Dendrites

Edited by:
  • G. Stuart,
  • N. Spruston &
  • Michael Häusser
Oxford Univ. Press: 2007. 2nd edition. £42.95, $79.50 9780198566564 | ISBN: 978-0-1985-6656-4
Credit: OXFORD UNIV. PRESS

Dendrites are extensions of the cell body of the neuron, receiving synaptic input from thousands of other neurons and shaping and integrating these signals. This book, which is a collection of informative essays by prominent neuroscientists, captures the resurgence of interest in these structures, the intricacies of their function, and the contribution they make to mental processes.

The second edition follows eight years after the first. Chapters have been extensively revised or rewritten, and six of the 20 are new — reflecting the vigorous expansion of the topic into new areas. A multidisciplinary approach underpins the search for answers to the many questions posed by dendrites and gives insight into their development and their electrical, chemical and computational properties.

Each chapter is lavishly referenced and set out under concise subheadings; the colour illustrations, a staple of any worthwhile learning aid, are thoughtfully presented. There is a foreword by Nobel laureate Bert Sakmann.