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Self and process: Brain states and the conscious present
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Journalof the NeurologicalSciences, ! 10 (1992) 236-238 © 1992 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. All rights reserved 0022-510X/92/$05.00
Book reviews MR Imaging of the Skull and Brain: A Correlative Text-Atlas, by K l a u s S a r t o r (ed.), S p r i n g e r - V e r l a g , Berlin/Heidelberg/New Y o r k , 1992, 808 p a g e s , D M 560.00, I S B N 3-54o-52293-X This is one of the rare neuroradiological monographs on NMR which deals with rational step-b$-step interpretation of the images in relation to the physical parameters chosen for obtaining it, leading to diagnosis and including differential diagnosis. The critical reader is, in addition, offered a well-selected pertinent reference-list, to consult on the basis of the arguments used. The text on each lesion-entity or disease places the neuroradiological findings within the context of the clinical and neuropathological data, proving convincingly the value of the neuroradiodiagnosticlan as part of the team. The text is comprehensive, uniform, based upon analysis of well over 20,000 NMR-studies done in over a decade, includes lavishly illustrated, comprehensive chapters on the nosological categories of developmental anomalies, injury, neoplasm, infections, vascular and demyelinating disorders, that follow an introductory part on physics and anatomy. Reading it one wishes for a similarly conceived (and executed) companion volume on the spine and spinal cord. The lay-out and format, as is traditional with this Publisher's products, are without blemish. The price of this prestigious work unfortunately constitutes an impediment to wide circulation. G.W. BRuYN, MD Dept. Neurology, Academic Hospital, State University, Leiden, The Netherlands
Neurocytochemical Methods, NATO ASI Series, Series H: Cell Biology, VoL 58, by A C a l a s a n d D. E u g e n e (editors), 1991, S p r i n g e r - V e r l a g , B e r l i n / H e i d e l b e r g / N e w York, 336 p a g e s , D M 248.00 This volume of the NATO ASI Series in the Advanced Science Institute Series is about Neurocytochemical Methods and is dedicated to J. Taxi. Four main sections are presented: hodology, detection of specific molecules, quantitative aspects, and receptors. The most important article in the hodology section is that on transmitter related retrograde labelling by the Cu~nod-Streit group, it is about whether selective uptake of an administered radioactive labelled neurotransmitter (precursor) is done by those systems that use the administered transmitter. False negativity is observed for aspartate and GABA. This is present in two of the three amino acid-like neurotransmitters discussed. Those who have worked with glycine know that unselective uptake can be substantial. Therefore, caution must be taken when using this method. Another good article that struck me in this section, mainly because we developed such a technique ourselves, was on the topic of video-microscopic techniques to study parameters in live neurons. The other applications in measurements of ion-sensitive dyes and quantitative analysis of organelle motions are a new source of scientific knowledge. The section on "Detection of Specific Molecules" comprises
transmitter co-localization, neuroanatomy of synapses, in situ hybridization of neurotransmitter genes, and markers to study regulation of glial cells in the peripheral and central nervous systems. The report on this section by the chairwomen Margret R. Matthews from the Department of Anatomy, Oxford, is well worked out. The part on Quantitative aspects, chaired by Dr. Fonnum, starts with an excellent article on light emitting systems to assay acetylcholine release. The section also contains articles on morphometry, positron emission tomography and calcium detection in neurons using microfluorometric imaging techniques. The part on Receptors contains two articles on neuropeptide receptors and G A B A / B Z receptors. i n conclusion, several articles in this NATO AS! Series are valuable to those using neurocytochemical methods. Some of the articles can be found elsewhere and in better quality. Overall, however, this seems to me a book worth having in the library. E. MARANI,MD Department of Physiology (Anatomy) Leiden University Leiden, The Netherlands
Self and Process: Brain States and the Conscious Present, by J.W. Brown, 1991, S p r i n g e r - V e r l a g , B e r l i n / H e i d e l b e r g / N e w Y o r k , 201 p a g e s , D M cover), I S B N 3-540-97514-4
84.00 ( h a r d
Symptoms observed in the neurological clinic provide the basis for this marvellous contribution to a "devoutly idealistic" philosophy of mind. Not the world but the mind is primary. Not objects impinge on mind, but the perceived world is part of the extrapersonal extent of mind. Symptoms are not aberrations from normal but enable one to observe preliminary and in normal functioning unobservable segments of intrapsychic content. Microgenesis is the central concept. Contrary to prevailing current thinking, Brown argues that sensory input is not constructed into a perception that is secondarily linked to memory and combined with other perceptions. There is no transition to mind over levels of sensory processing. He elaborates a theory of mind sensitive to physical constraints but centered in the subjective, in his view, the object, the "world", unfolds out of a "synesthetic" representation in memory toward increasing resolution and demarcation from other perceptual systems. Action and perception are aborigine a unitary act-object. Evolution is at the basis of his theory of mind. Consciousness, the self, knowledge, voluntary action, affect, pastness are among the issues accounted for. in a separate chapter, the author discusses the implications of microgenetic theory for the mind/brain problem. It is a delight to follow the author when he disposes with Iocalisation theory and other current accounts of the relationship between brain and behaviour. His line of thinking, based on European philosophy and psychology (Wfirzburg) is, however, not always easy to grasp. For the clinician, prior reading of "The Life of the Mind" (Brown 1988) may be helpful. A. JENNEKENS-SCHINKEL Dept. of Neurology, Academic Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands
