Cellular Mechanisms Of Conditioning And Behavioral Plasticity

I would like first to thank Charles Woody and his organizing committee for arranging the symposium on the "Cellular Mechanisms of Conditioning and Behavioral Plasticity," which was also a satellite meeting of the International Union of Physiological Sciences 30th International Congress. The proceedings of this symposium are represented by the chapters that follow. During the 1970s, Dr. Woody and co-workers were able to carry out a remarkable series of microelectrode studies, both intracellular and extracellular, of cortical nerve cells during conditioning of the eye-blink response to sound in the intact waking cat. He demonstrated enduring changes in excitability and membrane resistance in pericruciate cortical cells during associative conditioning of the eye blink, changes that are facilitated by ACh and cGMP and reinforced by stimulation of the hypothalamus (the latter con firming the original studies of Voronin). These findings have been of considerable im portance in our attempt to understand the conditioning process at the cellular level.

Presents a comprehensive update of central cholinergic mechanisms from their most molecular aspects to possible clinical applications modifying cholinergic neurotransmission. A considerable number of high-calibre scientists from several continents contributed to this volume.

In this advanced text, the author, starting with the simple assumption that psychological associations are represented by the strength of synaptic connections, details several mechanistic descriptions of complex cognitive behaviors. Part I presents neural network theories of classical conditioning; Part II describes neural networks of operant conditioning, and animal communication; Part III discusses spatial and cognitive mapping, and finally, Part IV shows how neural network models permit one to simultaneously develop psychological theories and models of the brain. The book includes computer software that allows the computer simulation of classical conditioning and the effect of different brain lesions on many classical paradigms. All those people interested in neural networks, from psychologists, through neuroscientists to computer scientists working on artificial intelligence and robotics, will find this book an excellent advanced guide to the subject.

This book deals with molecular neurobiology based on neurochemical approaches and focuses on neural plasticity studied by neurophysiological methods. It offers discussions on prospects of neuroscience from the respective stances of the participants.

A collection of reviews on selected areas of synaptic transmission from neuroscientists in a number of areas of work in the nervous system and related disciplines. Five areas are covered - long-term potentiation, galanin, autonomic, opioids and 5-hydroxytryptamine.