Brain Cholinergic Systems

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>This book stemmed from an IBRO symposium that took place in Leipzig, from 12 to 14 August 1987. Local organizers were D. Biesold and V. Bigl from the Department of Neurochemistry at the Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research. Some of the contributors to this book were members of the International Program Committee: L. L. Butcher, M.-M. Mesulam, G. Pepeu, and M. Steriade. Leipzig was chosen as the site of a meeting devoted to brain cholinergic systems because some historical steps in this domain are related to the German city. Indeed, after the initial description of the substantia innominata (die ungennante Marksubstanz) by J. C. Reil (1809), T. Meynert, one of the founders of scientifically oriented psychiatry, designated this structure as Ganglion der Hirnschenkelschlinge in a volume published in Leipzig (1872). The name of Meynert was linked to the nucleus basalis by A. Koelliker in a Handbook, also published in Leipzig (1896).</jats:p> <jats:p>Since edited volumes rarely allow the expression of coherence between the numerous authors, we decided to ask for chapters from only a limited number of participants and we invited other colleagues, who could not attend the symposium, to submit their contribution. Our goal was to present current data and concepts about the morphology, physiology, and pathology of brainstem and basal forebrain cholinergic systems controlling the excitability of the thalamus and cerebral cortex. It is a pleasure to extend our thanks to all colleagues, whose names and affiliations are listed, for taking time from busy lives to survey their fields of interest. We also express our appreciation to Oxford University Press for an agreeable collaboration and support in the preparation of this book.</jats:p>