Beyond Neurotransmission

Neuromodulation and its Importance for Information Processing

Edited by Paul Katz

Chapters written by first class set of contributors
Exciting, fast-moving area of neuroscience and nervous system research
Understanding neuromodulation is integral to understanding how the brain works
Excellent summary of our current understanding of the mechanisms of neuromodulation

Beyond Neurotransmission

Neuromodulation and its Importance for Information Processing

Edited by Paul Katz

Description

There are many modes of communication that neurons use to transmit information besides what has come to be called neurotransmission. Many of these other types of communication can be classified as neuromodulatory, where instead of conveying excitation or inhibition, the signal from one neuron changes the properties of other neurons or synapses. This form of neuronal communication is often overlooked by systems physiologists, but it is extremely prevalent in the nervous system and needs to be included in any description of how the nervous system processes information. This book provides the foundations for understanding the cellular and molecular basis for neuromodulatory effects. It illustrates some key examples of the roles played by neuromodulation in sensory processing, neuromuscular transmission, generation of motor behaviours, and learning. Finally, the book seeks to point out areas that are likely to be of importance in the future study of information processing by the nervous system. For neurobiology students and researchers, the book summarizes a vast amount of research, and puts it into the context of how these cellular mechanisms are used in systems of neurons. By spanning the levels of analysis from sub-cellular mechanisms through cellular properties and neuronal systems to behaviour, the book provides a framework for understanding this currently exploding field of research. It is accessible to anyone with a basic understanding of neurobiology, but is in depth enough to satisfy readers who are very familiar with the field.

Beyond Neurotransmission

Neuromodulation and its Importance for Information Processing

Edited by Paul Katz

1:What are we talking about? Modes of neuronal communication, Katz
2:The messenger is not the message; or is it?, Trimmer
3:The inside story: subcellular mechanisms of neuromodulation, Jonas and Kaczmarek
4:Message received: Cellular responses to neuromodulatory signals, Turrigiano
5:Metaplasticity: the plasticity of synaptic plasticity, Philpot, Bear, Abraham
6:Changing the way we perceive things: sensory systems modulation, Mercer
7:Flexibility of Muscle Control by Modulation of Muscle Properties, Hooper et al
8:Making circuits dance: Neuromodulation of motor systems, Kiehn and Katz
9:Neuromodulation and memory function, Hasselmo and Linster
10:Metamodulation: The control and modulation of neuromodulation, Katz and Edwards

Beyond Neurotransmission

Neuromodulation and its Importance for Information Processing

Edited by Paul Katz

Author Information

Edited by Paul Katz, Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA

Contributors:

Paul S. Katz, Dept. of Biology, Georgia State University, PO Box 4010, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA
Barry A. Trimmer, Dept. of Biology, Dana Laboratory, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
Elizabeth Jonas, Dept. of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
Gina Turrigiano, Dept. of Biology & Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02254, USA
Benjamin Philpot, Dept. of Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
Alison Mercer, Dept. of Zoology, Box 56, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Scott Hooper, Neurobiology Program, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
Vladimir Brezina, Dept. of Physiology & Biophysics & The Fishberg Research Center in Neurobiology, Box 1218, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
Elizabeth Cropper, Dept. of Physiology & Biophysics & The Fishberg Research Center in Neurobiology, Box 1218, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
Klaudiusz Weiss Dept. of Physiology & Biophysics & The Fishberg Research Center in Neurobiology, Box 1218, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
Ole Kiehn, Section of Neurophysiology, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
Michael Hasselmo, Dept. of Psychology, Rm. 983, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Christine Linster, Dept. of Psychology, Rm. 983, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Donald Edwards, Dept. of Biology, Georgia State University, PO Box 4010, Atalanta, GA 30302, USA
Leonard Kaczmarek, Dept. of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
Mark Bear, Dept. of Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
Wickliffe Abraham, Dept. of Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA