This timely volume reviews developments in research on the molecular mechanisms of action in benzodiazepines, a commonly used group of psychoactive drugs, and it examines the complexity of the GABAA receptor through which they produce their overt effects. The author explores how these advancements may lead to the discovery of therapeutic agents with an improved profile of action, while also providing an overview of the pharmacology of this important group of drugs to non-specialists.

Audience: clinical specialists, researchers and medical students in molecular biology, neuroscience/neurology, signal transduction and psychiatry

Neuroscience Intelligence Unit series

The Analysis of Cortical Connectivity examines the patterns of connections between brain structures. It reviews progress on the analysis of neuroanatomical connection data and presents six different approaches to data analysis. The results of their application to data from cat and monkey cortex are explored. Despite the complexity of the data, all the methods of analysis concur on a small number of processing systems. The relations between individual brain structures is more apparent in these analyses, and this information may be used to anticipate where cells with particular kinds of stimulus preference may be found. Among the conclusions are that all systems are embedded in the cortical somatosensory systems, and that prefrontal and limbic structures receive only the most elaborated sensory signals and are topologically central.

Audience: researchers and medical students in neuroscience, neurology, physiology and anatomy

Neuroscience Intelligence Unit series

This book covers virtual auditory space (VAS)--the computer-generated illusion of auditory space. Expert contributors begin with an introduction of many of the experimental findings that relate to our perception of auditory space, including sound localization and distance perception * detail the methods for generating VAS, including the recording of the head-related transfer functions and the basic methods of filtering sounds using these functions * integrate a tutorial chapter written for the non-engineer, which explains the digital signal processing methods * examine the problem of fidelity of VAS and evaluate the various methods by which this can be assessed * review the applications of VAS to recent neurophysiological studies of the neural processing of sound * conclude with an overview of cutting-edge work in progress worldwide, examining questions relating to the efficient generation of high fidelity VAS, as well as advanced research and technological applications.

Audience: researchers in neurophysiology, perceptual psychophysics, human factors, electrical engineering, communications, information theory, computer sciences (interface design) and avionics

Neuroscience Intelligence Unit series

Designed as a techniques book, Measuring Movement and Locomotion provides methodological information about procedures, measurement and analysis. Topics include: * basic laboratory methodology for measurement of motor activity in a variety of animals as well as humans * series-specific movements, including both developmental and conceptual issues related to reflexes, reaching and grasping, swimming and locomotion * an overview of statistical and experimental design issues to assist in planning research projects and interpret findings

Audience: clinical specialists, researchers and allied health personnel in neuroscience, neurology and reproductive biology

Neuroscience Intelligence Unit series

This volume discusses advances in basic, applied and clinical sciences that are relevant to understanding the etiology and treatment of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Experts in various fields relevant to AD report their newest findings. Because of its scope--m1 muscarinic agonists and their relevance for the treatment of AD--this book is the first to discuss the most recent developments from various angles. Muscarinic Agonists and the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease covers: * the involvement of the cholinergic systems in AD *the rationale for designing m1 agonists *the involvement of m1 receptors in various cascades of events including the processing of the amyloid precursor proteins, neurotrophic activities and effects on phosphorylation of tau protein. Emphasis is placed on understanding the structure-activity relationship of the interaction of agonists with muscarinic receptor sybtypes and m1 receptors. Early clinical studies in AD patients are described for two m1 selective agonists: xanomeline and AF102B.

Audience: clinical specialists, researchers and medical students in neurology, signal transduction, disorders and medicinal chemistry, as well as medicinal chemists and pharmaceutical companies

Neuroscience Intelligence Unit series

The Neurodevelopmental Basis of Schizophrenia provides a critical update and synthesis of contemporary evidence for schizophrenia as a brain disease of early, neurodevelopmental origin. Contributions are from leading authorities in the field, working at multiple levels of biological and epidemiological inquiry. This volume integrates this evolving body of evidence, and it examines the strengths and weaknesses of the neurodevelopmental model.

Audience: clinical specialists, researchers and residents in neuroscience/neurology, psychiatry and developmental biology

Neuroscience Intelligence Unit series