Journalof the NeurologicalSciences, ! 10 (1992) 236-238 © 1992 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. All rights reserved 0022-510X/92/$05.00
Book reviews MR Imaging of the Skull and Brain: A Correlative Text-Atlas, by K l a u s S a r t o r (ed.), S p r i n g e r - V e r l a g , Berlin/Heidelberg/New Y o r k , 1992, 808 p a g e s , D M 560.00, I S B N 3-54o-52293-X This is one of the rare neuroradiological monographs on NMR which deals with rational step-b$-step interpretation of the images in relation to the physical parameters chosen for obtaining it, leading to diagnosis and including differential diagnosis. The critical reader is, in addition, offered a well-selected pertinent reference-list, to consult on the basis of the arguments used. The text on each lesion-entity or disease places the neuroradiological findings within the context of the clinical and neuropathological data, proving convincingly the value of the neuroradiodiagnosticlan as part of the team. The text is comprehensive, uniform, based upon analysis of well over 20,000 NMR-studies done in over a decade, includes lavishly illustrated, comprehensive chapters on the nosological categories of developmental anomalies, injury, neoplasm, infections, vascular and demyelinating disorders, that follow an introductory part on physics and anatomy. Reading it one wishes for a similarly conceived (and executed) companion volume on the spine and spinal cord. The lay-out and format, as is traditional with this Publisher's products, are without blemish. The price of this prestigious work unfortunately constitutes an impediment to wide circulation. G.W. BRuYN, MD Dept. Neurology, Academic Hospital, State University, Leiden, The Netherlands
Neurocytochemical Methods, NATO ASI Series, Series H: Cell Biology, VoL 58, by A C a l a s a n d D. E u g e n e (editors), 1991, S p r i n g e r - V e r l a g , B e r l i n / H e i d e l b e r g / N e w York, 336 p a g e s , D M 248.00 This volume of the NATO ASI Series in the Advanced Science Institute Series is about Neurocytochemical Methods and is dedicated to J. Taxi. Four main sections are presented: hodology, detection of specific molecules, quantitative aspects, and receptors. The most important article in the hodology section is that on transmitter related retrograde labelling by the Cu~nod-Streit group, it is about whether selective uptake of an administered radioactive labelled neurotransmitter (precursor) is done by those systems that use the administered transmitter. False negativity is observed for aspartate and GABA. This is present in two of the three amino acid-like neurotransmitters discussed. Those who have worked with glycine know that unselective uptake can be substantial. Therefore, caution must be taken when using this method. Another good article that struck me in this section, mainly because we developed such a technique ourselves, was on the topic of video-microscopic techniques to study parameters in live neurons. The other applications in measurements of ion-sensitive dyes and quantitative analysis of organelle motions are a new source of scientific knowledge. The section on "Detection of Specific Molecules" comprises
transmitter co-localization, neuroanatomy of synapses, in situ hybridization of neurotransmitter genes, and markers to study regulation of glial cells in the peripheral and central nervous systems. The report on this section by the chairwomen Margret R. Matthews from the Department of Anatomy, Oxford, is well worked out. The part on Quantitative aspects, chaired by Dr. Fonnum, starts with an excellent article on light emitting systems to assay acetylcholine release. The section also contains articles on morphometry, positron emission tomography and calcium detection in neurons using microfluorometric imaging techniques. The part on Receptors contains two articles on neuropeptide receptors and G A B A / B Z receptors. i n conclusion, several articles in this NATO AS! Series are valuable to those using neurocytochemical methods. Some of the articles can be found elsewhere and in better quality. Overall, however, this seems to me a book worth having in the library. E. MARANI,MD Department of Physiology (Anatomy) Leiden University Leiden, The Netherlands
Self and Process: Brain States and the Conscious Present, by J.W. Brown, 1991, S p r i n g e r - V e r l a g , B e r l i n / H e i d e l b e r g / N e w Y o r k , 201 p a g e s , D M cover), I S B N 3-540-97514-4
84.00 ( h a r d
Symptoms observed in the neurological clinic provide the basis for this marvellous contribution to a "devoutly idealistic" philosophy of mind. Not the world but the mind is primary. Not objects impinge on mind, but the perceived world is part of the extrapersonal extent of mind. Symptoms are not aberrations from normal but enable one to observe preliminary and in normal functioning unobservable segments of intrapsychic content. Microgenesis is the central concept. Contrary to prevailing current thinking, Brown argues that sensory input is not constructed into a perception that is secondarily linked to memory and combined with other perceptions. There is no transition to mind over levels of sensory processing. He elaborates a theory of mind sensitive to physical constraints but centered in the subjective, in his view, the object, the "world", unfolds out of a "synesthetic" representation in memory toward increasing resolution and demarcation from other perceptual systems. Action and perception are aborigine a unitary act-object. Evolution is at the basis of his theory of mind. Consciousness, the self, knowledge, voluntary action, affect, pastness are among the issues accounted for. in a separate chapter, the author discusses the implications of microgenetic theory for the mind/brain problem. It is a delight to follow the author when he disposes with Iocalisation theory and other current accounts of the relationship between brain and behaviour. His line of thinking, based on European philosophy and psychology (Wfirzburg) is, however, not always easy to grasp. For the clinician, prior reading of "The Life of the Mind" (Brown 1988) may be helpful. A. JENNEKENS-SCHINKEL Dept. of Neurology, Academic Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands