John R. Smythies

Harold E. Himwich

Seymour S. Kety

Amines and Schizophrenia is a collection of articles that survey and discuss the biochemical basis present, if any, in schizophrenia, focusing on the role of certain amines. The book discusses certain hypotheses dealing with the field of bio-chemistry as the basis for diseases such as schizophrenia, manic-depressive psychosis, and related diseases. Discussions start with the properties of mescaline, because the psychotic effect of the drug has some aspects similar to that of a schizophrenic syndrome. One paper examines the presence of certain amines, such as norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin in the brain, including their role in the synaptic transmission of nerve impulses in the central nervous system. Other papers review the role of derangements of tryptophan metabolism in psychotic behavior; the metabolic interrelationships of tryptophan and methionine in mental illness; and the results obtained with psychomimetic and non-psychomimetic congeners of three classes of indoleamines including LSD. The book gives more details on the actions of various biological amines on single neurons in the limbic system of the brain. The text also evaluates the use of hallucinogenic drugs in considering their heuristic value in the study of the biochemical basis of mental function. The selection will prove relevant for psychologists, psychiatrists, drug researchers, pharmacologists, and chemical laboratory workers and technicians.

Amines and Schizophrenia

Vilayanur S. Ramachandran

Lawrence Edelstein

The present day is witnessing an explosion of our understanding of how the brain works at all levels, in which complexity is piled on complexity, and mechanisms of astonishing elegance are being continually discovered. This process is most developed in the major areas of the brain, such as the cortex, thalamus, and striatum. The Claustrum instead focuses on a small, remote, and, until recently, relatively unknown area of the brain. In recent years, researchers have come to believe that the claustrum is concerned with consciousness, a bold hypothesis supported by the claustrum’s two-way connections with nearly every other region of the brain and its seeming involvement with multisensory integrations—the hallmark of consciousness. The claustrum, previously in a humble position at the back of the stage, might in fact be the conductor of the brain’s orchestra. The Claustrum brings together leading experts on the claustrum from the varied disciplines of neuroscience, providing a state-of-the-art presentation of what is currently known about the claustrum, promising lines of current research (including epigenetics), and projections of new lines of investigation on the horizon. Develops a unifying hypothesis about the claustrum’s role in consciousness, as well as the integration of sensory information and other higher brain functions. Discusses the involvement of the claustrum with autism, schizophrenia, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease Coverage of all aspects of the claustrum, from its evolution and development to promising new lines of research, including epigenetics, provides a platform and point of reference for future investigative efforts

John R. Smythies

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