Bøker av Thomas Heinbockel

Acetylcholine - Recent Advances and New Perspectives describes research related to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Acetylcholine was discovered as a neurotransmitter about 100 years ago. Still, researchers around the world study this important signaling molecule in terms of its chemistry, biochemistry, function in the central and peripheral nervous system, and relevance for neurological disorders and diseases. This book focuses on the role of acetylcholine in individual nerve cells, neural circuits, and specific brain regions. In addition, the book illustrates acetylcholine from historical perspectives to technological advances, as well as the use of novel tools in health and disease, in various animal models and organisms. As an added benefit, chapters in the book describe acetylcholine in its relation to paraoxonase enzymes, acetylcholine esterase, neurotoxins, and organophosphorus compounds. Furthermore, this book provides an overview of the work that is being done on acetylcholine and highlights any gaps and areas that would benefit from further exploration. It is a useful resource for students and researchers in biological, chemical, medical, and history disciplines.

This book discusses timely topics in the field of neurophysiology ranging from descriptions of nerve cells and glial cells to neural networks, sensory processing, neuroplasticity, neuropathophysiology, and human behavior. As such, all organizational levels of the nervous system are considered in one or more of the book¿s twelve chapters. The chapters review or present novel findings and provide the reader with an overview of the current state of the art of neurophysiology research. They discuss research advances in different brain regions and experimental models. In addition, the book contributes to the training of current and future neuroscientists and, hopefully, will lead us on the path to curing some of the biggest challenges in human health.

Nerve cells form thousands of contact points, the synapses, to communicate information with other neurons and target cells. Synapses are sites for changes in brain function through modification of synaptic transmission termed synaptic plasticity. The study of synaptic plasticity has flourished over the years with the advancement of technical breakthroughs and is a timely scientific endeavor today just like it was several decades ago. This book contributes to our understanding of synaptic plasticity at the molecular, biochemical, and cellular systems and behavioral level and informs the reader about its clinical relevance. The book contains ten chapters in three sections: (1) "Mechanisms of Synaptic Plasticity," (2) "Neural Plasticity," and (3) "Plasticity and Neurological Diseases." The book provides detailed and current reviews in these different areas written by experts in their respective fields. The mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and its relation to neurological diseases are featured prominently as a recurring theme throughout most chapters. This book will be most useful for neuroscientists and other scientists alike and will contribute to the training of current and future students who find the plastic nervous system as fascinating as many generations before them.

Neurochemistry is a flourishing academic field that contributes to our understanding of molecular, cellular and medical neurobiology. As a scientific discipline, neurochemistry studies the role of chemicals that build the nervous system, it explores the function of neurons and glial cells in health and disease, it discovers aspects of cell metabolism and neurotransmission, and it reveals how degenerative processes are at work in the nervous system. Accordingly, this book contains chapters from a variety of topics that fall into the following broad sections: I. Neural Membranes and Intracellular Signaling, II. Neural Processing and Intercellular Signaling, III. Growth, Development and Differentiation, and IV. Neurodegenerative Diseases. The book presents comprehensive reviews in these different areas written by experts in their respective fields. Neurodegeneration and neuronal diseases are featured prominently and are a recurring theme throughout most chapters. This book will be a most valuable resource for neurochemists and other scientists alike. In addition, it will contribute to the training of current and future neurochemists and, hopefully, will lead us on the path to curing some of the biggest challenges in human health.

If one asks what neuroscience is, the answer can be found in this book. Neuroscience embraces not only anatomical and physiological studies but also cell biology, computer science, and biochemistry. Equally important for neuroscientific research are other disciplines, such as psychology, psychiatry, neurology and additional recent ones, such as neuroeconomics and social neuroscience. This book comprises chapters on diverse topics in neuroscience ranging from cellular, computational, cognitive, and clinical neuroscience. Individual chapters focus on recent advances in specific areas including social neuroscience, which is a relatively new field that studies the neural basis of social interactions. Other chapters focus on technological developments such as optical tools to study the function of the brain. All chapters represent recent contributions to the rapidly developing field of neuroscience and illustrate the range of research conducted under the umbrella of the truly interdisciplinary neurosciences.