In mammals the glial (or glue) cells contribute some 50% of the volume of the brain. In contrast to the traditional view that they have a purely physically supportive role, research in the last three decades has shown that glia interact morphologically, biochemically and physiologically with neurons during changes in behaviour. The evidence suggests that glia may modulate neuronal activity and thereby influence behaviour. This 1998 book was the first to describe and discuss these neuronal-glial interactions in relation to behaviour. A distinguished set of authors discuss these interactions from a number of viewpoints, and the book will familiarise neuroscientists, zoologists, physiologists and psychologists with the new knowledge of how neurons and glial cells interact with each other to affect behaviour.
The studies by Santiago Ram6n y Cajal on astrocytes, and the extense work developed by Pio del Rio Hortega dealing with microglia and oligodendrocytes are with no doubt two important milestones of...
need for an interdisciplinary approach to research, although scientifically desirable and laudable, is not easily met by the individual investigator, a statement which I must now qualify lest it be...
A timely overview covering the three major types of glial cells in the central nervous system - astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes. New findings on glia biology...