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From: g523116166ea@deneb.ucdavis.edu (0040;0000008388;0;327;142;)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.neural-nets
Subject: Re: wanted: neurobiology references
Keywords: neuron spine cable conductor
Message-ID: <4090@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu>
Date: 26 Apr 89 01:00:13 GMT
References: <4486@psuvax1.cs.psu.edu>
Sender: uucp@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu
Reply-To: g523116166ea@deneb.ucdavis.edu (ROGoldthwaite@ucdavis.edu)
Organization: University of California, Davis
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A useful review of electrotonic ("cable-core) models for neural 
conduction is J. Jack, et al, _Electric Current Flow in Excitable 
Cells_, Oxford U. Press, 1975.  Only a little dated, and the clarity of 
its presentation more than compensates.

A current review of the neural spine phenomenon and some of the 
modelling is in R. Coss and D. Perkel, "The Function of Dendritic 
Spines: A review of Theoretical Issues", Behavioral and Neural Biology
(44)151-185, 1985.  Coss was my PhD advisor, and I did most of the 
modelling in his lab.  Major problem wasn't technical but interpretive, 
I thought: we don't know a neural system in which the spine swelling 
could be meaningful (analytically, that is- lots of qualitative 
speculation).  Spine swelling is suggestive and we did fascinating 
natural history studes: e.g., we let young honeybees out of their hive 
for the first time to conduct their first flight and to learn all the 
cues for returning home safely.  We recovered them and popped, freeze-
dried, and sliced their brains for neuromorphometry.  The spine 
population after this one-trial learning was significantly skewed to 
more swollen shapes.  Other studies have used cichlid fish and ground
squirrels.  Marion Diamond (UCB) probably could comment on any human 
data.

Hopefully helpfully...

====
R. Goldthwaite             rogoldthwaite@{deneb.}ucdavis.edu
Psychology and Animal Behavior/evolution, U.California, Davis, 95616

"Genetic algorithms: designer genes make new niches"

new PhD: postdocs/job possibilities welcome!