Modern Techniques in Neuroscience Research (PDF)

Neuroscience has become a rapidly expanding young science that relies on a number of other sciences and their methods. For that reason it is a truly interdisciplinary and inter-methodological undertaking of much fascination to many. In this spirit, this book attempts at presenting an overview of the techniques currently used in modern neuroscience research. By doing so, it is also an introduction into neuroscience itself, from the angle of methods available to tackle prevailing questions. Many questions can only be answered by combining methods borrowed from different fields. Building on this insight, this book's organizing principle is the investigation of levels of the nervous system, from molecular and cellular to whole organisms. The reasons are twofold. First, certain organizational levels can be optimally studied and potentially understood only by applying an array of diverse techniques. Second, it is important to avoid succumbing to the danger of pure technicality, which might arise from ordering the description of techniques according to their inherent principles of coherence (e.g. staining vs. electrophysiological techniques). In addition, this book aims at providing a direct working tool for the user in the laboratory and clinic and thus addresses all active neuroscience researchers, from graduate students to supervisors. The main emphasis in terms of layout is on detailed step-by-step protocols including personal tips and recommendations. Most chapters or protocols are organized so that they can be used independently. Moreover, cross-references to other techniques in other chapters, which are aimed at studying the same object(s) from a different angle, help create the pertinent context.