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Product review
118
Book re6iews
Neuroanatomy. An Atlas of Structures, Sections and Systems D.E. Haines (Editor). Williams and Wilkins, Waverly Europe, 1995; ISBN 0-683-03817-6; ST£25.00. This well-produced book has been carefully edited to provide an approach to neuroanatomy which emphasises structural and functional integration. The editor has done a particularly good job in ensuring that the text is clear and informative, but the main strength of this book is in the illustrations, particularly the diagrams, which are remarkably clear in their depiction of the structural and functional organisation of the central nervous system. I was particularly impressed by the sections covering the structure of the brain stem and basal ganglia and as a neuropathologist the information on the organisation of the hippocampus and cerebral vascular structures were particularly helpful. I have used this book in my laboratory for several months, where it has proven particularly popular with undergraduate and postgraduate students in both basic and clinical neurosciences. The quality of the book is very good for its price and it therefore represents excellent value for money. The detail in the text provides more than a mere introduction to neuroanatomy, but more advanced workers in the field of neurosciences will of course need to consult larger and more detailed texts for more specific and more detailed information which is beyond the scope of this book. The coverage of human neuroanatomy in this small volume is excellent and I would strongly recommend the book to both undergraduate and postgraduate students of neurosciences, neuroanatomy and medicine and clinical neurosciences. One relatively minor weakness, which has been commented upon by various users in the department, concerns the coverage of the peripheral nervous system, which could be usefully expanded upon in subsequent editions of the book. However, its strengths lie in the clear depiction of the functional and structural anatomy of the human central nervous system and for this the book is strongly recommended. James W. Ironside University of Edinburgh Western General Hospital Neuropathology Laboratory Department of Pathology Crewe Road Edinburgh EH4 2XU UK PII S0891-0618(97)10018-7
Psychophysiology K. Hugdahl (Editor). Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1996; ST£33.50. The purpose of the book is to provide a broad introduction to the diverse field of psychophysiology suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students with little or no previous experience in the area. In pursuing this goal the author provides a quite readable and engaging integration of the methods employed in the psychophysiology laboratory, the findings of basic and applied research applications in the field and the relevant theoretical models that have shaped the discipline. The book is divided into three main sections: (1) two chapters providing an introduction to the general orientation toward the mind-body question taken by those engaged in the study of psychophysiology and the basic concepts and terminology relevant to the field; (2) three chapters providing an introduction to the brain and nervous system; and (3) nine chapters providing overviews of the methods, findings and theories related to a number of sub-disciplines within the field. The first two chapters of the book serve to establish the relevant subject matter for studies within the area of psychophysiology. A key element of the first chapter is the development of an epistemological framework defining the unique position of psychophysiological research in the general area of neuroscience apart from the related fields of physiological psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Following this development a number of prominent concepts and terms in the field are introduced, including stimulus specificity, directional fractionation, hemispheric asymmetry and automatic versus controlled modes of processing. The second section of the book provides an adequate, but sometimes dated, description of the anatomy and physiology of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The primary objective of these three chapters is to describe the relationship between underlying neural function and psychophysiological indices such as changes in electrodermal, cardiac and electroencephalographic activity, typically measured at the surface of the skin. As an example, research establishing right-hemispheric dominance in the control of vagal output to the heart is described and the potential clinical implications of this finding is discussed. The heart of the book rests in the last nine chapters that are devoted to a consideration of the methods, relevant findings and important theories to emerge from the study of electrodermal activity, cardiac psychophysiology and scalp electrical activity. Three chapters, related to electrodermal activity, review the
Book re6iews
