Neuroscience : Dealing With Frontiers

Abstract

The Neuronal Doctrine recently reached its 100th year and together with the development of psychopharmacology by the middle of 20th century promoted spectacular developments in the knowledge of the biological bases of behavior. The overwhelming amount of data accumulated, forced the division of neuroscience into several subdisciplines, but this division needs to dissolve in the 21st century and focus on specific processes that involve diverse methodological and theoretical approaches. The chapters contained in this book illustrate that neuroscience converges in the search for sound answers to several questions, including the pathways followed by cells, how individuals communicate with each other, inflammation, learning and memory, the development of drug dependence, and approaches to explaining the processes that underlie two highly incapacitating chronic degenerative illnesses.