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relatively few processes. |
Glia Are Supportive Cells to Neurons |
Neurons are not the only cells in the CNS. |
A second prominent category of mac- |
roglia is the myelin-producing cells, the oligodendro- |
glia. |
Some microglia reside quiescently within the |
brain. |
Another major domain of |
our fi eld is nervous system development (Section III). |
ORGANIZATION OF THIS TEXT 7 |
8 1. |
FUNDAMENTALS OF NEUROSCIENCE |
I. |
How do neurons grow processes that |
fi nd appropriate targets some distance away? |
How do |
nascent neuronal activity and embryonic experience |
shape activity? |
In many cases, advanced |
undergraduate students will fi nd this book useful |
as well. |
We invite all of you |
to join us in the adventure of studying the nervous |
system. |
I. |
The complexity of the human brain is enormous, |
describable only in astronomical terms. |
What is at stake is not only the pos- |
sibility of discovering how the brain works. |
What has been determined still contains a very large |
number of interruptions and gaps. |
However, having even this draft |
has provided some important realities. |
Two major future vistas can be imagined. |
FUNDAMENTALS OF NEUROSCIENCE |
I. |
NEUROSCIENCE |
protein. |
The information pre- |
sented in this book is the culmination of hundreds of |
years of research. |
The pursuit of science has not always been a com- |
munal endeavor. |
Initially, research was conducted in |
relative isolation. |
It is this interdependence |
across space and time that gives science much of its |
power. |
With interdependence, however, comes vulnerabil- |
ity. |
Let us begin by examining how new knowledge is |
created. |
Often, |
new experimental pathways are launched when one |
I. |
Variability and random |
chance may also contribute to the experimental results. |
Given that one can never prove a hypothesis, how |
do “facts” arise? |
Publication is an essential component |
of the advancement of science. |
Thus, it is not surprising that much |
emphasis is placed on the responsible conduct of |
research. |
Research ethics encompasses a broad spectrum of |
behaviors. |
Each of these acts signifi cantly harms the scientifi c |
community. |
Moreover, |
when fraud is discovered, a retraction of the paper |
RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT 11 |
12 1. |
FUNDAMENTALS OF NEUROSCIENCE |
I. |
Plagiarism is also a major ethical infraction. |
Scien- |
tifi c publications provide a mechanism for establishing |
priority for a discovery. |
Plagiarism denies |
the original author of credit for his or her work. |
Scientifi c Misconduct Has Been Formally |
Defi ned by U.S. |
There are |
several sources of this variation. |
The defi nition of responsible conduct may change |
over time. |
Indeed, ethics evolve |
alongside knowledge. |
Having determined what is acceptable practice, we |
then must be vigilant. |
Have all the appropriate |
references been cited and are all the authors appropri- |
ate? |
Might the graphic representation of data mislead |
the viewer? |
Are research funds being used effi ciently? |
I. |
NEUROSCIENCE |
SUMMARY |