Foundations of Cellular Neurophysiology (Bradford Books) [Hardcover]

Daniel Johnston (Author), Samuel Miao-Sin Wu (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0262100533 | ISBN-13: 978-0262100533 | Publication Date: November 2, 1994 | Edition: 1

with simulations and illustrations by Richard Gray Problem solving is an indispensable part of learning a quantitative science such as neurophysiology. This text for graduate and advanced undergraduate students in neuroscience, physiology, biophysics, and computational neuroscience provides comprehensive, mathematically sophisticated descriptions of modern principles of cellular neurophysiology. It is the only neurophysiology text that gives detailed derivations of equations, worked examples, and homework problem sets (with complete answers).Developed from notes for the course that the authors have taught since 1983, Foundations of Cellular Neurophysiology covers cellular neurophysiology (also some material at the molecular and systems levels) from its physical and mathematical foundations in a way that is far more rigorous than other commonly used texts in this area.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

All of the authors teach at Baylor College of Medicine. Daniel Johnston is Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Division of Neurosciences; he is also Professor in the Department of Neurology and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics. Samuel Miao-Sin Wu is Professor of Opthalmology, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, and Neuroscience. Richard Gray is Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Neuroscience.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 710 pages
• Publisher: A Bradford Book; 1 edition (November 2, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262100533
• ISBN-13: 978-0262100533
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 8.3 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #397,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mathematical Cellular Neurophysiology, June 10, 2004

By 

Joseph J Grenier "jjg MD PhD" (Aurora, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Foundations of Cellular Neurophysiology (Bradford Books) (Hardcover)

This book is chock full of equations concerning the Hodgkin-Huxley Model, Kinetics of Ionic Channels, Presynaptic & Postsynaptic Transmission, LTP, LTD, quantum vesicular release and reuptake, & a "scant" neural net theory. There are a plethora of 'end of chapter' problems with derivations & applications to solve. The book is going to be confusing and tedious, even for computationally trained neuroscientists. For me, this book is a reference only. The format is similar to Thomas Weiss' Cellular Biophysics 2 Volume Set. There is too much on the Hodgkin-Huxley Model which is very important historically, but of less interest today than it was in the 1960s. The authors also use cable theory to model neuronal & dendritic function.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Dense and confusing, January 2, 2001

By 

Arnie Layne - See all my reviews

This review is from: Foundations of Cellular Neurophysiology (Bradford Books) (Hardcover)

This book covers a lot of material. The quality varies from chapter to chapter. Figures are sprinkled here and there with very little explanation of what they mean. Additionally, there is not much consistency between figures. This book might be serve as a good companion to a course, but it's virtually useless for self study.

My background is engineering and neuroscience, but I still found the math to be poorly explained. If you're trying to learn about biophysics and cellular neurophysiology, pick another book. If you're unfortunate enough to have this book assigned to you for a class, make sure you attend the lectures.

The index is also terrible and virtually useless for anything that I've tried to look up. The only good thing about the book is that it references a lot of stuff, so you know where to look.

One star is for the breadth of topics covered and one is for the references. The Matisse drawing on the cover is also a nice touch.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Understand the biophysics of excitable cells, December 15, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Foundations of Cellular Neurophysiology (Bradford Books) (Hardcover)

You don't really have to hold a degree in mathematics or physics to understand cellular biophysics quantitavely; at least not with this book.

Clearly written, concise, self-contained, begins with the very basic knowledge of ion transport through semi-permeable membranes, moves to electrical properties of membranes, and then to passive and active properties of neuronal membranes, all in a very didactic and intuitive approach.

Of special interest are the chapters on stochastic analysis and formulation of single channel function, and on the relationship between calcium dynamics and transmitter release.

This text is essential for students interested in pursuing graduate studies in electrophysiology, cellular neuroscience, and in computational neuroscience.