Principles of Neural Science (Hardcover)

~ Eric Kandel (Author), James Schwartz (Author), Thomas Jessell (Author) "THE TASK OF NEURAL SCIENCE is to understand the mental processes by which we perceive, act, learn, and remember..." (more)
Key Phrases: disk receptors, proneural region, resting ion channels, New York, Brain Res, Oxford Univ (more...)

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 )

Product Description

Now in resplendent color, the new edition continues to define the latest in the scientific understanding of the brain, the nervous system, and human behavior. Each chapter is thoroughly revised and includes the impact of molecular biology in the mechanisms underlying developmental processes and in the pathogenesis of disease. Important features to this edition include a new chapter - Genes and Behavior; a complete updating of development of the nervous system; the genetic basis of neurological and psychiatric disease; cognitive neuroscience of perception, planning, action, motivation and memory; ion channel mechanisms; and much more.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1414 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Medical; 4 edition (January 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0838577016
• ISBN-13: 978-0838577011
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,483 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

101 of 117 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 (REAL NAME)

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.

39 of 43 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 (REAL NAME)

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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.

52 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For a required textbook not bad, as reference not organized!, June 2, 2000

By	K. L Sadler (Freedom, Pa. USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The University of Pittsburgh Neuroscience department uses this book as one of it's main textbooks. It is an interesting book, and one that I've used for years. This edition is in keeping with the other editions of the book, meaning, it is just as disorganized by chapters and topics as it always was. Even though many of the individual chapters are well-written and interesting, I get the feeling the whole thing was thrown together as fast as they could get it out. Many times when I am looking up information, I can't even go to a specific chapter and be sure I'll find it there...I have to use the index in the back of the book. That is okay, but it is time-consuming and I think that students and educators would be better served if the book were more carefully organized. It should be remembered that writing a book for Neuroscience is difficult at best, because the information changes at least every three months...so by the time a textbook gets to print, some of what they have said is already out of date. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh, [e-mail]