Abstract

An understanding of the nervous system at virtually any level of analysis requires an understanding of its basic building block, the neuron. From Molecules to Networks provides the solid foundation of the morphologic, biochemical, and biophysical properties of nerve cells. All chapters have been thoroughly revised for this second edition to reflect the significant advances of the past 5 years. The new edition expands on the network aspects of cellular neurobiology by adding a new chapter, Information Processing in Neural Networks, and on the relation of cell biological processes to various neurological diseases. The new concluding chapter illustrates how the great strides in understanding the biochemical and biophysical properties of nerve cells have led to fundamental insights into important aspects of neurodegenerative disease.
• Written and edited by leading experts in the field, the second edition completely and comprehensively updates all chapters of this unique textbook
• Discusses emerging new understanding of non-classical molecules that affect neuronal signaling
• Full colour, professional graphics throughout
• Includes two new chapters: Information Processing in Neural Networks - describes the principles of operation of neural networks and the key circuit motifs that are common to many networks in the nervous system. Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative Disease - introduces the progress made in the last 20 years in elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying brain disorders, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
“John H. Byrne and James L. Roberts, who treated us to a superb textbook in their first edition of From Molecules to Networks, have now returned with another outstanding effort in the second edition. They have not only updated their comprehensive book but added to it important new sections on the molecular biology of neurological disorders and on the logic of informational processing by neural networks, the two key themes emerging in modern neuroscience. This book will be welcomed by students and experienced scientists alike as a coherent and valuable resource on cellular and molecular neuroscience.” —Eric R. Kandel, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, USA
“The world of neuroscience is extraordinarily broad and complex, ranging from molecular biology through neurotransmission to neuronal networks and brain disease. How can one convey to the student and professional coherently the ‘big picture’ without sacrificing critical detail? In the second edition of their now classic volume, John Byrne and James Roberts accomplish this task with rigor, elegance and, remarkable lucidity…The volume will be indispensable both for student and advanced researcher …” —Solomon H Snyder, Distinguished Service Professor of Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
“The development of systems biology across all of biological sciences has underlined the need for a neuroscience book whose goal is to span the range from molecular mechanisms to the neural substrate of behavior. The first edition of Byrne and Roberts was ahead of its time in doing what has now become the fashion. That was a wonderful book, and the second edition is even better. A ‘must have’.” —Charles F. Stevens, Professor and Vincent J. Coates Chair in Molecular Neurobiology, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, San Diego, USA
“This second edition brings up to date a superb neuroscience book, further enhancing its unique original strength—elegance thoroughness, and clarity, contextually presented.” —Rodolfo Llinas, Thomas and Susanne Murphy Professor of Neuroscience and Chairman, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, USA