Thalamocortical Assemblies: How Ion Channels, Single Neurons and Large-Scale Networks Organize Sleep Oscillations [Hardcover]

Alain Destexhe (Author), Terrence J. Sejnowski (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198524250 | ISBN-13: 978-0198524250 | Publication Date: December 15, 2001 | Edition: 1

During sleep, the mammalian brain generates an orderly progression of low frequency oscillations. The nature of these oscillations changes as the brain moves from sleep onset into deep sleep. Although readily measured and recorded, the underlying neural mechanisms involved and the purpose of these oscillations have remained unclear. However, as we learn more about the properties of neurons in the thalamus and cerebral cortex and their interactions, it has become possible to suggest a role for these occurrences.

This book reviews the molecular components and ionic mechanisms underlying sleep oscillations, including their distorsion into epileptic seizures. It reviews the properties of ion channels, synaptic interactions, intrinsic cellular behaviour, and how these elements assemble into oscillating circuits and networks.
The precision experimental data collected has provided a foundation for the study of dynamic activity in the central nervous systems and it is now possible to suggest a role for thalamocortical oscillations in memory consolidation.

Thalamocortical Assemblies is for neuroscientists, neurobiologists, physiologists and other researchers interested in sleep and memory processes.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alain Destexhe is at Unite de Neurosciences Integratives et Computationelles, CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France. Terrence Sejnowski is at Computational Neurobiology Laboratory, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Salk Institute, La Jolla, USA.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 472 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (December 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198524250
• ISBN-13: 978-0198524250
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,658,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent overview but for specialists, March 22, 2005

By 

Karl Hook (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thalamocortical Assemblies: How Ion Channels, Single Neurons and Large-Scale Networks Organize Sleep Oscillations (Hardcover)

This book presents a very complete overview of the physiology of thalamic neurons. It covers both single neuron and circuit properties. It explores the mechanisms underlying normal and pathological oscillations in which the thalamus is involved. I liked very much the last chapter which speculates about the role of oscillations in memory consolidation. The book is very clearly organized, goes in the detail. The only criticism is that it is rather for a specialized audience with a solid background in electrophysiology.