basic characteristics of the electrodermal response, the recording of this response, the utility of this response in building theories of stimulus orienting and habituation, classical condition and clinical applications in the areas of phobic reactions, chemical dependence and psychopathology. Two chapters are devoted to a consideration of the cardiac system, the recording of cardiac activity and insights gained from the study of cardiac activity into psychological well being. Two chapters are also devoted to the consideration of the methods employed in studying electrical activity recorded at the scalp reflecting the activity of underlying neural tissue. These chapters detail the use of techniques such as spectral decomposition and event-related potentials in the study of cognitive and affective processes and the application of these techniques in understanding various forms of psychopathology. The book closes with a description of recent advances in the area of neuroimaging, considering how these methods are related to traditional methods used in the field of psychophysiology and the importance of integrating these methods as scientists further explore the mind-body problem. While the author has generally provided an excellent coverage of the relevant empirical and theoretical literature across the area of psychophysiology there are a number of omissions that should be considered if this book is to serve as a general introductory text to the field. For example, studies incorporating both cardiac and EEG recording techniques have greatly enhanced our understanding of the developmental course of cognitive and affective processes, but consideration of these data is almost entirely absent in the text. Robert West Rotman Research Institute Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care 3560 Bathurst Street North York, ON M6A 2E1 Canada PII S0891-0618(97)10017-5
Advances in the Neurobiology of Schizophrenia J.A. Den Boer, H.G.M. Westenberg and H.M. Van Praag (Editors). Clinical and Neurobiological Advances in Psychiatry, vol 1, Wiley, New York, 1995; ISBN 0-471-95287-7; ST£85.00; 469 p. In this new series, ‘Clinical and Neurobiological Advances in Psychiatry’, Den Boer and Westenberg aim to provide current critical reviews of neurobiological processes underlying psychiatric disorders. The first volume ‘Advances in the Neurobiology of Schizophrenia’ largely meets this aim. The individual chapters are generally well-executed reviews of specific aspects of
119
schizophrenia. They have lengthy reference lists useful for reviewing source experiments and most contain figures and tables to illustrate major themes. While the volume has four parts, there are groups of chapters that more naturally clump together by subject matter and these should be read together to provide a more complete understanding of some general issues. The first part of the book (Chapters 1–3) provides a classic background on the descriptive psychopathology (Berrios), the epidemiology (Eaton et al.) and the basis of a genetic model (Moises) of schizophrenia. Linking these chapters under the header ‘Clinical Issues’ is a misnomer; ‘Basic Issues’ more suitably describes their relationship. Two additional chapters were exceptional. Ellenbroek and Cools (4) critically evaluate experimental animal models of schizophrenia and discuss the predictive, face and construct validity of these models. Bosch’s chapter (14) is a comprehensive statement of the fundamental cognitive dysfunction that defines schizophrenia. These five chapters, taken together, provide a terrific introduction to the neurobiology of schizophrenia that both the initiated and the novice should find informative and compelling. Chapters 5–8 (Taylor; Ebmeier; Talamini et al.; Liddle), all concern the neuropathological aspects of the disease but each delves into this issue from a different perspective, from the gross anatomy to imaging studies. A particular asset to the book is Liddle’s chapter (8) because he describes the results of blood flow studies with respect to schizophrenic symptoms and adds neurobiological depth to further discussion of the subsyndromes of schizophrenia. Cadenhead and Braff (15) describe the neurophysiological symptoms of schizophrenia using experimental data from studies of latent inhibition, prepulse inhibition and event-related potentials (ERP). Three chapters review neurochemical aspects of schizophrenia. Kahn and Davidson (9) succinctly review the venerable dopamine hypothesis. This review is particularly interesting because it emphasizes that decreased dopamine activity in the cortex and increased dopamine activity in the striatum both may contribute to schizophrenia. Chapters on serotonergic (10) and peptidergic mechanisms (14) are more exhaustive in scope. A role for serotonergic mechanisms in schizophrenia is still evolving and Iqbal and Praag (10) review the receptor mechanisms likely to be involved. On the other hand, Verhoeven’s chapter (14) shows little unequivocal evidence associating neuropeptides to schizophrenia. The editors mention NMDA receptors and schizophrenia in their introduction to this volume, but disappointingly, this issue is not formally considered. Chapters 11 (Kane), 12 (Meltzer) and 13 (Den Boer and Westenberg) present an extensive review of antipsy-
