The Nervous System: Principles of Neural Science . Eric R. Kandel and James H. Schwartz. Elsevier/North- Holland, New York, 1981. xxxvi, 734 pp., illus. Cloth, $60; paper, $29.95.

Abstract

The nervous system forms an elaborate connecting link between the sense organs, which respond to various external and internal stimuli, and effector organs such as muscles, glands and luminous structures, through which the insect reacts to the stimuli by coordinated behavioural changes (Schmitt, 1962; Roeder, 1963; Smith and Treherne, 1963; Gouin, 1965; Horridge, 1965; Treherne and Beament, 1965; Treherne, 1966, 1974; Hoyle, 1970). In addition, some nerve cells have a special secretory role (p. 273) and the integrity of the nervous system may be required for normal development and regeneration of other tissues (Finlayson, 1960; Nuesch, 1968). The nervous system is composed essentially of ramifying neuroglial cells with supporting and nutritive functions (Wigglesworth, 1960; Smith, 1967) and the more numerous neurons, which are highly specialized for the relatively rapid generation and conduction of electrochemical nervous impulses (Pipa, 1961; Landolt, 1965; Chiarodo, 1969; Sohal et al., 1972). Processes of each neuron put it into contact by synaptic junctions with other nerve cells (Chiarodo et al., 1970) or with sensory structures or effector organs. One or more of these processes forms a long conducting fibre or axon (Narahashi, 1963) ending in a group of fine, branching fibrils; the number of axons enables the neuron to be classified as uni-, bi- or multipolar.