Handbook of Physiology.

Abstract

This is the first volume of the proposed many-sectioned "Handbook" in which the American Physiological Society intends to present comprehensively the entire field of physiology. The scope and depth of the work may be estimated by realizing that the Section on Neurophysiology alone will comprise three volumes. The present work covers the following principal topics, all but the first of which are divided into several chapters: History of Neurophysiology (M. A. B. Brazier), Neuron Physiology (Introduction, J. C. Eccles), Brain Potentials and Rhythms (Introduction, A. Fessard), Sensory Mechanisms (Introduction, Lord Adrian), and Vision (Introduction, H. K. Hartline). To a large degree, the individual contributors have overcome the difficult task of presenting both the fundamentals and the most recent advances pertaining to their subjects. The historical development of knowledge and hypotheses about most of the particular topics is given detailed consideration, and this aspect alone should help to prevent the material