Neuroscience at a Glance by Barker, Roger; Barasi, Stephen; Neal, Michael J.;

Short description:

* comprehensive and student friendly account of Neuroscience

* Topics relevant to the new curriculum, including basic anatomy, physiology, histology, biochemistry and clinical material

* Integrated basic science

* 4 new chapters on clinical relevance i. e examination, investigation etc

* On-line companion at www.

Long description:

Neuroscience at a Glance is designed to provide medical students and other allied health students who require a concise guide to neuroscience, with a quick review of a traditionally complex field.

The authors successfully integrate anatomy, biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology to provide a review of the structure and function of the nervous system. Although not a clinical neurology text, the second edition includes four new chapters on Examination of the Nervous System, Investigation of the Nervous System, Clinical Disorders of the Sensory Pathways and Clinical Disorders of the Motor Pathways. The introduction of these new chapters provides excellent clinical relevence for readers while the book continues to provide accessible up-to-date explanations of neuroscience.

All in all, the second edition of Neuroscience at a Glance provides students with an invaluable review of this complex subject.

"Neuroscience at a Glance gives you just the right amount of information presented in a student-friendly format...There is also a free online companion to the book at www.medicalneuroscience.com containing glossaries and relevant further reading signposts which I found useful.

In my opinion, it gives the student everything needed to learn about and understand the working of the brain and spinal cord without bogging you down by over-complicating things."

"Neuroscience. would have been much easier to understand if I had had this book"

Barts and the London Chronicle

Neuroscience at a Glance is designed to provide medical and allied health students and junior doctors with a concise review of a traditionally complex field.

The authors successfully integrate anatomy, biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology to provide a review of the structure and function of the nervous system. Although not a clinical neurology text, the second edition includes four new chapters on Examination of the Nervous System, Investigation of the Nervous System, Clinical Disorders of the Sensory Pathways and Clinical Disorders of the Motor Pathways. The introduction of these new chapters provides excellent clinical relevance for readers while the book continues to provide accessible up-to-date explanations of neuroscience.

All in all, the second edition of Neuroscience at a Glance provides students with an invaluable review of this complex subject.

"Neuroscience at a Glance gives you just the right amount of information presented in a student-friendly format...There is also a free online companion to the book at www.medicalneuroscience.com containing glossaries and relevant further reading signposts which I found useful.

In my opinion, it gives the student everything needed to learn about and understand the working of the brain and spinal cord without bogging you down by over-complicating things."

"Neuroscience. would have been much easier to understand if I had had this book"

Barts and the London Chronicle

"This is the best introductory textbook to the subject... I have no doubt that Neuroscience at a Glance will... become a trusted companion for medical students." Guy's, King's & St Thomas' (GKT) Gazette

"The book is divided into 47 'chapters'. In each, a comprehensive series of annotated diagrams is given, identifying the key concepts of that section. These diagrams are clear and easy to follow. The text is extremely concise, with significant terms all lettered in bold."

The Gubernaculum, Melbourne University's Medical Society Newsletter

"Rating * * * * *. Excellent summaries, to the point, very good foundation upon which students can develop an interest in neuroscience. Ideal for pre-clinical students."

Cambridge Medicine, Addenbrookes Clinical Medical School

"Neuroscience at a Glance gives you just the right amount of information presented in a student-friendly format...There is also a free online companion to the book at www.medicalneuroscience.com containing glossaries and relevant further reading signposts which I found useful.

In my opinion, it gives the student everything needed to learn about and understand the working of the brain and spinal cord without bogging you down by over-complicating things."

"Neuroscience. would have been much easier to understand if I had had this book"

Barts and the London Chronicle

"...describes with ease the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system in a fashion tailored for undergraduate learning. The user friendly layout allows the reader to identify the key information "at a glance" and draw upon the simple yet effective diagrams."

