Self-organizing Neural Maps: From Retina to Tectum describes the underlying processes that determine how retinal fibers self-organize into an orderly visual map. The formation of neural maps is a fundamental organizing concept in neurodevelopment that can shed light on developmental mechanisms and the functions of genes elsewhere. The book presents a summary of research in the retinotectal field with an ultimate goal of synthesizing how underlying mechanisms in neural development harmoniously come together to create life. A broad spectrum of neuroscientists and biomedical scientists with differing backgrounds and varied expertise will find this book useful.
1. Cover image - p. iv 2. Title page - p. iv 3. Table of Contents - p. iv 4. Copyright - p. iv 5. Preface - p. xiii 6. Acknowledgments - p. xvii 7. Chapter 1: Overview and basics of the retinotectal system - p. xvii 8. Chapter 2: Early work supports chemoaffinity with one contradictory result - p. 13 9. Chapter 3: The search for chemoaffinity molecules in molecular gradients - p. 35 10. Chapter 4: Plasticity after surgical interventions: Size disparity experiments - p. 65 11. Chapter 5: Growth of the retina and tectum: Implications for the retinotectal map - p. 108 12. Chapter 6: Specification of the retina and tectum - p. 138 13. Chapter 7: Development of the visual pathways - p. 189 14. Chapter 8: Genetic analysis of molecular gradients defining map formation - p. 253 15. Chapter 9: Activity-driven synaptic stabilization - p. 303 16. Chapter 10: Activity: Molecular signaling to growth mechanisms - p. 356 17. Summary of mechanisms generating the retinotectal map - p. 419 18. Index - p. 441
Self-organizing Neural Maps: From Retina to Tectum describes the underlying processes that determine how retinal fibers self-organize into an orderly visual map. The formation of neural maps is a fundamental organizing concept in neurodevelopment that can shed light on developmental mechanisms and the functions of genes elsewhere. The book presents a summary of research in the retinotectal field with an ultimate goal of synthesizing how underlying mechanisms in neural development harmoniously come together to create life. A broad spectrum of neuroscientists and biomedical scientists with differing backgrounds and varied expertise will find this book useful.
1. Cover image - p. iv 2. Title page - p. iv 3. Table of Contents - p. iv 4. Copyright - p. iv 5. Preface - p. xiii 6. Acknowledgments - p. xvii 7. Chapter 1: Overview and basics of the retinotectal system - p. xvii 8. Chapter 2: Early work supports chemoaffinity with one contradictory result - p. 13 9. Chapter 3: The search for chemoaffinity molecules in molecular gradients - p. 35 10. Chapter 4: Plasticity after surgical interventions: Size disparity experiments - p. 65 11. Chapter 5: Growth of the retina and tectum: Implications for the retinotectal map - p. 108 12. Chapter 6: Specification of the retina and tectum - p. 138 13. Chapter 7: Development of the visual pathways - p. 189 14. Chapter 8: Genetic analysis of molecular gradients defining map formation - p. 253 15. Chapter 9: Activity-driven synaptic stabilization - p. 303 16. Chapter 10: Activity: Molecular signaling to growth mechanisms - p. 356 17. Summary of mechanisms generating the retinotectal map - p. 419 18. Index - p. 441