Book re6iews
Neuroanatomy. An Atlas of Structures, Sections and Systems D.E. Haines (Editor). Williams and Wilkins, Waverly Europe, 1995; ISBN 0-683-03817-6; ST£25.00. This well-produced book has been carefully edited to provide an approach to neuroanatomy which emphasises structural and functional integration. The editor has done a particularly good job in ensuring that the text is clear and informative, but the main strength of this book is in the illustrations, particularly the diagrams, which are remarkably clear in their depiction of the structural and functional organisation of the central nervous system. I was particularly impressed by the sections covering the structure of the brain stem and basal ganglia and as a neuropathologist the information on the organisation of the hippocampus and cerebral vascular structures were particularly helpful. I have used this book in my laboratory for several months, where it has proven particularly popular with undergraduate and postgraduate students in both basic and clinical neurosciences. The quality of the book is very good for its price and it therefore represents excellent value for money. The detail in the text provides more than a mere introduction to neuroanatomy, but more advanced workers in the field of neurosciences will of course need to consult larger and more detailed texts for more specific and more detailed information which is beyond the scope of this book. The coverage of human neuroanatomy in this small volume is excellent and I would strongly recommend the book to both undergraduate and postgraduate students of neurosciences, neuroanatomy and medicine and clinical neurosciences. One relatively minor weakness, which has been commented upon by various users in the department, concerns the coverage of the peripheral nervous system, which could be usefully expanded upon in subsequent editions of the book. However, its strengths lie in the clear depiction of the functional and structural anatomy of the human central nervous system and for this the book is strongly recommended. James W. Ironside University of Edinburgh Western General Hospital Neuropathology Laboratory Department of Pathology Crewe Road Edinburgh EH4 2XU UK PII S0891-0618(97)10018-7
Psychophysiology K. Hugdahl (Editor). Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1996; ST£33.50. The purpose of the book is to provide a broad introduction to the diverse field of psychophysiology suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students with little or no previous experience in the area. In pursuing this goal the author provides a quite readable and engaging integration of the methods employed in the psychophysiology laboratory, the findings of basic and applied research applications in the field and the relevant theoretical models that have shaped the discipline. The book is divided into three main sections: (1) two chapters providing an introduction to the general orientation toward the mind-body question taken by those engaged in the study of psychophysiology and the basic concepts and terminology relevant to the field; (2) three chapters providing an introduction to the brain and nervous system; and (3) nine chapters providing overviews of the methods, findings and theories related to a number of sub-disciplines within the field. The first two chapters of the book serve to establish the relevant subject matter for studies within the area of psychophysiology. A key element of the first chapter is the development of an epistemological framework defining the unique position of psychophysiological research in the general area of neuroscience apart from the related fields of physiological psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Following this development a number of prominent concepts and terms in the field are introduced, including stimulus specificity, directional fractionation, hemispheric asymmetry and automatic versus controlled modes of processing. The second section of the book provides an adequate, but sometimes dated, description of the anatomy and physiology of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The primary objective of these three chapters is to describe the relationship between underlying neural function and psychophysiological indices such as changes in electrodermal, cardiac and electroencephalographic activity, typically measured at the surface of the skin. As an example, research establishing right-hemispheric dominance in the control of vagal output to the heart is described and the potential clinical implications of this finding is discussed. The heart of the book rests in the last nine chapters that are devoted to a consideration of the methods, relevant findings and important theories to emerge from the study of electrodermal activity, cardiac psychophysiology and scalp electrical activity. Three chapters, related to electrodermal activity, review the
Book re6iews
