CUELLO
Henri Gastaut and the Marseilles School's Contribution to the Neurosciences ( P r o c e e d i n g s o f the 25th a n d F i n a l C o l l o q u e d e Marseille, 1-5 S e p t e m b e r , 1980) ( E l e c t r o e n c e p h a l o g r a p h y a n d C l i n i c a l N e u r o p h y s i o l o g y , S u p p l e m e n t N o . 35), xx + 447 pages, E l s e v i e r B i o m e d i c a l Press, A m s t e r d a m , 1982, Dfl. 280.00, U S $ 1 3 0 . 2 5 . This beautifully printed volume represents the enormous contribution to Neurosciences made by Henri Gastaut and his co-workers over more than a quarter of a century. The annual "Colloques de Marseille" attracted scientists and clinicians from the whole world and inspired a new specialty in the field of epilepsy. The tremendous energy of Gastaut, his skills and inventive mind, his friendly enthusiasm and international contacts, made him a leader who combined observations, ideas and new terminology, particularly in the field of"epileptology". Although this term is disliked by many neurologists, particularly in Britain, it is now becoming accepted not only in France but also in the many other countries. This book begins with an original paper by Gastaut on "Benign of functional (versus organic) epilepsies in different stages of life". Although this concept emerged many years ago it is now presented with 0022-510X/84/$03.00 © 1984 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.
220 the various "electro-clinical" manifestations in the new-born, the infant, the child, the adolescent, the adult and the aged. (Supported by 70 references of which 17 are by Gastaut.) The subsequent papers have been prepared by 65 of Gastaut's friends and pupils and most of them are remarkably well written and illustrated with numerous references. The topics are divided in 8 portions: (1) Introduction; (2) The predisposition to epilepsy; (3) Generalised seizures and epilepsies; (4) Temporal lobe epilepsy; (5) Miscellaneous epilepsy and other; (6) Cerebral anoxia and vascular epilepsy; (7) EEG patterns, evoked potentials and behaviour; and (8) Sleep and sleep-related conditions. Each subject is covered by several papers (some from Gastaut), in both experimental and clinical aspects. This book is recommended not only to clinical neurophysiologists but also, particularly in Britain, to neurologists, neurosurgeons, paediatricians, psychiatrists, and all interested in the many neglected aspects of the epilepsies. G. PAMPIGLIONE
Neurologylndia, 25 Years 1954-1979 ( A b s t r a c t s ) ,
by M . C . M a h e s w a r i a n d P . N . T a n d o n
(Eds.), 317 pages, All I n d i a I n s t i t u t e o f M e d i c a l S c i e n c e s , B o m b a y , 1982, P r i c e n o t stated. The editors have written a brief abstract of every original paper published in the first twenty-five years of Neurology India, although they were not able to trace the very first issue. The compilation is a usefulkey to the neurological literature of the sub-continent and, as the editors state, will be of particular value to those interested in the effects of geography on the incidence of disease. It is a pleasure to see the work of many distinguished Indian neurologists and neurosurgeons recalled in this way. It would be an act of kindness if anyone having a copy of the first issue could send it to the editors to complete the series of this distinguished contemporary. W.B. MATTHEWS
Laterality and Psychopathology ( D e v e l o p m e n t s
in P s y c h o p a t h o l o g y , Vol. 6) ( P r o c e e d i n g s
o f the 2 n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e , 18-23 April, 1982, Banff, A l b e r t a , C a n a d a ) , by P. F l o r - H e n r y a n d J . H . G r u z e l i e r (Eds.), ix + 648 pages, E l s e v i e r S c i e n c e Publishers, A m s t e r d a m , 1983, U S $ 60.75, D f i 150.00. The volume is based on the 2nd International Conference on Laterality and Psychopathology, held in Banff, Alberta (Canada), in April 1982. It is divided into five main parts. The first three parts. Neuropsychotogy (10 chapters), EEG/Evoked Potentials (13 chapters) and Information Processing (7 chapters) cover some 550 pages. The last two parts deal with data on Cerebral Circulation/Positron Emission Tomography (4 chapters) and CAT scan {2 chapters). The criteria for allocating contributions to either Neuropsychology or Information Processing appear to be of a pragmatic nature. The editors assembled psychometric approaches to asymmetry of cerebral function under the heading "Neuropsychology" and experimental procedures - utihsing for instance diehotie and dichoptic stimulation and psychopathological techniques under the heading "Information Processing". With a few exceptions the chapters are