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Pharmacological modifications of evoked brain potentials
BOOK REVIEWS
631
Pharmacological Modifications of Evoked Brain Potentials, 138 p a g e s , 1 t a b l e , H a n s H u b e r , B e r n e , 1973, Sfr 36.00, D M The way in which the EEG and in particular evoked brain potentials are modified by pharmacological agents has become of increasing importance. The circumstances under which this may occur can of course vary considerably. During recording of brain potentials drugs may be present because they are being used as tools in order to investigate particular problems or they may be playing the role of an anaesthetic agent or of a therapeutic one. The number of permutations and combinations of drugs and recording conditions is very large and it is obviously of great importance to anyone involved in this area to be fully aware of the current state of the art. The action of drugs on any phenomenon tends to seduce workers from widely differing backgrounds who consequently publish in widely differing journals. The author, who made this painful discovery for himself was, most importantly for the reader, provoked into a conscientious and dedicated chore, the end-result of which is a very useful bibliography. This book
Press, New
Y o r k , N.Y.,
(Proceedings
Amsterdam,
This volume edited by P. Kellaway of Baylor College of Medicine, Texas and I. Peters6n of G6teborg, Sweden consists of 18 papers devoted to various aspects of the automation of clinical' electroencephalography. Derived from a conference on this topic held in 1971 this is one of al number of recent symposia on this subject. As yet computer technology has made less impact on electroencephalography than seemed likely a few years ago. Progress in this field has been limited to a comparatively few centres, many of which find representation here. Among the topics discussed are the general approach to the application of computer technology to clinical electroencephalography. It is clear that considerable problems remain to be solved before automation becomes fully available. As yet there is lack of agreement as to goals. Whether the traditional approach of
of a Conference), by
p a g e s , 140 i l l u s t r a t i o n s , 18 t a b l e s ,
1973, d i s t r i b u t e d
Publishing Company,
32.00.
J. w. THOMPSON
P. KELLAWAY AND I. PETERS~N ( E d s . ) , v i i i + 3 1 8 Raven
A. A. BORBI~LY,
represents a systematic and readable bibliography which covers the research output from over 550 papers. The contents are classified pharmacologically and it is therefore a. simple matter to look up the effects produced by a particular drug. In addition, the author has included helpful guidelines concerning the criteria which should be looked for when publishing results in this field. The reviewer earnestly hopes that the author can be persuaded to keep this work up-dated by publishing future editions and by way of encouragement (rather than criticism) would like to see these include references to CNV, coverage of work published in the Eastern sector and last, but by no means least, indication in the body of the text (by means of abbreviations) whether the results referred to are from human or animal work. The author is to be congratulated-- and encouraged to give us more.
Automation of Clinical Electroencephalography
North-Holland
by
in the Eastern
Hemisphere
by
D f l 59.00, a b o u t U S $ 2 2 . 7 0 .
the electroencephalograpber's visual analysis should form the basis of a computer programme or whether it should be assumed that there may be clinically valuable information lost in such an approach is uncertain. A number of authorities who have had practical experience of methods of analysis account their experience and the problems they have encountered. Almost all the contributions are lucid and many of the papers are followed by a brief edited version of the discussion which took place at the conference. The interested reader will find a useful and convenient collection of information on many aspects of this subject, together with a substantial number of references to other related work. The volume has an adequate index. DAVID D. BARWICK
631
Pharmacological Modifications of Evoked Brain Potentials, 138 p a g e s , 1 t a b l e , H a n s H u b e r , B e r n e , 1973, Sfr 36.00, D M The way in which the EEG and in particular evoked brain potentials are modified by pharmacological agents has become of increasing importance. The circumstances under which this may occur can of course vary considerably. During recording of brain potentials drugs may be present because they are being used as tools in order to investigate particular problems or they may be playing the role of an anaesthetic agent or of a therapeutic one. The number of permutations and combinations of drugs and recording conditions is very large and it is obviously of great importance to anyone involved in this area to be fully aware of the current state of the art. The action of drugs on any phenomenon tends to seduce workers from widely differing backgrounds who consequently publish in widely differing journals. The author, who made this painful discovery for himself was, most importantly for the reader, provoked into a conscientious and dedicated chore, the end-result of which is a very useful bibliography. This book
Press, New
Y o r k , N.Y.,
(Proceedings
Amsterdam,
This volume edited by P. Kellaway of Baylor College of Medicine, Texas and I. Peters6n of G6teborg, Sweden consists of 18 papers devoted to various aspects of the automation of clinical' electroencephalography. Derived from a conference on this topic held in 1971 this is one of al number of recent symposia on this subject. As yet computer technology has made less impact on electroencephalography than seemed likely a few years ago. Progress in this field has been limited to a comparatively few centres, many of which find representation here. Among the topics discussed are the general approach to the application of computer technology to clinical electroencephalography. It is clear that considerable problems remain to be solved before automation becomes fully available. As yet there is lack of agreement as to goals. Whether the traditional approach of
of a Conference), by
p a g e s , 140 i l l u s t r a t i o n s , 18 t a b l e s ,
1973, d i s t r i b u t e d
Publishing Company,
32.00.
J. w. THOMPSON
P. KELLAWAY AND I. PETERS~N ( E d s . ) , v i i i + 3 1 8 Raven
A. A. BORBI~LY,
represents a systematic and readable bibliography which covers the research output from over 550 papers. The contents are classified pharmacologically and it is therefore a. simple matter to look up the effects produced by a particular drug. In addition, the author has included helpful guidelines concerning the criteria which should be looked for when publishing results in this field. The reviewer earnestly hopes that the author can be persuaded to keep this work up-dated by publishing future editions and by way of encouragement (rather than criticism) would like to see these include references to CNV, coverage of work published in the Eastern sector and last, but by no means least, indication in the body of the text (by means of abbreviations) whether the results referred to are from human or animal work. The author is to be congratulated-- and encouraged to give us more.
Automation of Clinical Electroencephalography
North-Holland
by
in the Eastern
Hemisphere
by
D f l 59.00, a b o u t U S $ 2 2 . 7 0 .
the electroencephalograpber's visual analysis should form the basis of a computer programme or whether it should be assumed that there may be clinically valuable information lost in such an approach is uncertain. A number of authorities who have had practical experience of methods of analysis account their experience and the problems they have encountered. Almost all the contributions are lucid and many of the papers are followed by a brief edited version of the discussion which took place at the conference. The interested reader will find a useful and convenient collection of information on many aspects of this subject, together with a substantial number of references to other related work. The volume has an adequate index. DAVID D. BARWICK