Author: ERIK C CORTHOUT

Publisher: ACCO

Published: 2014-04-07

Total Pages: 29

ISBN-13: 9033495791

This book determines representative values for dimensional parameters of the eye and brain in extant Homo (modern man) and Macaca (Macaca fascicularis, Macaca mulatta and Macaca nemestrina). Indeed, published values in the scientific literature for the dimensions of each of these organs in each of these species differ greatly between studies: mean values published for a single parameter in a single species can differ by a factor of 1.25 for linear dimensions, a factor of 3 for areal dimensions and a factor of 1.5 for volumetric dimensions! This book provides 3 progressive sets of information. First, Elementary Tables provide raw databases: lists of published values. Second, text in Chapters and Addenda provide new insights: critical analysis of these published values and subsequent synthesis of representative values. Third, Chapter Summary Tables and Book Summary Tables provide distilled databases: lists of these representative values. This book is an unprecedented reference work, both because of the large number of published values in its raw databases and because of the well-founded size of the representative values in its distilled databases. This book is a comparative, comprehensive and critical review of published data: comparative as it reviews data for man and macaques; comprehensive as it reviews data in a record number; critical as it reviews data with analysis and synthesis. Anyone can easily consult the 7 Chapter Summary Tables or the 3 Book Summary Tables for concise lists of representative values. Those who require more elaborate information can also consult the 100 pages of Elementary Tables or read the 200 pages of text in Chapters and Addenda. “This remarkable book reports the results of an exhaustive, meticulous and exceedingly thorough review of the complete published literature on the dimensions of eye and brain in three species of macaque monkey and man. Why would anyone be interested in this? The measurements of linear, areal and volumetric dimensions of eye and brain constitute necessary building blocks to derive profound implications for information processing, which is of great interest to a wide variety of scientists. It might appear unbelievable for someone who does not belong to these fields of research, but the reported values differ greatly between studies - sometimes up to a factor 3. This book reports the important values in succinct tables but also provides a critical analysis and synthesis of the literature, which is a substantial contribution to (neuro)anatomy and (neuro)histology in its own right. Sure to stand the test of time, it will be on the shelves of a great many neuroscientists for years to come, and many serious scientists from other disciplines will consult its content when it turns out to be the cornerstone of truly innovative and groundbreaking new theoretical claims on how the brain works. Watch out for more to come by the same author!“ Prof. dr. Johan Wagemans, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium “This impressive piece of work provides a very detailed and comprehensive review of various anatomical measures of the eye and the brain of humans and macaque monkeys. It lists what is known about the physical dimensions of eye and brain and - more so - shows how much we still need to learn about these important organs.” Prof. dr. Rufin Vogels, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Belgium