Introduction

Techniques in the neurosciences are evolving rapidly. There are currently very few volumes dedicated to the methodology — employed by neuroscientists, and those that are available often seem either out of date or limited in scope. This series is about the methods most widely used by modern-day neuroscientists and is written by their colleagues who are practicing experts.

Volume 1 will be useful to all neuroscientists since it concerns those procedures used routinely across the widest range of disciplines. Collecting these general techniques together in a single volume strikes us not only as a service, but will no doubt prove of exceptional utilitarian value as well.

Volumes and Content

Volumes 2 and 3 describe all current procedures for the analyses of amines and their metabolites and of amino acids, respectively. These collections will clearly be of value to all neuroscientists working in or contemplating research in these fields.

Similar reasons exist for Volume 4 on receptor binding techniques, since experimental details are provided for all types of ligand-receptor binding, including chapters on general principles, drug discovery and development, and a most useful appendix on computer programs for Scatchard, nonlinear, and competitive displacement analyses.

Volume 5 provides procedures for the assessment of enzymes involved in biogenic amine synthesis and catabolism.

Intended Audience

Volumes in the NEUROMETHODS series will be useful to neurochemists, pharmacologists, physiologists, anatomists, psychopharmacologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, and chemists (organic, analytical, pharmaceutical, medicinal); in fact, everyone involved in the neurosciences, both basic and clinical.