Development of the Nervous System, Third Edition

Aims and scopeThe scope of coverage will be consistent with that evident in the first two editions: a thorough survey of the field of neural development, written and illustrated for a broad undergraduate audience. In agreement with the reviewers, the book will stay similar in length and the focus will stay on being a book for a course taught through a single, complete semester, so all additions will be carefully balanced.The book will focus on fundamental principles about the organogenesis of the nervous system, taking a wide-ranging perspective across all animals, but with a clear concentration on model systems in which incisive experimental approaches have been taken. To describe the key experiments and results that form the basis of the field and take us to the edge of current knowledge, leaving the ongoing work in the field to be sorted out before inclusion in a subsequent edition.The book is organized ontologically; the first chapters cover the early origins and patterning of the nervous system and the final chapter covers the functional consequences of putting the nervous system together (i.e. the neural origins of behavioural development) . Additional major topic areas, such as cell proliferation and determination, differentiation of neurons, synapse formation, death and plasticity, will be covered in the intervening chapters.Rationale for a new editionAlthough the basic principles of neural development are now fairly well established, there are several additions, revisions, and corrections that are required to keep pace with this rapidly expanding field. For example, the model for postsynaptic differentiation (of muscle) was largely revised one year after our book was published. Another major addition will be on the development of myelination for which there is now a large source of data and an acceptable model. Additional coverage of cellular differentiation will also be important, to include a more cell biological foundation to glial and neuronal differentiation and growth cone motility. We could also consider expanding the text in the area of cognitive and behavioral development, since these are two areas of rapid change and significant new information. An expansion of coverage in these areas will also create more continuity and relevance with developmental psychology curricula. Features- Thorough survey of the field of neural development- Concise but complete, suitable for a one semester course on upper level undergraduate or graduate level- Focus on fundamental principles of organogenesis in the nervous system- Integrates information from a variety of model systems, relating them to human nervous system development, including disorders of development- Systematically develops knowledge from the description of key experiments and results. - Organized ontologically- Carefully edited to be presented in one voice- New edition thoroughly updated and revised to include major new findings- All figures in full color, updated and revised- Specific attention on revising the chapter on cognitive and behavioral development to provide a foundation and outlook towards those very fast moving areas- Supporting instructor manual website with figurebank, testbank, powerpoint lectures, etc.Benefits- The only thorough textbook of Developmental Neuroscience on the market- Carefully structured and edited to map onto the syllabus of most developmental neuroscience courses- Priced to be affordable for undergraduates even in addition to broader textbooks- Carefully constructed instructor's website- Specifically designed to make teaching of complicated subjects easy and fun for instructors and students alike