Hormones and Brain Plasticity

ISBN-13: 9780195326611 / Angielski / Twarda / 2009 / 496 str.

Luis Miguel Garcia-Segura

Opis

The nervous system has a remarkable capacity for self-reorganization, and in this first systematic analysis of the interaction between hormones and brain plasticity, Luis Miguel Garcia-Segura proposes that hormones modulate metaplasticity in the brain. He covers a wide variety of hormones, brain regions, and neuroplastic events, and also provides a new theoretical background with which to interpret the interaction of hormones and brain remodeling throughout the entire life of the organism.

Garcia-Segura argues that hormones are indispensable for adequately adapting the endogenous neuroplastic activity of the brain to the incessant modifications in external and internal environments. Their regulation of neuroplastic events in a given moment predetermines new neuroplastic responses that will occur in the future, adapting brain reorganization to changing physiological and behavioral demands throughout the life of the organism. The cross-regulation of brain plasticity and hormones integrates information originated in multiple endocrine glands and body organs with information coming from the external world in conjunction with the previous history of the organism. Multiple hormonal signals act in concert to regulate the generation of morphological and functional changes in neural cells, as well as the replacement of neurons, glial, and endothelial cells in neural networks. Brain remodeling, in turn, is involved in controlling the activity of the endocrine glands and regulating hormonal secretions. This bidirectional adjustment of brain plasticity in response to hormonal inputs, and adjustment of hormonal concentrations in response to neuroplastic events are crucial for maintaining the stability of the inner milieu and for the generation of adequate behavioral responses in anticipation of--and in adaptation to--new social and environmental circumstances and life events, including pathological conditions.

Recenzje

The past decades have brought a deeper understanding of the tremendously complex effects that hormones exert on brain function. This book gives a comprehensive and complete overview of this expanding field of neurobiology, while remaining very readable and clear. The author, a prominent authority in the field, gives an excellent overview of the very early discoveries, connects these to the exciting new findings and discusses the far-reaching implications of the data presented. The result is a book relevant to a broad readership: both graduate students and experienced neuroscientist will equally benefit from its philosophical approach.

O autorze

Luis M. Garcia-Segura is Research Professor and head of the department of functional and systems neurobiology at the Cajal Institute of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in Madrid. He is internationally recognized by his pioneering studies on the actions of hormones in the regulation of brain plasticity.