Annual Review of Neuroscience, vol. 18.

Cowan WM, Shooter EM, Stevens CF, Thompson RF, eds. Palo Alto, CA 94303-0139, Annual Reviews Inc, 1995, hardback, 607 pp, illus, $47.

The purpose of this review series is to provide reviews of current topics in neuroscience. This volume contains 20 state-of-the-art reviews written by 39 different authors. As with the other volumes in this series, this volume contains a variety of articles concerning topics in neurobiology. Since the focus of this volume is on molecular neurobiology, it probably will have limited appeal to most physical therapists or physical therapist assistants.

Although most of the articles are not clinical in nature, there are several articles that might interest physical therapists who are researchers or who teach neuroscience to physical therapy students. The articles that might be of particular interest to physical therapists reviewed (1) the representation of visual and auditory space in the brain, (2) hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies, (3) infantile autism, (4) receptive fields in the sensory cortex, (5) neural mechanisms of visual attention, (6) localization of brain function, and (7) mechanisms of drug reinforcement and addiction.

The article on infantile autism discusses clinical features, causes, neuropathology, and treatment. The section on treatment is brief, stating only that a behavioral approach is the most common strategy. There are some references cited, however, that may provide more information to the interested reader. The article on localization of brain function follows the career of Franz Gall and his belief in phrenology. Although the article has more historical significance than clinical significance, therapists may find the discussion of Gall's controversial viewpoints and his influence on contemporary neuroscience quite fascinating. Therapists with an interest in pain control and endogenous opiates may want, to read the article on molecular mechanisms of drug addiction.

Overall, the volume offers the reader a highly specialized series of review articles that would probably not appeal to most clinical therapists. They may be of interest, however, to those therapists seeking specific information on neurobiology. Each article is well organized, some have illustrations, and all are very well referenced. The references alone may be of interest. Because of the focus on molecular neurobiology, I do not recommend the purchase of the volume for the reader's personal library. As most medical libraries subscribe to this series, I would recommend that the reader peruse the volume in the local medical library.

Thomas M Mohr, PhD, PT University of North Dakota

Dr Mohr is Professor and Chairman of the Physical Therapy, Department at the University of North Dakota, where he teaches courses in neuroscience, physiology, biomechanics, and electrophysiology. He also does research in electromyography and electrotherapy.