basic characteristics of the electrodermal response, the recording of this response, the utility of this response in building theories of stimulus orienting and habituation, classical condition and clinical applications in the areas of phobic reactions, chemical dependence and psychopathology. Two chapters are devoted to a consideration of the cardiac system, the recording of cardiac activity and insights gained from the study of cardiac activity into psychological well being. Two chapters are also devoted to the consideration of the methods employed in studying electrical activity recorded at the scalp reflecting the activity of underlying neural tissue. These chapters detail the use of techniques such as spectral decomposition and event-related potentials in the study of cognitive and affective processes and the application of these techniques in understanding various forms of psychopathology. The book closes with a description of recent advances in the area of neuroimaging, considering how these methods are related to traditional methods used in the field of psychophysiology and the importance of integrating these methods as scientists further explore the mind-body problem. While the author has generally provided an excellent coverage of the relevant empirical and theoretical literature across the area of psychophysiology there are a number of omissions that should be considered if this book is to serve as a general introductory text to the field. For example, studies incorporating both cardiac and EEG recording techniques have greatly enhanced our understanding of the developmental course of cognitive and affective processes, but consideration of these data is almost entirely absent in the text. Robert West Rotman Research Institute Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care 3560 Bathurst Street North York, ON M6A 2E1 Canada PII S0891-0618(97)10017-5
Advances in the Neurobiology of Schizophrenia J.A. Den Boer, H.G.M. Westenberg and H.M. Van Praag (Editors). Clinical and Neurobiological Advances in Psychiatry, vol 1, Wiley, New York, 1995; ISBN 0-471-95287-7; ST£85.00; 469 p. In this new series, ‘Clinical and Neurobiological Advances in Psychiatry’, Den Boer and Westenberg aim to provide current critical reviews of neurobiological processes underlying psychiatric disorders. The first volume ‘Advances in the Neurobiology of Schizophrenia’ largely meets this aim. The individual chapters are generally well-executed reviews of specific aspects of
119
schizophrenia. They have lengthy reference lists useful for reviewing source experiments and most contain figures and tables to illustrate major themes. While the volume has four parts, there are groups of chapters that more naturally clump together by subject matter and these should be read together to provide a more complete understanding of some general issues. The first part of the book (Chapters 1–3) provides a classic background on the descriptive psychopathology (Berrios), the epidemiology (Eaton et al.) and the basis of a genetic model (Moises) of schizophrenia. Linking these chapters under the header ‘Clinical Issues’ is a misnomer; ‘Basic Issues’ more suitably describes their relationship. Two additional chapters were exceptional. Ellenbroek and Cools (4) critically evaluate experimental animal models of schizophrenia and discuss the predictive, face and construct validity of these models. Bosch’s chapter (14) is a comprehensive statement of the fundamental cognitive dysfunction that defines schizophrenia. These five chapters, taken together, provide a terrific introduction to the neurobiology of schizophrenia that both the initiated and the novice should find informative and compelling. Chapters 5–8 (Taylor; Ebmeier; Talamini et al.; Liddle), all concern the neuropathological aspects of the disease but each delves into this issue from a different perspective, from the gross anatomy to imaging studies. A particular asset to the book is Liddle’s chapter (8) because he describes the results of blood flow studies with respect to schizophrenic symptoms and adds neurobiological depth to further discussion of the subsyndromes of schizophrenia. Cadenhead and Braff (15) describe the neurophysiological symptoms of schizophrenia using experimental data from studies of latent inhibition, prepulse inhibition and event-related potentials (ERP). Three chapters review neurochemical aspects of schizophrenia. Kahn and Davidson (9) succinctly review the venerable dopamine hypothesis. This review is particularly interesting because it emphasizes that decreased dopamine activity in the cortex and increased dopamine activity in the striatum both may contribute to schizophrenia. Chapters on serotonergic (10) and peptidergic mechanisms (14) are more exhaustive in scope. A role for serotonergic mechanisms in schizophrenia is still evolving and Iqbal and Praag (10) review the receptor mechanisms likely to be involved. On the other hand, Verhoeven’s chapter (14) shows little unequivocal evidence associating neuropeptides to schizophrenia. The editors mention NMDA receptors and schizophrenia in their introduction to this volume, but disappointingly, this issue is not formally considered. Chapters 11 (Kane), 12 (Meltzer) and 13 (Den Boer and Westenberg) present an extensive review of antipsy-