Helmchen (Brain Research Institute, U. of Zurich, Switzerland) and Konnerth (Institute for Neurosciences, Technical U. Munich, Germany) provide a 92-chapter manual on imaging techniques for the visualization of neural dynamics. Chapters present short overviews of specific methods and applications, as well as step-by-step experimental protocols arranged by the spatial level of organization, from molecules to synapses, cells, networks, and brain areas. Researchers working in neuroscience, biology, physiology, physics, and other sciences in Europe, North America, Israel, and Asia cover molecular tools for labeling receptors and cells and for optical readout and control of neural activity; application of these tools to study mechanisms of axonal propagation of excitation and synaptic transmission; the integration of synaptic inputs in neuronal dendrites; functional properties of neurons and neural circuits in brain slice preparations; studies of the dynamic properties of various glial cells; emerging approaches of performing high-resolution imaging studies during behavior; and examples of imaging studies in animal models of disease. Annotation 2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
