The Visual Neurosciences: (The Visual Neurosciences)

Visual science is the model system for neuroscience, its findings relevant to all other areas. This collection of papers by researchers in the field should be a useful reference for researchers and students in visual neuroscience and for researchers and professionals in other disciplines, including molecular and cellular biology, cognitive science, ophthalmology, psychology, computer science and education. Over 100 chapters cover the entire field, from its historical foundations to contemporary research and findings in molecular mechanisms and network modelling. The book is organized by topic - different sections cover such topics as the history of visual science; developmental processes; retinal mechanisms and processes; organization of visual pathways; subcortical processing; processing in the primary visual cortex; detection and sampling; brightness and colour; form, shape and object recognition; motion, depth and spatial relationships; eye movements; attention and cognition; and theoretical and computational perspectives.

Table of Contents:
Historical foundations; developmental processes; retinal mechanisms and processes; organization of visual pathways; subcortical processing; processing in primary visual cortex; detection and sampling; brightness and colour; from, shape and object recognition; motion, depth and spatial relationships; eye movements; attention and cognition; theoretical and computational perspectives.

About the Author :
Leo M. Chalupa is Vice President for Research and Professor of Pharmacology and Physiology at George Washington University. John S. Werner is Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Ophthalmology and Vision Science and Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior at the University of California, Davis.

Review :
"The DNA microarrays are generally accepted as great new tools in biology and medicine, but they are still not sufficiently utilized in studying gene expression in complex tissues such as the mammalian central nervous system. This book is a long-awaited and much-anticipated source of basic information for neuroscientists who plan to use or already have begun to use the microarray technology. The value of this book is that it contains chapters prepared by experts that cover different aspects of this technology from a very basic introduction to microarray technology to the examples of its successful application in the developmental, integrative and clinical neurosciences. However, even to those who do not plan to use this approach, it could be of great help to understanding the language and appreciating the advances that will undoubtedly arrive."--Pasko Rakic, M.D., Ph.D., Dorys McConnell Duberg Professor of Neuroscience and Chairman of Neurobiology, Yale University School of MedicinePlease note: Endorser gives permission to excerpt from quote. "Stop looking for THE book in visual neuroscience. This is it. Chalupa and Werner have organized the single greatest intellectual event in the visual sciences, and this book will be the reference source for the next decade. One can journey with breathtaking swiftness and depth through every nook and cranny of the visual system. Chalupa, Werner, and the authors are to be congratulated for providing us with this monumental work." Michael S. Gazzaniga, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College "*The Visual Neurosciences* is a veritable who's who of contemporary visual neuroscience. The contributions of over 100 leading researchers cover the field from retina to cortex and beyond, and provide an authoritative and comprehensive coverage of the field."--Dennis Levi, Dean, School of Optometry and Professor of Optometry and Neuroscience, University of California, BerkeleyPlease note: Affiliation changed slightly. "This book is a remarkable achievement - a milestone in vision research. The editors have assembled an outstanding collection of contributors to explore the many facets of visual neuroscience."--Colin Blakemore, Waynflete Professor of Physiology, University of Oxford "*The Visual Neurosciences* is a magnificent achievement and should be in the library of every vision scientist and brain researcher with an interest in this important field."--Pasko Rakic, M.D., Ph.D., Dorys McConnell Duberg Professor of Neuroscience and Chairman of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine " The Visual Neurosciences is a magnificent achievement and should be in the library of every vision scientist and brain researcher with an interest in this important field." Pasko Rakic, M.D., Ph.D., Dorys McConnell Duberg Professor of Neuroscience and Chairman of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine " The Visual Neurosciences is a veritable who"s who of contemporary visual neuroscience. The contributions of over 100 leading researchers cover the field from retina to cortex and beyond, and provide an authoritative and comprehensive coverage of the field." Dennis Levi, Dean, School of Optometry and Professor of Optometry and Neuroscience, University of California, Berkeley "This book is a remarkable achievement--a milestone in vision research. The editors have assembled an outstanding collection of contributors to explore the many facets of visual neuroscience." Colin Blakemore, Waynflete Professor of Physiology, University of Oxford