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Praktische neurologie
309 of the basal genglia is not completely understood meant to soothe frightened readers? For the next edition I recommend Ann Graybiel's quip that the basal nuclei are like the Dean's office, they take up a lot ofspace and nobody knows what is going on there. In Table 8-2, compulsions end phobias, I miss the widely prevalent compulsion to rush around in cars or coaches. A famous sufferer was Antonio Vivaldi. Dromomenia by vehicle? Why not translate dromomenia by jogging? Aichmophobia is fear of sharp or pointed, not of painted, objects. The proposal (p. 109) to group echo phenomena, automatic obedience and other conditions of complex excessive reactivity under a category "positivism" (author's quotation marks) seems unnecessary end confusing. The word has already been claimed by Comte (1830). Why not "automatic mimesis"? (OED 1577; Rhet. A figure of speech whereby the words or actions of another are imitated.) Negativism (p. 144) is a propensity to do the opposite of what is expected or required in a certain situation. Is ~positivism" the opposite7 It is confusing (p. 164) to list conditions accompanied by spasticity in a table on rigidity. At least in Holland, physicians tend to forget how many antihistamines are neuroleptics end these drugs are regularly continued in cases of Parkinsonism. Perhaps a point to emphasize in the next edition? Earlier in life this reviewer had turned his back on the mess of psychiatry; this book brought that mess back, right under his nose. An overview is only an overview, but better then an averted gaze. The book is well-written, its reference list even includes papers in French, German and Italian. The volume is sturdy and reasonably priced. Warmly recommended reading for clinical neurologists. J.M.B.V. De JoNo
Brain PeplMes Update, Vol. 1, by J.B. Martin, M.J. Brownstein and D.T. Krieger (Eds.), John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1987, £50.45 This volume intends to provide an npdate to the successful book Brain peptMes, published by the same editors in 1983. It is the first volume of a series that will focus on areas of particularly rapid developments in the field ofneuroactive peptides. The volume contains 16 chapters divided into 2 major parts: 1) a general part on biosynthesis, structural characterization, receptors, enzymatic degradation, competitive binding assays, neumenatomical techniques and in situ hybridization, end 2) a part on specific peptides, i.e. TRH, CCK, VIP, opioids, bombesin/GRP, renin-engiotensin, the hypothalamo-pitultary-adrenal axis in depressing end neurotropic factors. It is indeed an excellent idea to update a successful book, since short updates would reduce the enormous repetition in reviews currently existing in books on peptides. This would be a blessing, both for readers and authors. The choice of biochemical aspects is also a timely one, since this is indeed a rapidly progressing area ofpeptide research. However, these considerations make it even more regrettable that this 1987 book is generally not updating the field any further then up to 1984--1985. The literature referred to in the first 3 chapters is 64% publications of 1983 end earlier end only 36% of 1984 end later. In fact, the most recent reference is often only from 1984, as, for example, in chapter 3 on receptors. Only one out of 304 references of the ~ s t 3 chapters was from 1986. Although I did not have the patience to do similar calculations for referencelists of the remaining 13 chapters, the general pattern is the same. The last chapter, on the extremely rapidly developing field of neurotmphic factors, contains only one reference from 1986. Yet, the preface of this volume is dated May 1987. It might be worthwhile if the editors end publisher would work out a procedure resulting in a next volume that does not need updating by the time of appearence. The idea of focussing on rapid developments, the topic, i.e. neuropeptides, the first-rate quality ofthe reviews in the present volume end the name of this series seem to warrent such an effort. D.F. SWAAB
Praktiscl~ Neuvologie, by Bernhard NeundOrfer, Klaus Schirnrigk and Dieter Soyka, Band 2, Polyneuvi~den und Pol)~leuvopathien,by Bernhard NeundOrfer (mit Beitragen yon J. Michael SchrOderund Detlef Claus), Edition Medizin, VCH Verlagsgosellschafl, Weinheim, F.R.G., 1987, Price not stated This monograph, primarily :,':~nded for the practising end clinical neurologist, provides an updated differential diagnostic approach, made feasible by the advances recently booked in electrophysinlogical end
