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The structure of emotion — Psychophysiological, cognitive and clinical aspects
JOURNAL
OF TNE
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
ELSEVIER
Journal of the Neurological Sciences133(1995) 200-202
Book reviews Motor Neuron Disease: Biology and Management, by P.N. Leigh and M. Swash (editors), 1995, Springer-Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg-New York, 468 pages, DM 218.00, ISBN 3-540- 19685-4 This is a multi-author textbook that emphasizesour current understanding of the pathology, neurophysiology, genetics, and pharmacology of motor neuron disease (MND). The authors are recognized authorities in the study of MND. The many illustrations am excellent and appropriate. The goal of the book is to consider possible avenuesof therapy in the light of “new” knowledge. This is one of the many multi-author textbooks that has been published on MND in the past decade testifying to the teawakened scientific interest in MND. The book is unique in its emphasis on fundamental processesthat may underlie the diseaseand thus, should be required reading for all who are engaged in the searchfor the pathophysiology and therapy of MND. The book has the same defect as many multi-author textbooks, i.e., overlap between the chapters and repetition. Many of the chapters apparently were written earlier and the bibliographies (although extensive) are deficient in repotting the recent literature. The intensifying interest in MND has resulted in new knowledge and may make any textbook outdated. The authors’ emphasis in “fundamental processes” results in almost one half of the book being devoted to anatomy and pathology, including 4 chaptersof more then 100 pages written by 5 authorson the neuropathology of MND. The varying descriptions and interpretations of the pathology of MND am stimulating and informative but lead to much repetition both in the text and in the bibliography. Unique to this book is an extensive review of the somatic motoneurons and descending motor pathways by one author. This excellent review can be recommendedto those unaware of the newer information on the descending motor pathways. The classification proposed is not commented on elsewhere in the book. The remainder of the book includes brief chapters on the clinical syndrome and other topics found in most of the recent books on MND. The chapter on theories of causation is brief but well worth reading. The chapters on clinical trials and methodology stressesour lack of specific therapy and the inadequacy of our present measurementtechniques in MND. Although “Management” is included in the title, managementof the symptoms of MND is summarized in only one chapter. This is an excellent summary, but several other recent monographs discuss symptomatic treatment of MND in more detail. The last chapter is a poignant personal account of living with the diseaseand was written by the wife of a patient. It should be mad by all who care for MND patients. Donald W. Mulder. MD Emeritus Professorof Neurology Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic Rochester,MN 55905,USA
Vom Neuron zum Gehim: Zum Verstiindnis &r zelluliiren und molekularen Funktion des Nervensystems, by J.G. Nicholls, A.R. Martin and B.G. Wallace, 1995, Gustav
Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart-New York, DM 148, OS 1155, SFr 142.50, ISBN 3-437-20517-X m22-510X/95/$07.00 6 1995 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved
This is an updated translation of the well-known American “KufflerNicholls” neurobiology text from 1992.As such, like good wine, it needs no laurel from others. The original cellular approach to neurophysiology has now heen complemented by the new molecular approach. Familiar topics, such as synaptic transmission,denervation, regulatory loops (both excitatory and inhibitory, both forward- and backward-feed), receptors, the.role of glia, have now been complemented with gene-cloning, membrane-canals,patch-clamp methodology, sensory transduction, as well as “holistic” or rather integrative views on the function of the nervous system, such as development, modulation, habituation, retinal function, deprivation, locomotion, principles of control systems,etc. As was to be expected, the triumvirate of authors have succeeded in presenting a fascinating neurophysiology text in 19 chapters covering a mere 500 pages. The monograph is extremely well-illustrated and entices the clinical and basic neurosciencestudent to mad instead of rendering him an inferiority complex, such as formidable “bibles” like Kandel’s are prone to do. The bibliography is well-selected, the price is reasonable. Unreservedly recommended. Prof. Em. G.W. Bmyn, MD Department of Neurology Leiden University Hospital Leiden, Netherlands
The Structure of Emotion - Psychophysiological, Cognitive and Clinical Aspects, by Niels Birbaumer and Ame
&man (editors), 1993, Hogrefe & Huber, Toronto, 312 pages, $65.00 (hard cover), ISBN o-88937-055-9, ISBN 3-456-82010-o Dedicated to an inspiring researcher and friend of the contributors, written in the vein of a shared “set of beliefs” about how researchon emotion should proceed, and departing from the psychophysiological counterpartsof emotion, this volume offers exciting reading. Section A of this highly recommendablevolume deals with basic conceptual issues. The introduction is clear: the task for a scientific study of emotion is . to develop conceptual networks that tie situational aspects to personal characteristics and to emotional phenomena as revealed in behavioral, physiological and verbal responses.Section B is an elaboration of tbe organisation of emotion in memory. The analysesof fear, sexual activity, psychophysiological effects of movie clips with an emotional content and of the emotional impact of music am scholarly written and illuminating. Section C deals with the acquisition of fear. Modification of associative networks, conditioning theory in combination with network notions and the notion of genetic programsthat contribute to the emotional potency of some stimuli are discussed. Section D interprets the modifiability of simple reflexes such as startle in its dependenceon the emotional context. The clinical implications are examined in, amongst others, anhedonic subjects.The book is rich in information but no easy reading, written for neuroscientists,researchpsychologistsand behavioral biologists; although the publisher mentions clinical psychologists as well, the latter should be warned that differential diagnostic issues are not a major issue of the volume. A. Jennekens-Schinkel,MD Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital Utrecht, Netherlands
