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This textbook would function extremely well as the primary resource for an intermediate-level Neuroscience course (graduate school).

It is well-organized and adequately referenced. The histological figures, MRI scans, and related clinical measures are especially impressive and helpful for supporting the information presented in the text.

This textbook does a fine job with balancing basic information with highly technical concepts. However, and understandably so, due to the voluminous, ever-expanding and ever-evolving nature of neural science, the text does not contain much regarding synaptic plasticity nor circadian rhythms.

That said, I still think this textbook is one of the most valuable tools that you could include in your academic armamentarium.


It [stinks]   March 15, 2002
 26 out of 38 found this comment useful.

It was required by many of our introductory neuroscience classes. But the fact remains it is a comprehensive introductory text that deals very little with the actual physiology. It may be useful for psychologists or other non "hard-core" neuroscientists, but for physiologists, especially those trained in molecular biology or biophysics, I would not recommend this book since it does not present any topic to a significant depth, thus most of the time lacks insights. I recommend Shepards book on Neurobiology as an introduction for neurobiology and Johnston and Wu for a more in depth introduction to the physiology of the nervous system.


Comprehensive in scope   December 25, 2001
 13 out of 24 found this comment useful.

This book, a collection of 65 articles written by leading experts in the different areas of neurology and brain biology, could draw a large audience of readers, including those interested in brain modeling and artificial intelligence. Space prohibits a comprehensive review, but some of the more interesting discussions include: 1. The evidence for localization of the emotional aspects of behavior in the brain. 2. The role of myelin basic proteins in producing allergic encephalomyelitis and the consequent discussion of a model for multiple sclerosis. 3. The dynamics of polymerization and dynamic instability. 4. The Hodgkin-Huxley model of excitability. 5. The regulation of gene expression by second messengers, the difference in time scales between these and directly gated synaptic actions is particularly interesting. 6. Calculating the probability of transmitter release, release being random and done in quanta. 7. The transplantation of embryonic neurons into an adult brain to promote recovery from brain damage. 8. the experimental techniques used to image the human brain: computerized tomography, positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging. 9. The The hierarchical and parallel organization of sensory systems and motor control. 10. The diagrams of the major ascending somatic sensory systems. 11. The role of rhodopsin in the human visual system. 12. The physics of human hearing. 13. The role of the olfactory receptors in human smell and taste. 14. The skeletal muscles as being low-pass filters of neural input. 15. Genetic markers and Huntington's disease. 16. Sexual differentiation in the nervous system. 17. The model for the induction of LTP.


A twinkle book   September 10, 2001
 7 out of 12 found this comment useful.

Now a day, with a fast development of sciences you may feel a hesitation before buying a new book, due to hard to find a book containing both classical and modern concepts. However, you are lucky in case you are interested in brain science, the field you can find "principles of neural science". With one book, you may find most knowledge of not only neural science but related ones, which was discovered for decades up to now. This book is valuable for both novice and experienced researchers in life study.
Setting light on buy itself, the book is worthy to be praised "a twinkle one like stars".


A thorough text   August 6, 2001
 1 out of 3 found this comment useful.

I was impressed by Kandel's text. It provided a current, thorough coverage of the topic areas. No other textbook I came across could even compare!