310 immunochemical fields. The text is a handy reference for the physician to improve his diagnostic acumen and devise efficacious therapy. Following the clinical part devoted to the syndrome of polyneuropathy, the histologic and electrophysiologicparameters, the nosology (inflammation, systemic-vascular, toxic metabolic and genetic causes) are systematicaily dealth with. The references are wall-selected and up to date, particularly as to the abundant treatise of toxic polynenropathies. The monograph provides an encyclopedic coverage, of necessity balanced by what the interested reader experiences as want of in-depth treatise. The illustrations are imbalanced: only the histological and EMG parts are illustrated well. The format and paper quality are good, the price is reasonable. :
G.W. BRUYN
Current Perspectives in Dysphasia, b y S t a n t o n N e w m a n a n d R u t h Epstein (Eds.), Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, L o n d o n , M e l b o u r n e , N e w York, 1985, I S B N 0443 030391, Price n o t stated The volume consists of nine chapters, announced to present in-depth discussions and theoretical developments in certain areas of dysphasia. The collection of capita selecta has its origins in a conference on dysphasia, held in 1983. The grouping of chapters is rather fortuitous, but the interested and clinically informed reader may find stimulating and applicable knowledge. The general controversy regarding a single central processor versus multiple parallel processors is a recurring theme, as is the question of competence versus performance, updated as availability versus accessibility. In most chapters appreciation of historical roots of current concepts is present, Freud and Jackson fi~..ringamong frequently cited authors. For AgrammaKnn the controversy ofsingle versus multiple processmg is perspicuously discussed to the advantage of the latter. A chapter on distributed memory, modularsubsystemsand dysphasiais a clear exposition of a powerful model of cognitive processing, suggesting that core phenomena of aphasia, such as the temporary character of errors (known since Balllargur and Jackson), may become explicable. A shade too much confidence is perhaps expressed in present knowledge of the embodiment of the mental processes in the brain. The distinction between competence and performance is updated in a chapter on Jargon Aphasia. It is proposed that jargon may be the result of a transient regulatory malfunction of intact linguistic systems. In the chapter on Aphasia therapy in the early 1980s again the guiding principle is that aphasia is to a large extent a reduction in accessibility, to be remediated by circumventory strategies. Perseveragon in aphasia is suggested to occur as a primary output phenomenon, but also as a higher order disturbance that involves ideational stages of planning; often perseverates behave as competing plans. In a chapter on Bilingualism the notion of anatomically distinct structures controlled by a switch is rejected and evidence of a common structure is discussed, together with implications for treatment of and recovery from aphasia. Small chapters on Language and the subcortical nuclei and on Naming close the volume. A. JENNEKENS-SCHINKEL
Brain PeplMes Update, Vol. 1, by J.B. Martin, M.J. Brownstein and D.T. Krieger (Eds.), John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1987, £50.45 This volume intends to provide an npdate to the successful book Brain peptMes, published by the same editors in 1983. It is the first volume of a series that will focus on areas of particularly rapid developments in the field ofneuroactive peptides. The volume contains 16 chapters divided into 2 major parts: 1) a general part on biosynthesis, structural characterization, receptors, enzymatic degradation, competitive binding assays, neumenatomical techniques and in situ hybridization, end 2) a part on specific peptides, i.e. TRH, CCK, VIP, opioids, bombesin/GRP, renin-engiotensin, the hypothalamo-pitultary-adrenal axis in depressing end neurotropic factors. It is indeed an excellent idea to update a successful book, since short updates would reduce the enormous repetition in reviews currently existing in books on peptides. This would be a blessing, both for readers and authors. The choice of biochemical aspects is also a timely one, since this is indeed a rapidly progressing area ofpeptide research. However, these considerations make it even more regrettable that this 1987 book is generally not updating the field any further then up to 1984--1985. The literature referred to in the first 3 chapters is 64% publications of 1983 