Full Description
Volume 2 of Cerebral Cortex continues our policy of dealing with the individual elements of the cerebral cortex before moving on in subsequent volumes to a consideration of the details of the various functional areas. Volume 1 of the treatise dealt with the morphology of cortical neurons, and Volume 2 continues this theme to some extent by including chapters devoted to the morphology of cortical neuroglial cells, of immunocytochemically labeled neurons, and of in tracellularly i‾ected neurons. However, the major emphasis of this volume and of Volume 3, which will follow it, is on the functional characteristics of cortical neurons and neuroglial cells, particularly those of transmitter and receptor iden tity and of electrophysiological uniqueness. Volume 2 emphasizes these char acteristics in relation to the intrinsic cortical elements; Volume 3 will continue this and add chapters on the afferent and efferent systems of the cortex. Together, Volumes 2 and 3 will cover all of the transmitters, receptors, and related compounds that have so far been discovered in the cerebral cortex. It is the interrelations among the neuronal elements expressing these materials that determine the functional operations of the cerebral cortex, and the necessity for understanding how the appropriate cooperation between the neuronal ele ments is achieved is highlighted by Sir John C. Eccles's introductory chapter on "The Cerebral Neocortex: A Theory of Its Operation.
Contents
1 The Cerebral Neocortex: A Theory of Its Operation.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Modular Concept of the Neocortex.- 3. The Modular Operation of the Neocortex.- 4. Inputs into a Module of the Neocortex (Szentágothai, 1983).- 5. The Neuronal Structure of the Module (Szentágothai, 1983).- 6. Pattern Generation in the Neocortex.- 7. The Function of Horizontal Fibers (Jones and Powell, 1970a).- 8. Patterns in Cognitive Memory.- 9. A Neuronal Model of Memory Built on the Role of Calcium in Long-Term Potentiation.- 10. Generation of Module Patterns in Relation to Memory and Retrieval.- 11. A Simple Model of Cognitive Memory.- 12. Self-Consciousness and Memory.- 13. Special Design Features of the Neocortex.- 14. References.- I. Transmitters.- 2 Neurotransmitters in Cerebral Cortex: A General Account.- 3 GABA Neurons in the Cerebral Corte.- 4 Functional Considerations of the Operation of GABAergic Inhibitory Processes in the Visual Corte.- 5 Glutamate and Aspartate as Transmitter Candidates for Systems of the Cerebral Cortex.- 6 Peptide-Containing Neurons of the Cerebral Cortex.- II. Receptors.- 7 Autoradiographic Localization of Receptor Sites in the Cerebral Cortex.- III. Morphological Correlates.- 8 Physiological Properties of Identified Neurons.- 9 Neuronal Circuits in Cat Striate Cortex.- 10 The Structure of Neuroglial Cells.
