Section I The Molecular Basis Of Neuronal Activity -- 1The Neuronal Membrane -- 2 Membrane Lipids -- 3 The Nerve Impulse -- 4 Synaptic Transmission -- 5 The Blood-Brain Barrier and Extracellular Fluid -- 6 Synaptic Plasticity -- 7 Morphological Changes Associated with Brain Plasticity -- Section II The Energy Supply to the Neurons -- 8 Glucose and Energy Metabolism in the Brain -- 9 Blood Flow and Temperature of the Brain -- Section III Proteins in the Brain: Metabolism and Function -- 10 Purine and Pyrimidine Bases in the Brain -- 11 Deoxyribonucleic Acid and Its Role in the Brain -- 12 Ribonucleic Acids in the Brain -- 13 Brain Amino Acids -- 14 Functional Aspects of Protein Synthesis in the Brain -- 15 Second Messenger Systems in the Brain -- 16 Transport of Substances Throughout the Neuron -- Section IV Functional Aspects of Neurotransmitter Activity -- 17 Cholinergic Systems -- 18 Catecholaminergic Systems -- 19 Serotonergic and Histaminergic Systems -- 20 Amino Acids as Neurotransmitters -- 21 Other Putative Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators -- Section V The Brain as an Endocrine Gland -- 22 Endocrine and “Paracrine” Effects on Brain Activity -- 23 The Control of Sexual Behavior -- 24 The Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and Behavior -- 25 Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Thyroid -- 26 Growth Hormone and Its Secretion -- 27 Neurochemistry of Thirst and Hunger -- 28 Neurochemistry of Pain -- 29 Some Other Notable Brain Peptides -- Section VI A Model of Neuronal Plasticity and Some Speculations on its Relationship to Learning and Memory -- A Model of Neuronal Plasticity and Some Speculations on its Relationship to Learning and Memory.

This book discusses a particular aspect of brain function, that of storage and retrieval of memory of past experience, in terms of neuronal plasticity. In discussing this aspect of brain functions, however, it discusses brain mecha­ nisms in their wider sense as well. Clearly, the central nervous system is a highly interconnected system from all points of view, and it would not be possible to understand function in terms of only a single event or only a sin­ gle neurotransmitter. This is true for any biochemical activity that accompanies neuronal functional activity and accompanies behavior. The authors have commendably recognized this complexity, and recognize still more the need to present information in a compact and uniform manner in spite of the tremendous expansion of our knowledge in recent years. It is a somewhat easier task to gather a set of authors and record their results for a multiauthor symposium, but it is a most admirable endeavor for two authors to summarize a field that encompasses subjects such as transmission barri­ ers, lipids, proteins, energy, hormones, to name a few that this book covers so well in a compact manner, and in such depth as well. Metabolism and func­ tion cannot really be understood without understanding structural factors, changes in membrane properties, and changes in metabolism.

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