end earlier end only 36% of 1984 end later. In fact, the most recent reference is often only from 1984, as, for example, in chapter 3 on receptors. Only one out of 304 references of the ~ s t 3 chapters was from 1986. Although I did not have the patience to do similar calculations for referencelists of the remaining 13 chapters, the general pattern is the same. The last chapter, on the extremely rapidly developing field of neurotmphic factors, contains only one reference from 1986. Yet, the preface of this volume is dated May 1987. It might be worthwhile if the editors end publisher would work out a procedure resulting in a next volume that does not need updating by the time of appearence. The idea of focussing on rapid developments, the topic, i.e. neuropeptides, the first-rate quality ofthe reviews in the present volume end the name of this series seem to warrent such an effort. D.F. SWAAB
Praktiscl~ Neuvologie, by Bernhard NeundOrfer, Klaus Schirnrigk and Dieter Soyka, Band 2, Polyneuvi~den und Pol)~leuvopathien,by Bernhard NeundOrfer (mit Beitragen yon J. Michael SchrOderund Detlef Claus), Edition Medizin, VCH Verlagsgosellschafl, Weinheim, F.R.G., 1987, Price not stated This monograph, primarily :,':~nded for the practising end clinical neurologist, provides an updated differential diagnostic approach, made feasible by the advances recently booked in electrophysinlogical end
310 immunochemical fields. The text is a handy reference for the physician to improve his diagnostic acumen and devise efficacious therapy. Following the clinical part devoted to the syndrome of polyneuropathy, the histologic and electrophysiologicparameters, the nosology (inflammation, systemic-vascular, toxic metabolic and genetic causes) are systematicaily dealth with. The references are wall-selected and up to date, particularly as to the abundant treatise of toxic polynenropathies. The monograph provides an encyclopedic coverage, of necessity balanced by what the interested reader experiences as want of in-depth treatise. The illustrations are imbalanced: only the histological and EMG parts are illustrated well. The format and paper quality are good, the price is reasonable. :
G.W. BRUYN
Current Perspectives in Dysphasia, b y S t a n t o n N e w m a n a n d R u t h Epstein (Eds.), Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, L o n d o n , M e l b o u r n e , N e w York, 1985, I S B N 0443 030391, Price n o t stated The volume consists of nine chapters, announced to present in-depth discussions and theoretical developments in certain areas of dysphasia. The collection of capita selecta has its origins in a conference on dysphasia, held in 1983. The grouping of chapters is rather fortuitous, but the interested and clinically informed reader may find stimulating and applicable knowledge. The general controversy regarding a single central processor versus multiple parallel processors is a recurring theme, as is the question of competence versus performance, updated as availability versus accessibility. In most chapters appreciation of historical roots of current concepts is present, Freud and Jackson fi~..ringamong frequently cited authors. For AgrammaKnn the controversy ofsingle versus multiple processmg is perspicuously discussed to the advantage of the latter. A chapter on distributed memory, modularsubsystemsand dysphasiais a clear exposition of a powerful model of cognitive processing, suggesting that core phenomena of aphasia, such as the temporary character of errors (known since Balllargur and Jackson), may become explicable. A shade too much confidence is perhaps expressed in present knowledge of the embodiment of the mental processes in the brain. The distinction between competence and performance is updated in a chapter on Jargon Aphasia. It is proposed that jargon may be the result of a transient regulatory malfunction of intact linguistic systems. In the chapter on Aphasia therapy in the early 1980s again the guiding principle is that aphasia is to a large extent a reduction in accessibility, to be remediated by circumventory strategies. Perseveragon in aphasia is suggested to occur as a primary output phenomenon, but also as a higher order disturbance that involves ideational stages of planning; often perseverates behave as competing plans. In a chapter on Bilingualism the notion of anatomically distinct structures controlled by a switch is rejected and evidence of a common structure is discussed, together with implications for treatment of and recovery from aphasia. Small chapters on Language and the subcortical nuclei and on Naming close the volume. A. JENNEKENS-SCHINKEL