Development Of Auditory And Vestibular Systems

Development of Auditory and Vestibular Systems fourth edition presents a global and synthetic view of the main aspects of the development of the stato-acoustic system. Unique to this volume is the joint discussion of two sensory systems that, although close at the embryological stage, present divergences during development and later reveal conspicuous functional differences at the adult stage. This work covers the development of auditory receptors up to the central auditory system from several animal models, including humans. Coverage of the vestibular system, spanning amphibians to effects of altered gravity during development in different species, offers examples of the diversity and complexity of life at all levels, from genes through anatomical form and function to, ultimately, behavior. The new edition of Development of Auditory and Vestibular Systems will continue to be an indispensable resource for beginning scientists in this area and experienced researchers alike. Full-color figures illustrate the development of the stato-acoustic system pathway Covers a broad range of species, from drosophila to humans, demonstrating the diversity of morphological development despite similarities in molecular processes involved at the cellular level Discusses a variety of approaches, from genetic-molecular biology to psychophysics, enabling the investigation of ontogenesis and functional development

Thanks to advances in genetics and genomics, research on inner ear development has flourished. Better approaches and experimental models have shed light on the function of a variety of vertebrate genes and their related proteins. This latest volume of Current Topics in Developmental Biology delves into this new research to show how the discovery of more genes involved in the development of the inner ear leads to the generation of new models that examine a wealth of issues -- from the origins of human deafness to the roles of genes during inner ear induction, development and differentiation. The wide variety of experimental approaches will help readers to understand the broad range of issues related to inner ear morphogenesis and other concepts from complementary areas of investigation. This state-of-the-art overview will be essential reading for researchers, clinicians and students alike. * Scores of high-quality, full- color figures * Detailed schemes on the structure and timing of ear development * Current Topics in Developmental Biology is the longest-running forum for contemporary issues in developmental biology

Although some interesting reviews have been published since the success of the first edition of Development of Auditory and Vestibular Systems, none give a complete overview of this fast evolving field of Neuroscience. It was particulary important, therefore, to bring together in the same book the best representatives in this field. The present edition has a slightly different goal in that it is intended to focus mainly on recent advances in anatomic, physiological, biochemical and behavioral results. A lot of recent data and new formal analyses have enlightened our understanding of various aspects of the ontogenesis of the auditory and vestibular systems. These recent advances, e.g. use of new tools such as immunohistochemistry; electrophysiological techniques combined with dye markings; the study of the onset of function and its development. Moreover, this excellent book addresses some essential conceptual questions of particular interest to developmental neuroscience and also more generally to neuroscience.

The contributors to this volume have provided a detailed and integrated introduction to the behavioural, anatomical, and physiological changes that occur in the auditory system of developing animals. Edwin W Rubel is Virginia Merrill Bloedel Professor of Hearing Sciences at the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center at the University of Washington, Arthur N. Popper is Professor and Chair of the Department of Zoology at the University of Maryland, while Richard R. Fay is Associate Director of the Parmly Hearing Institute and Professor of Psychology at Loyola University of Chicago. Each volume in this series is independent and authoritative; taken as a set, the series will be the definitive resource in the field.

Efferent sensory systems have emerged as major components of processing by the central nervous system. Whereas the afferent sensory systems bring environmental information into the brain, efferent systems function to monitor, sharpen, and attend selectively to certain stimuli while ignoring others. This ability of the brain to implement these functions enables the organism to make fine discriminations and to respond appropriately to environmental conditions so that survival is enhanced. Our focus will be on auditory and vestibular efferents, topics linked together by the inner ear connection. The biological utility of the efferent system is striking. How it functions is less well understood, and with each new discovery, more questions arise. The book that is proposed here reflects our vision to share what is known on the topic by authors who actually have made the observations.

Vestibular physiology has acquired new interest in the past few years. The development of fast aircraft, beginning during the Second World War and continuing through modern supersonic jets and space travel, has increased dramatically the acceleration range to which man is subjected, from prolonged weightlessness to several gs. The labyrinth measures all kinds of acceleration, including gravity. and therefore has taken on particular impor tance in the study of human health in the Space Age. It is understandable. then, that NASA sponsored the Symposium on Vestibular Function and Morphology. a satellite of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuroscience. held October 30-November 1. 1978, at the University of Pittsburgh, which also supported the symposium. The present volume was developed from papers originally presented there. My strategy in editing this book has been to focus upon the vestibular end organ and its direct connections. both peripheral and central, in order to as sure a coherent discussion of the basics of vestibular function, structure, and ultrastructure. Fortunately, it was possible to secure the contributions of a number of outstanding investigators from both the United States and abroad, including functionally oriented morphologists. ultrastructuralists, biophysicists, and vestibular physiologists. The result is a comprehensive discussion of the main mechanisms of the labyrinth: the transduction pro cess at the receptor level, in the semicircular canals, and in the utricular and saccular maculae; the information transfer through neuronal pathways to the nuclei and the cerebellum; and the general organization of the system.