OF TNE
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
ELSEVIER
Journal of the Neurological Sciences133(1995) 200-202
Book reviews Motor Neuron Disease: Biology and Management, by P.N. Leigh and M. Swash (editors), 1995, Springer-Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg-New York, 468 pages, DM 218.00, ISBN 3-540- 19685-4 This is a multi-author textbook that emphasizesour current understanding of the pathology, neurophysiology, genetics, and pharmacology of motor neuron disease (MND). The authors are recognized authorities in the study of MND. The many illustrations am excellent and appropriate. The goal of the book is to consider possible avenuesof therapy in the light of “new” knowledge. This is one of the many multi-author textbooks that has been published on MND in the past decade testifying to the teawakened scientific interest in MND. The book is unique in its emphasis on fundamental processesthat may underlie the diseaseand thus, should be required reading for all who are engaged in the searchfor the pathophysiology and therapy of MND. The book has the same defect as many multi-author textbooks, i.e., overlap between the chapters and repetition. Many of the chapters apparently were written earlier and the bibliographies (although extensive) are deficient in repotting the recent literature. The intensifying interest in MND has resulted in new knowledge and may make any textbook outdated. The authors’ emphasis in “fundamental processes” results in almost one half of the book being devoted to anatomy and pathology, including 4 chaptersof more then 100 pages written by 5 authorson the neuropathology of MND. The varying descriptions and interpretations of the pathology of MND am stimulating and informative but lead to much repetition both in the text and in the bibliography. Unique to this book is an extensive review of the somatic motoneurons and descending motor pathways by one author. This excellent review can be recommendedto those unaware of the newer information on the descending motor pathways. The classification proposed is not commented on elsewhere in the book. The remainder of the book includes brief chapters on the clinical syndrome and other topics found in most of the recent books on MND. The chapter on theories of causation is brief but well worth reading. The chapters on clinical trials and methodology stressesour lack of specific therapy and the inadequacy of our present measurementtechniques in MND. Although “Management” is included in the title, managementof the symptoms of MND is summarized in only one chapter. This is an excellent summary, but several other recent monographs discuss symptomatic treatment of MND in more detail. The last chapter is a poignant personal account of living with the diseaseand was written by the wife of a patient. It should be mad by all who care for MND patients. Donald W. Mulder. MD Emeritus Professorof Neurology Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic Rochester,MN 55905,USA
Vom Neuron zum Gehim: Zum Verstiindnis &r zelluliiren und molekularen Funktion des Nervensystems, by J.G. Nicholls, A.R. Martin and B.G. Wallace, 1995, Gustav
Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart-New York, DM 148, OS 1155, SFr 142.50, ISBN 3-437-20517-X m22-510X/95/$07.00 6 1995 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved
This is an updated translation of the well-known American “KufflerNicholls” neurobiology text from 1992.As such, like good wine, it needs no laurel from others. The original cellular approach to neurophysiology has now heen complemented by the new molecular approach. Familiar topics, such as synaptic transmission,denervation, regulatory loops (both excitatory and inhibitory, both forward- and backward-feed), receptors, the.role of glia, have now been complemented with gene-cloning, membrane-canals,patch-clamp methodology, sensory transduction, as well as “holistic” or rather integrative views on the function of the nervous system, such as development, modulation, habituation, retinal function, deprivation, locomotion, principles of control systems,etc. As was to be expected, the triumvirate of authors have succeeded in presenting a fascinating neurophysiology text in 19 chapters covering a mere 500 pages. The monograph is extremely well-illustrated and entices the clinical and basic neurosciencestudent to mad instead of rendering him an inferiority complex, such as formidable “bibles” like Kandel’s are prone to do. The bibliography is well-selected, the price is reasonable. Unreservedly recommended. Prof. Em. G.W. Bmyn, MD Department of Neurology Leiden University Hospital Leiden, Netherlands
The Structure of Emotion - Psychophysiological, Cognitive and Clinical Aspects, by Niels Birbaumer and Ame
&man (editors), 1993, Hogrefe & Huber, Toronto, 312 pages, $65.00 (hard cover), ISBN o-88937-055-9, ISBN 3-456-82010-o Dedicated to an inspiring researcher and friend of the contributors, written in the vein of a shared “set of beliefs” about how researchon emotion should proceed, and departing from the psychophysiological counterpartsof emotion, this volume offers exciting reading. Section A of this highly recommendablevolume deals with basic conceptual issues. The introduction is clear: the task for a scientific study of emotion is . to develop conceptual networks that tie situational aspects to personal characteristics and to emotional phenomena as revealed in behavioral, physiological and verbal responses.Section B is an elaboration of tbe organisation of emotion in memory. The analysesof fear, sexual activity, psychophysiological effects of movie clips with an emotional content and of the emotional impact of music am scholarly written and illuminating. Section C deals with the acquisition of fear. Modification of associative networks, conditioning theory in combination with network notions and the notion of genetic programsthat contribute to the emotional potency of some stimuli are discussed. Section D interprets the modifiability of simple reflexes such as startle in its dependenceon the emotional context. The clinical implications are examined in, amongst others, anhedonic subjects.The book is rich in information but no easy reading, written for neuroscientists,researchpsychologistsand behavioral biologists; although the publisher mentions clinical psychologists as well, the latter should be warned that differential diagnostic issues are not a major issue of the volume. A. Jennekens-Schinkel,MD Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital Utrecht, Netherlands