Preface
Welcome to the second edition of Dendrites. This remains the only
book devoted exclusively to these beautiful neuronal structures (see
Figure). For the reader new to this field, dendrites form the major
receiving part of neurons, and represent the targets for synaptic input
from thousands of other neurons. Dendrites do more than simply collect
and funnel these input signals to the soma and axon; they shape and
integrate synaptic inputs in complex ways. Thus, it is within these
complex, branching structures that the real work of the nervous system
takes place.
Despite being discovered more than a century ago,
dendrites received little attention until the early 1950's (for a
historical perspective see Chapter 12). More recently, largely because
of technical advances, there has been a resurgence of interest in
dendrites, which has lead to substantial new information on their
properties and role in neuronal function. The main aim of the first
edition of this book was to gather this new information into a single
volume covering a wide range of topics on dendrites, from the
morphology and development of dendrites, through to their biochemical,
electrical and computational properties. In the eight years since the
first edition was published, a generation of new investigators have
entered the field, and the pace of discovery has quickened dramatically
with the introduction (and combination) of additional new techniques.
The field has also reached a new level of maturity, which we feel
warrants a fresh look at dendrites. Thus, this second edition
represents not only a significant update - with each of the previous
chapters being fully revised, and in some cases completely rewritten –
but we have also added six new chapters, reflecting the vigorous growth
of the field into new areas. These new chapters cover the
evolution and molecular development of dendrites, the organization of
the postsynaptic density, calcium signalling in dendritic spines,
dendritic transmitter release, and changes in dendritic function
associated with nervous systems disorders. The breadth of the new
edition shows that the “dendritic perspective” has invaded and
illuminated most areas of neuroscience, and the multidisciplinary
approach evident in many of the chapters demonstrates the growing
importance of combining different methodological strategies to solve
the questions posed by dendrites.
Our
own interest in dendrites dates back to our time as graduate students.
All three of us did our PhDs in laboratories with a keen interest in
dendrites, and we are grateful to Steve Redman, Dan Johnston and Julian
Jack for introducing us to this fascinating subject. The main
motivation for this book, however, comes from our time together in Bert
Sakmann's laboratory, one of the places where the "new age" of
dendritic research began. We thank all authors for their outstanding
contributions to the new edition, as well as a number of lab members
for help with proofreading (Arnd Roth, Taro Ishikawa, Kate Powell, Sara
Ho), and of course the various funding agencies that have supported our
work and that of others in this field. We hope that this second edition
serves both as a valuable resource and an impetus for further research
on the exciting world of dendrites.
Greg Stuart Nelson Spruston
Michael Häusser
May 2007
![[dendrites of the world]](dendrites_world.gif)
From Dendrites © Oxford University Press 2008