First published 2011
Neurobiology examines how a scientific field transformed from an impenetrable mystery into biology's most active research area. Kandel traces the discoveries that sparked this transformation during the late twentieth century. Scientists identified dozens of neurotransmitters, from simple monoamines to complex peptides. They mapped how these chemical messengers bind to specific receptors and work through secondary messenger systems. Researchers discovered that nerve growth factor and related proteins control how neurons develop and mature. New tools like recombinant DNA technology and monoclonal antibodies allowed scientists to study individual nerve cells and their interactions at unprecedented detail. Kandel shows how collaborative research worldwide revealed the central nervous system's intricate organization, from single neurons to complete organisms. The book captures a field's rapid evolution from technical limitation to scientific breakthrough.
Genres: neuroscience, non-fiction, biology, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: academic
Period: 20th-century, late-20th-century
218 pages · Paperback · Springer