Konrad Wiese Bücher

This book represents Part 2 of a project initiated by distinguished neuroscientists to visualize and promote the experimental advantages of the crustacean nervous system. The ease of dissection and the ability to access individual cells for detailed measurements make these systems particularly valuable for research. While neuroscience primarily focuses on mammals and humans to understand functional principles and their regulation, exploring nervous systems across the animal kingdom is essential. The unique properties of crustacean systems offer potential insights into previously unexplained brain functions. Their simply organized nervous systems perform vital tasks, providing a complete neural circuitry that is accessible for systematic investigation. The first volume, The Crustacean Nervous System, presents comprehensive reports on experimental work using crayfish and lobsters across various neuroscience sectors. This second volume, Crustacean Experimental Systems in Neurobiology, features excellent reviews on significant neurobiology topics. Each section begins with introductory texts from the section editors of the first volume, while prominent authors share their experimental approaches to understanding the brain, focusing on visual orientation, neuromuscular systems, and principles of neural processing.

Crustacean preparations have been instrumental for over 50 years in exploring the principles that enable nerve cells and neural circuitry to perform diverse functions. The success of using crayfish and lobster nervous systems lies in their experimental systems, which align perfectly with theoretical and measurement requirements. In contrast, the more diversified vertebrate and mammalian nervous systems present significant experimental challenges. Crustacean nervous systems, composed of uniquely structured and physiologically distinct individual neurons, allow for repeated use across various preparations. Additionally, a limited range of consistent behaviors facilitates the correlation of neuron activity with specific behavioral components. Researchers leverage these advantages to concentrate on well-defined neurons and mechanisms, achieving convincing measurements efficiently. This book features contributions from distinguished neurobiologists, the leading experts in the field, who present research utilizing crustacean experimental systems. Their work provides comprehensive insights into the crustacean nervous system, which, while evolutionarily divergent, exhibits functional similarities to vertebrate neuronal circuitry, offering valuable interpretations for broader neurobiological understanding.