Cover -- Contents -- Preface to the First Edition -- Preface to the Second Edition -- Chapter 1: Neural Induction -- Development and Evolution of Neurons -- Early Embryology of Metazoans -- Derivation of Neural Tissue -- Interactions with Neighboring Tissues in Making Neural Tissue -- The Molecular Nature of the Neural Inducer -- Conservation of Neural Induction -- Interactions Among the Ectodermal Cells in Controlling Neuroblast Segregation -- Notch, Delta, and Achaete Scute Genes in Vertebrates -- Linking Induction to Proneural Activity -- Summary -- Chapter 2: Polarity and Segmentation -- Regional Identity of the Nervous System -- The Anterior-Posterior Axis and HOX Genes -- HOX Gene Function in the Nervous System -- Signaling Molecules that Pattern the Anterior-Posterior Axis in Vertebrates: Heads or Tails -- Organizing Centers in the Developing Brain -- Forebrain Development, Prosomeres, and PAX Genes -- Dorsal-Ventral Polarity in the Neural Tube -- Dorsal Neural Tube and Neural Crest -- Patterning the Cerebral Cortex -- Summary -- Chapter 3: Genesis and Migration -- Cell-Cycle Genes Control the Number of Neurons Generated during Development -- Cell Interactions Control the Number of Cells Made by Progenitors -- The Generation of Neurons and GLIA -- Cerebral Cortex Histogenesis -- The Subventricular Zone: A Secondary Zone of Neurogenesis -- Cerebellar Cortex Histogenesis -- Molecular Mechanisms of Neuronal Migration -- Postembryonic and Adult Neurogenesis -- Summary -- Chapter 4: Determination and Differentiation -- Transcriptional Hierarchies in Invariant Lineages -- Spatial and Temporal Coordinates of Determination -- Asymmetric Cell Divisions and Asymmetric Fate -- Generating Complexity through Cellular Interactions -- Specification and Differentiation through Cellular Interactions and Interactions with the Local Environment.

Competence and Histogenesis -- The Interplay of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Influences in Histogenesis -- Interpreting Gradients and the Spatial Organization of Cell Types -- Summary -- Chapter 5: Axon Growth and Guidance -- The Growth Cone -- The Dynamic Cytoskeleton -- What Do Growth Cones Grow On? -- What Provides Directional Information to Growth Cones? -- Cell Adhesion and Labeled Pathways -- Repulsive Guidance -- Chemotaxis, Gradients, and Local Information -- The Optic Pathway -- The Midline -- Attraction and Repulsion: Desensitization and Adaptation -- Signal Transduction -- Summary -- Chapter 6: Target Selection -- Defasiculation -- Target Recognition and Entry -- Slowing Down and Branching -- Border Patrol and Prevention of Inappropriate Targeting -- Topographic Mapping -- Chemospecificity and Ephrins -- Shifting and Fine Tuning of Connections -- The Third Dimension, Lamina-Specific Termination -- Cellular and Synaptic Targeting -- Sniffing Out Targets -- Summary -- Chapter 7: Naturally Occurring Neuron Death -- What does Neuron Death Look Like? -- Early Elimination of Progenitor Cells -- How Many Differentiated Neurons Die? -- Survival Depends on the Synaptic Target -- NGF: A Target-Derived Survival Factor -- The Neurotrophin Family -- The TRK Family of Neurotrophin Receptors -- How does the Neurotrophin Signal Reach the Soma? -- The P75 Neurotrophin Receptor -- The Expanding World of Survival Factors -- Endocrine Control of Cell Survival -- Cell Death Requires Protein Synthesis -- Intracellular Signaling -- Caspases: Agents of Death -- BCL-2 Proteins: Regulators of Apoptosis -- Synaptic Transmission at the Target -- Afferent Regulation of Cell Survival -- Summary -- Chapter 8: Synapse Formation and Function -- What Do Newly Formed Synapses Look Like? -- The First Signs of Synapse Function -- The Decision to Form a Synapse.

The Sticky Synapse -- Converting Growth Cones to Presynaptic Terminals -- Receptor Clustering Signifies Postsynaptic Differentiation at NMJ -- Presynaptic Terminals Induce Receptor Aggregation -- Agrin, a Transynaptic Clustering Signal -- Postsynaptic Response to Agrin -- Receptor Clustering Signals in the CNS -- Internal Membrane Proteins and Receptor Aggregation in the CNS -- The Expression and Insertion of New Receptors -- Neuronal Activity Regulates Receptor Expression -- Neuregulin, a Regulator of Postsynaptic Transcription -- Maturation of Transmission and Receptor Isoform Transitions -- Maturation of Transmitter Reuptake -- Short-Term Plasticity -- Appearance of Synaptic Inhibition -- Is Inhibition Really Inhibitory during Development? -- Summary -- Chapter 9: Refinement of Synaptic Connections -- The Early Pattern of Connections -- Functional Synapses are Eliminated -- Axonal Arbors are Refined or Eliminated -- Some Terminals Expand or Remain Stable -- Neural Activity Regulates Synaptic Connections -- Sensory Coding Properties Reflect Synapse Rearrangement -- Activity Contributes to the Alignment of Sensory Maps -- Spontaneous Activity and Afferent Segregation -- Many Forms of Plasticity have a Time Limit -- Synapses Interact Over a Short Distance -- Heterosynaptic Depression -- Postsynaptic Receptors are Eliminated -- Involvement of Intracellular Calcium -- NMDA Receptors and Calcium Signaling -- The Role of Second Messenger Systems -- Metabotropic Receptors -- Gain Control -- Silent Synapses -- Homeostasis: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same -- Plasticity of Inhibitory Connections -- Synaptic Influence on Neuron Morphology -- Summary -- Chapter 10: Behavioral Development -- Behavioral Ontogeny -- Genetic and Environmental Mechanisms -- Environmental Determinants of Behavioral Development -- The First Movements.

The Mechanism of Spontaneous Movements -- Embryonic Movements: Uncoordinated or Integrated? -- The Role of Activity in the Emergence of Coordinated Behavior -- Stage-Specific Behaviors -- Beginning to Make Sense of the World -- Asking Babies Questions -- Sharp Eyesight -- Acute Hearing -- Sex-Specific Behavior -- Genetic Sex -- Hormonal Signals -- Hormonal Control of Brain Gender -- Genetic Control of Brain Gender -- Singing in the Brain -- From Gonads to Brain? -- Learning to Remember -- Where's Mamma? -- Fear and Loathing -- Getting Information from One Brain to Another -- Language -- Summary -- References -- Index.