Preface to the Third Edition In this third edition of Fundamental Neuroscience, nervous systems. The remainder of the volume(Sec- ve have tried to improve on the second edition with tions Il-VID) presents the major topics of neuroscience a volume that effectively introduces students to the The second section( Cellular and Molecular Neurosci- full range of contemporary neuroscience. Neuro- ence)considers the cellular and subcellular organiza cience is a large field founded on the premise that all tion of neurons, the physiology of nerve cells, and how of behavior and all of mental life have their origin in signaling occurs between neurons. The third section the structure and function of the nervous system.(Nervous System Development)includes discussion of Today, the need for a single-volume introduction to neural induction, cell fate, migration, process out neuroscience is greater than ever. Towards the end of growth, development of dendrites, synapse formation, the 20 century, the study of the brain moved from a programmed cell death, synapse elimination, and early peripheral position within both the biological and experience including critical periods. The fourth and psychological sciences to become an interdisciplinary fifth sections(Sensory Systems and Motor Systems field that is now central within each discipline. The describe the neural organization of each sensory maturation of neuroscience has meant that individu- modality and the organization of the brain pathway als from diverse backgrounds-including molecular and systems important for locomotion, voluntary biologists, computer scientists, and psychologists-are action, and eye movements. The sixth section(Regula interested in learning about the structure and func- tory Systems) describes the variety of hypothalamic tion of the brain and about how the brain works In and extra-hypothalamic systems that support motiva- addition, new techniques and tools have become tion, reward, and internal regulation, including cardio- available to study the brain in increasing detail. In the vascular function, respiration, food and water intake last 15 years new genetic methods have been intro neuroendocrine function, circadian rhythms, and duced to delete or over-express single genes with and dreaming. The final section( Behavioral and Cog- spatial and temporal specificity. Neuroimaging nitive Neuroscience) describes the neural foundations techniques such as functional magnetic resonance of the so-called higher mental functions including per imaging(fMRI have been developed that allow study ception, attention, memory, language, spatial cogni of the living human brain while it is engaged in tion, and executive function. Additional chapters cover human brain evolution, cognitive development and This third edition attempts to capture the promise aging and consciousness the volume will be accom- and excitement of this fast-moving discipline. All the panied by an easily accessible companion website, chapters have been rewritten to make them more which will present all the figures and increase the flex oncise. As a result the new edition is about 30% ibility with which the material can be used. shorter than previous editions but still covers the same The authors listed at the ends of the chap comprehensive range of topics. The volume begins and boxes are working scientists, experts in the with an opening chapter that provides an overview of topics they cover. The Editors edited the chapters to the discipline. A second chapter presents fundamental achieve consistency of style and content. At Academic information about the architecture and anatomy of Press/Elsevier Science, the project was coordinatedPreface to the Third Edition xv In this third edition of Fundamental Neuroscience, we have tried to improve on the second edition with a volume that effectively introduces students to the full range of contemporary neuroscience. Neuro￾science is a large fi eld founded on the premise that all of behavior and all of mental life have their origin in the structure and function of the nervous system. Today, the need for a single-volume introduction to neuroscience is greater than ever. Towards the end of the 20th century, the study of the brain moved from a peripheral position within both the biological and psychological sciences to become an interdisciplinary fi eld that is now central within each discipline. The maturation of neuroscience has meant that individu￾als from diverse backgrounds—including molecular biologists, computer scientists, and psychologists—are interested in learning about the structure and func￾tion of the brain and about how the brain works. In addition, new techniques and tools have become available to study the brain in increasing detail. In the last 15 years new genetic methods have been intro￾duced to delete or over-express single genes with spatial and temporal specifi city. Neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have been developed that allow study of the living human brain while it is engaged in cognition. This third edition attempts to capture the promise and excitement of this fast-moving discipline. All the chapters have been rewritten to make them more concise. As a result the new edition is about 30% shorter than previous editions but still covers the same comprehensive range of topics. The volume begins with an opening chapter that provides an overview of the discipline. A second chapter presents fundamental information about the architecture and anatomy of nervous systems. The remainder of the volume (Sec￾tions II–VII) presents the major topics of neuroscience. The second section (Cellular and Molecular Neurosci￾ence) considers the cellular and subcellular organiza￾tion of neurons, the physiology of nerve cells, and how signaling occurs between neurons. The third section (Nervous System Development) includes discussion of neural induction, cell fate, migration, process out￾growth, development of dendrites, synapse formation, programmed cell death, synapse elimination, and early experience including critical periods. The fourth and fi fth sections (Sensory Systems and Motor Systems) describe the neural organization of each sensory modality and the organization of the brain pathways and systems important for locomotion, voluntary action, and eye movements. The sixth section (Regula￾tory Systems) describes the variety of hypothalamic and extra-hypothalamic systems that support motiva￾tion, reward, and internal regulation, including cardio￾vascular function, respiration, food and water intake, neuroendocrine function, circadian rhythms, and sleep and dreaming. The fi nal section (Behavioral and Cog￾nitive Neuroscience) describes the neural foundations of the so-called higher mental functions including per￾ception, attention, memory, language, spatial cogni￾tion, and executive function. Additional chapters cover human brain evolution, cognitive development and aging, and consciousness. The volume will be accom￾panied by an easily accessible companion website, which will present all the fi gures and increase the fl ex￾ibility with which the material can be used. The authors listed at the ends of the chapters and boxes are working scientists, experts in the topics they cover. The Editors edited the chapters to achieve consistency of style and content. At Academic Press/Elsevier Science, the project was coordinated