reports of empirical investigations. On the whole the contributions are admirably clear on patient selection; experimental/test procedures are minutely described and results are analysed by advanced statistical techniques. The reported search for brain-behaviour relationships derives its hypotheses from the at present prevailing model of brain fimctioning. Sequential/ serial/analytic processes are conceived as being represented in the left hemisphere and global/parallel/ gestalt processes as being represented in the right hemisphere. The model is elaborated predominantly for the emotive/affective dimension and the results are interpreted either on a structural or a dynamic level. The explanatory concepts vary from lateralised brain damage or dysfunction to under- or overactivation of one or the other hemisphere. In an odd chapter the anterior-posterior vector is found to be far more important than the left-right vector, -
219
Elsevier
Book Reviews
Chemical Transmission in the Brain - - The Role of Amines, Amino Acids and Peptides ( P r o g r e s s in B r a i n R e s e a r c h , Vol. 55), by R . M . Buijs, P. P 6 v e t a n d D . F . S w a a b (Eds.), xiv + 490 pages, E l s e v i e r B i o m e d i c a l Press, A m s t e r d a m , 1982, Dfl. 220.00, U S $ 93.50. This book consists of a collection of 29 chapters divided in the following sections: (I) Aminergic, amino acid and peptidergic pathways and their possible function; (II) Transmitter release; (III) Action of neurotransmitters; and (IV) Neurotransmitters and brain functions. The publication is the result of a summer school of Brain Research held in the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences under the auspices of the European Training Programme in Brain and Behaviour Research. The aim of this gathering was to review some of the fundamental ideas of chemical transmission in the light of new biochemical and anatomical information. The focus of the chapters vary widely from general reviews of a particular subject to research reports. Despite the differential focus of the contributions the book provides a rather wide and comprehensive view of the most investigated aspects related to chemical transmission in connection with the organisation of the central nervous system. Most chapters contain abundant background information and are very well referenced. Although most of the material discussed relates to mammalian nervous system there are incidental examples of studies of chemical transmission in other vertebrates and invertebrates. The last section of the book attempts to cover the relationship between transmitter and defined higher functions and this section might prove to be of interest to neurologists. Perhaps the most interesting aspects of the book can be found in the discussions which followed the presentations which are fully transcribed. These provide a good insight on current ideas and doubts about aspects dealt with during the course. As is characteristic of this Elsevier series, the book has been printed on good quality glossy paper which benefits micrograph reproductions. The major pitfall of the book, as for any of this type, is the relatively short life due to the fast evolution of this field. It would, nevertheless, be a useful addition to Departmental libraries. A.C. CUELLO
Henri Gastaut and the Marseilles School's Contribution to the Neurosciences ( P r o c e e d i n g s o f the 25th a n d F i n a l C o l l o q u e d e Marseille, 1-5 S e p t e m b e r , 1980) ( E l e c t r o e n c e p h a l o g r a p h y a n d C l i n i c a l N e u r o p h y s i o l o g y , S u p p l e m e n t N o . 35), xx + 447 pages, E l s e v i e r B i o m e d i c a l Press, A m s t e r d a m , 1982, Dfl. 280.00, U S $ 1 3 0 . 2 5 . This beautifully printed volume represents the enormous contribution to Neurosciences made by Henri Gastaut and his co-workers over more than a quarter of a century. The annual "Colloques de Marseille" attracted scientists and clinicians from the whole world and inspired a new specialty in the field of epilepsy. The tremendous energy of Gastaut, his skills and inventive mind, his friendly enthusiasm and international contacts, made him a leader who combined observations, ideas and new terminology, particularly in the field of"epileptology". Although this term is disliked by many neurologists, particularly in Britain, it is now becoming accepted not only in France but also in the many other countries. This book begins with an original paper by Gastaut on "Benign of functional (versus organic) epilepsies in different stages of life". Although this concept emerged many years ago it is now presented with 0022-510X/84/$03.00 © 1984 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.
