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system, as well as chapters on disorders of Neuropharmacology movement, mood, addiction, cognition, sleep, attention, pain, memory, seizures and for a new era stroke. Not surprisingly, the chapters on addiction and memory, which are the authors’ specialties, are superb, as are those Molecular Neuropharmacology: on mood and emotion and on cognitive A Foundation for Clinical Neuroscience function and psychosis. The treatment of movement disorders is less satisfactory, as by Eric J. Nestler, Steven E. Hyman and it treats extensively the neural sub-circuits Robert C. Malenka involved, without giving a strong sense of McGraw-Hill, New York, 2001. $49.95 the mechanisms for overall control of move- paperback, pp 539 ment. Also, by treating the movement dis- ISBN 0-83-856379-1 orders of Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Huntington’s disease Reviewed by Zach W. Hall (surprisingly, omitting the spino-cerebellar ataxias) separately from Alzheimer’s, the authors miss an opportunity to highlight current ideas on protein aggregation as a One of the hopes for future brain research researchers and practitioners, who need unifying feature of the neurodegenerative is that we can translate our remarkable to learn about the drugs that they use. The diseases. In this context, a more detailed progress in fundamental neuroscience names of drugs and diseases are intro- account of mechanisms of proteolysis, into a biological understanding of human duced wherever relevant, and are high- specifically with respect to misfolded pro- behavior and its disorders. Molecular Neu- lighted in boldface throughout. Boxes are teins might have usefully received more ropharmacology: A Foundation for Clini- used to elaborate specific points. Several attention in the chapter describing mecha- cal Neuroscience admirably sets the stage boxes are superb: a succinct description nisms of protein synthesis. for this challenge. It does so by focusing of neurofibromatosis, a discussion of the I have two general suggestions for the on drugs, which historically have been limitations of animal models of depres- next edition. First, an early chapter on the powerful investigative tools in brain sion, and a summary of small G proteins, influence of structural biology and the research, both as precise reagents for among others. The text is additionally genomic revolution on our thinking about unraveling cellular mechanisms in the enlivened by first-person descriptions of drugs could provide valuable guidance for laboratory and as active clinical agents ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease and Sol Sny- the future. These topics are mentioned only

© http://neurosci.nature.com Group 2001 Nature Publishing whose effects give insight into the biolog- der’s first LSD trip. in passing, and, remarkably in a book ical basis of complex behaviors and their The book is divided into three sections. devoted to drugs, I found only a single disorders. Over the last few decades, neu- The first, Fundamentals of Neuroscience, example of the three-dimensional structure ropharmacology has largely focused on covers basic neuropharmacology, the cell of a protein. Second, I hope the undoubted identifying the specific proteins that act biology of neurons and glia, electrical success of the first edition will encourage as drug targets. This book not only reflects excitability of neurons and synaptic trans- the authors and the editors to invest in the the success of these efforts, but also the mission. These are standard textbook chap- second edition by improving the quality of perspective of a new era, emphasizing the ters. Some are perfunctory and, as teaching the text and figures. Better editing, better molecular and cellular circuits that medi- tools, unremarkable, but all are notable for choice of tables (do we really need to know ate the effects of drugs on behavior, as their accuracy and currency. Discussions the molecular mass of ionotropic receptor well as the ability of drugs to exert their include the latest interpretations and dis- subunits?), and more and better figures effects by changing these circuits. coveries (even the most recent estimate of would all improve the book. A more careful As clinically trained psychiatrists who the number of genes in the human job of copy-editing could invigorate the are also leaders in fundamental brain genome) smoothly integrated into the text. sometimes flabby prose (“It was deter- research, the three authors, Eric Nestler, Two of the chapters, Signal Transduction mined that…”) and reduce the frequency Steve Hyman and Robert Malenka, bring Pathways in the Brain and Signaling to the of small errors (two in the first four sen- impressive credentials to the task. The result Nucleus, are gems. They are clear, author- tences of Chapter 1). is a remarkable book—comprehensive, itative and well organized. But it seems mean-spirited to labor detailed and authoritative—that makes a The second section, Neural Substrates over minor defects in a book that is so welcome addition to the top rank of neu- of Drug Action, covers each of the neuro- generous with its gifts. The overall intelli- roscience texts. transmitter systems, as well as neurotroph- gence of the book, its complete command With its twin focus on drugs and dis- ic factors. In contrast to traditional texts of contemporary neuroscience and its ease, the book is aimed at two audiences: that emphasize simpler, peripheral systems, ability to link this knowledge with the clin- non-medical research students who need the emphasis here is on the CNS. ical action of drugs make it required read- to learn about disease, and clinical The most valuable section of the book ing for anyone who wants to understand is the third, Neuropharmacology of Specif- neuropharmacology and the neuroscience Zach Hall is at the University of California San ic Neural Functions and Related Disorders; of the normal and diseased brain. The Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, S-101, Office here, the special talents of the authors shine. book will not only inform students, but of Research, San Francisco, California, This section, which occupies almost half the will encourage the union of clinical under- 94143-0407, USA. book, contains chapters on the autonomic standing and basic biology, which its dis- e-mail: [email protected] nervous system and the neuroendocrine tinguished authors so ably represent.

nature neuroscience • volume 4 no 8 • august 2001 779