Nerve Cells and Nervous Systems

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

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2. Introduction to Nerve Cells and Nervous Systems

   • A. G. Brown

   Pages 1-14

3. The Cell Membrane: Ionic Permeability and Electrotonic Properties

   • A. G. Brown

   Pages 15-25

4. The Action Potential and the Nerve Impulse

   • A. G. Brown

   Pages 27-44

5. Voltage-Gated Ion Channels in Excitable Membranes

   • A. G. Brown

   Pages 45-53

6. General Properties of Intercellular Communication in the Nervous System

   • A. G. Brown

   Pages 55-61

7. The Presynaptic Neuron I: Release of Neurotransmitter

   • A. G. Brown

   Pages 63-74

8. The Presynaptic Neuron II: Neurotransmitters

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   Pages 75-86

9. The Postsynaptic Neuron I: Actions of Neurotransmitters

   • A. G. Brown

   Pages 87-100

10. The Postsynaptic Neuron II: The Neuron as an Integrative Device

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    Pages 101-117

11. Transmission Between Pairs of Identified Neurons

    • A. G. Brown

    Pages 119-129

12. Sense Organ Mechanisms

    • A. G. Brown

    Pages 131-144

13. Functional Organisation in Groups of Neurons

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    Pages 145-159

14. Structural Organisation of Sensory and Motor Systems

    • A. G. Brown

    Pages 161-176

15. Functional Properties of Specific Sensory and Motor Systems

    • A. G. Brown

    Pages 177-195

16. The Nervous System and the Internal and External Environments — Homeostasis and Interactions

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    Pages 197-213

17. Formation, Maintenance and Plasticity of Synapses

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    Pages 215-230

18. Learning and Memory

    • A. G. Brown

    Pages 231-238

19. Back Matter

    Pages 239-253

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It is now about 10 years since the first edition of Nerve Cells and Nervous Systems was published. There have been many important advances across the whole field of neuro­ science since 1990 and it was obvious that the first edition had become much less useful than when it was published. Hence this new edition. I have attempted to keep to the aims of the first edition by presenting the general principles of neuroscience in the context of experimental evidence. As with the first edition, the selection of material to include, or exclude, has been difficult and invariably reflects my personal biases. I hope that not too many readers will be disappointed with the selections. I have unashamedly retained material, and, in particular, illustrations where I think they remain of importance to an understanding of the field and to its historical development. As before, I have attempted as reasonable a coverage as possible within the confines of a book that should be easy to carry around, to handle and, I hope, to read. The book should be useful for anyone studying the nervous system at both undergraduate and immediate postgraduate levels. In particular, under­ graduates reading neuroscience or any course containing a neuroscience component, such as physiology, pharmacology, biomedical sciences or psychology, as well as medicine and veterinary medicine should find the book helpful.

• Nervous System
• Neuroscience
• anatomy
• cells
• nervous systems
• neurons
• neurophysiology
• neurosciences
• neurotransmitters
• physiology

• Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

  A. G. Brown

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