220 the various "electro-clinical" manifestations in the new-born, the infant, the child, the adolescent, the adult and the aged. (Supported by 70 references of which 17 are by Gastaut.) The subsequent papers have been prepared by 65 of Gastaut's friends and pupils and most of them are remarkably well written and illustrated with numerous references. The topics are divided in 8 portions: (1) Introduction; (2) The predisposition to epilepsy; (3) Generalised seizures and epilepsies; (4) Temporal lobe epilepsy; (5) Miscellaneous epilepsy and other; (6) Cerebral anoxia and vascular epilepsy; (7) EEG patterns, evoked potentials and behaviour; and (8) Sleep and sleep-related conditions. Each subject is covered by several papers (some from Gastaut), in both experimental and clinical aspects. This book is recommended not only to clinical neurophysiologists but also, particularly in Britain, to neurologists, neurosurgeons, paediatricians, psychiatrists, and all interested in the many neglected aspects of the epilepsies. G. PAMPIGLIONE
Neurologylndia, 25 Years 1954-1979 ( A b s t r a c t s ) ,
by M . C . M a h e s w a r i a n d P . N . T a n d o n
(Eds.), 317 pages, All I n d i a I n s t i t u t e o f M e d i c a l S c i e n c e s , B o m b a y , 1982, P r i c e n o t stated. The editors have written a brief abstract of every original paper published in the first twenty-five years of Neurology India, although they were not able to trace the very first issue. The compilation is a usefulkey to the neurological literature of the sub-continent and, as the editors state, will be of particular value to those interested in the effects of geography on the incidence of disease. It is a pleasure to see the work of many distinguished Indian neurologists and neurosurgeons recalled in this way. It would be an act of kindness if anyone having a copy of the first issue could send it to the editors to complete the series of this distinguished contemporary. W.B. MATTHEWS
Laterality and Psychopathology ( D e v e l o p m e n t s
in P s y c h o p a t h o l o g y , Vol. 6) ( P r o c e e d i n g s
o f the 2 n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e , 18-23 April, 1982, Banff, A l b e r t a , C a n a d a ) , by P. F l o r - H e n r y a n d J . H . G r u z e l i e r (Eds.), ix + 648 pages, E l s e v i e r S c i e n c e Publishers, A m s t e r d a m , 1983, U S $ 60.75, D f i 150.00. The volume is based on the 2nd International Conference on Laterality and Psychopathology, held in Banff, Alberta (Canada), in April 1982. It is divided into five main parts. The first three parts. Neuropsychotogy (10 chapters), EEG/Evoked Potentials (13 chapters) and Information Processing (7 chapters) cover some 550 pages. The last two parts deal with data on Cerebral Circulation/Positron Emission Tomography (4 chapters) and CAT scan {2 chapters). The criteria for allocating contributions to either Neuropsychology or Information Processing appear to be of a pragmatic nature. The editors assembled psychometric approaches to asymmetry of cerebral function under the heading "Neuropsychology" and experimental procedures - utihsing for instance diehotie and dichoptic stimulation and psychopathological techniques under the heading "Information Processing". With a few exceptions the chapters are reports of empirical investigations. On the whole the contributions are admirably clear on patient selection; experimental/test procedures are minutely described and results are analysed by advanced statistical techniques. The reported search for brain-behaviour relationships derives its hypotheses from the at present prevailing model of brain fimctioning. Sequential/ serial/analytic processes are conceived as being represented in the left hemisphere and global/parallel/ gestalt processes as being represented in the right hemisphere. The model is elaborated predominantly for the emotive/affective dimension and the results are interpreted either on a structural or a dynamic level. The explanatory concepts vary from lateralised brain damage or dysfunction to under- or overactivation of one or the other hemisphere. In an odd chapter the anterior-posterior vector is found to be far more important than the left-right vector, -