Student BMJ

"If this book had been available when my colleagues and I were grappling with the intricacies of Neuroscience, I have no doubt it would have eased our way into the subject more smoothly. This is ideally suited to the pre-clinical student needing to get to grips with complicated subjects - fast.......To quote from the English Philosopher, Francis Bacon: 'Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.' A place in the latter category is certainly commanded by 'Neuroscience at a Glance' ! Guy's Gazette/2000

"This book covers a lot of ground for such a slim volume!...The format is simple and logical.

...it is an excellent introduction to neuroscience."

J. Electrophysiol. Technol. (2003), pp. 28-29

Published reviews of the 2nd Edition

"The book was aimed at medical students, but I would recommend it to all trainees in neurophysiology:medical, technical and scientific.

.it is an excellent introduction to neuroscience and will enable the reader to appreciate where his or her own area of interest lies in the scheme of things."

Journal of Electrophysiological Technology, 2003

"...a good example of a new, more integrated approach to medical training and teaching which tries to focus on entire systems rather than on peculiar aspects of the disciples involved (anatomy, physiology, neurochemistry, pharmacology, etc.)

...the modern layout and the schematic form of presentation are a useful and rapid tool for students and clinicians. Each section refers to the previous one, in a way that reading this book is like building a structure of neuroscience principles and mechanisms, that represents a solid basis to a better understanding of neurological disorders.

...a good review of the traditonally complex field of neurosciences. It is ideal for medical students and examination candidates that need an easy and immediate way to summarize basic neuroscience mechanisms with special reference to clinical implications."

Journal of European Neurology. May 2004

Table of Contents:

Part I : The anatomical and functional organization of the nervous system.

1. The organization of the nervous system.

2. The development of the nervous system.

3. The cells of the nervous system I: Neurons.

4. The cells of the nervous system II: Neuroglial cells.

5. Ion channels.

6. The resting membrane and action potential.

7. The neuromuscular junction and synapses.

8. Nerve conduction and synaptic integration.

9. Neurotransmitters, receptors and their pathways.

10. Skeletal muscle structure.

11. Skeletal muscle contraction.

12. Organization of the spinal cord.

13. Anatomy of the brainstem.

14. Cranial nerves.

15. The organization of the cerebral cortex.

16. Meninges and cerebrospinal fluid.

17. Blood supply of the central nervous system.

Part II: Sensory systems.

18. Sensory systems: an overview.

19. Sensory transduction.

20. The somatosensory system.

21. Pain pathways: transduction and anatomy.

22. Pain Pathways: pharmacology and management.

23. The visual system I: The eye and the retina.

24. The visual system II: The visual pathways and subcortical visual areas.

25. The visual system III: Visual cortical areas.

26. The auditory system I: The ear and cochlea.

27. The auditory system II: The auditory pathways and language.

28. The vestibular system.

29. Olfaction and taste.

30. Association cortices: the posterior parietal and prefrontal cortex.

31. Clinical disorders of the sensory pathways.

Part III: Motor systems.

32. The organization of the motor systems.

33. The muscle spindle and lower motorneuron.

34. Spinal cord motor organization and locomotion.

35. The cortical motor areas.

36. Primary motor cortex.

37. The cerebellum.

38. The basal ganglia: Anatomy and physiology.

39. The basal ganglia diseases.

40. Eye movements.

41. Clinical disorders of the motor system.

Part IV: Autonomic and limbic systems, brainstem and plasticicty.

42. Autonomic nervous system.

43. The hypothalamus.

44. The reticular formation and sleep.

45. The limbic system, long-term potentiation and memory.

46. Neural plasticity and neurotrophic factors I: the peripheral nervous system.

47. Neural plasticity and neurotrophic factors II: the central nervous system.

Part V: Disorders of the nervous system.

48. Examination of the nervous system.

49. Investigation of the nervous system.

50. Neurochemical disorders: affective disorders and schizophrenia.

51. Neurochemical disorders: anxiety.

52. Neurodegenerative disorders.

53. Neurophysiological disorders: epilespsy.

54. Neuroimmunological disorders.

55. Neurogenetic disorders.

Appendix 1: Major neurotransmitter types.

Index