Principles of Neural Science [Hardcover]

Eric R. Kandel (Editor), James H. Schwartz (Editor), Thomas M. Jessell (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071120009 | ISBN-13: 978-0071120005 | Publication Date: July 2000 | Edition: 4th

This is the most authoritative introduction to the brain, its structure, function, development, and control of behavior available today. It presents both a comprehensive summary of the state of the science and a full discussion of historical issues in the study of the brain. Neuroanatomy, cell and molecular mechanisms, mechanisms of signaling, and development are thoroughly described in the context of the cognitive approaches to behavior. Thoroughly revised, with a new full-color art program, this text was re-designed to be more user friendly. Also featured is an expanded treatment of the development of the nervous system, the genetic basis of neurological and psychiatric diseases, the cognitive neuroscience of perception, and ion channel mechanisms.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a simply wonderful book that makes accessible in one place all the details of how the neuron and brain work. The writing is clear. The drawings are elegant and educational. The book is a feast for both the eye and mind. The richness, the beauty, and the complexity of neuroscience is all captured in this superb book." "5 Stars!" (Doody's ) --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1414 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill, Health Professions Division,; 4th edition (July 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071120009
• ISBN-13: 978-0071120005
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #617,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Neuroscience classic, January 12, 2000

By 

Kenneth J. Garcia "Jazz Is ..." (Baltimore, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Principles of Neural Science (Hardcover)

I read this book in medical school. Although I would agree that it is probably to basic science oriented for a medical school neuroscience course, it was enjoyable, thorough, and inspirational. There are few books in my life that took as complex a topic as how the brain works and made it comprehensible. It is not a crib sheet for passing medical school exams. It is the first book I would recommend for anyone seriously interested in an understanding of the brain, sensory processes, etc... For anyone for whom a fundamental grounding in neuroscience is important this is the book.

141 of 167 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Introductory & Intermediate Neurosciences, June 10, 2004

By 

Joseph J Grenier "jjg MD PhD" (Aurora, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Principles of Neural Science (Hardcover)

I used this in medical school, then graduate school, finding the length and quality improve with succeeding editions of the volume. Very well known chapter editors create a 'Scientific American-like' view of the Basic Neurosciences. This book is grossly inadequate if you want to pass medical and graduate school exams. It's like a "candy-coated" atlas of neuroscience. There are not many rigorous equations to learn in the book. For that you will need From Neuron to Brain or even a higher book such as Theoretical Neuroscience. The strength of this book is the beautiful color illustrations. Its weakness is that it does not cover "hard-core" electrophysiology. Ohm's Law and the cable theory of the squid giant axon are covered, but where is Heisenberg-James' Theory of the quantum vesicle exocytosis, 'HJ' Theory of the Mind, and Boolean algebra. No mention of these ideas. You would have to go to Sir John Eccles' The Self & Control of its Brain, as well as Henry Stapps Mind, Brain, & Quantum Mechanics for further expansion on such theories. Also, where is Bayes Theorem and a discussion of probabilistic Populations of Neurons. Entropy is not discussed. A useful reference is Information Theory & the Brain by Baddeley for this. Ballistic, and Biofeedback are not discussed. Refer to Roger Carpenters' Movements of the Eyes & Neurophysiology 4th ed. Magnetic Stimulation and fMRI are alluded to but not incorporated as valid tools in the study of the Nervous System. Alan Kingstone with UBC, Vancouver, Canada has written a good reference on this. I have not really used this book since graduate school. This text is a very good overview of Neuroscience ranging from cell biology of neurons, ion channel physiology, to Movement Control, to Cognition & Memory. Phenomena like LTP & LTD have their own individual chapters. I still own this book and will keep it as a nice reference even though I do not refer much to it in my daily work.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An improvement over previous editions., November 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Principles of Neural Science (Hardcover)

While this book (in this and previous incarnations) has been hailed as the "bible" of neuroscience, there are some flaws the potential reader should be made aware of. The first batch of chapters dealing with the machinery of the cell are repetitive in terms of their respective contents. Some judicious editing would have been nice in this section. Although the writing style improves in subsequent chapters, those dealing with the molecular biology of the neuron could be a little clearer. Levitan and Kaczmarek's "The Neuron" could be used to either introduce or supplement these chapters. The illustrations throughout are a major improvement over the last edition's over-use of black and white stick figures. While it is a very good teaching text for the money, check your university bookstore or library for other neuroscience texts which might give a clearer functional overview. In the long gap between this edition and the last a number of good graduate level texts have arisen to fill the need.