Since 1978 this textbook, to the gratification of its authors and publisher, has found an undiminished readership. Recent research in sensory physiology has progressed so rapidly that this third edition, like the second, has required thorough revision. The understanding of pain, in particular, has increased to a remarkable degree. This development is reflected here in the appearance, for the first time, of a chapter devoted entirely to the subject "Nociception and Pain". In view of the great clinical significance of pain, it seemed necessary to broaden the scope of the discussion, so that in addition to the aspects directly related to sensory physiology consideration is given to the pathophysiology, pharmacology and psychology of pain. The chapters present in earlier editions have also been carefully reexamined and, where necessary, revised and extended. Most of the illustrations provided for the first edition by the Stuttgart studio Gay & Benz have been retained. Some required alteration or replacement, and a number of new illustrations have been added. For the meticulous skill with which she transformed our ideas into graphs and drawings, we are most grateful to Mrs. Regine Gattung-Petith.

Inhalt

1 General Sensory Physiology, Psychophysics.- 1.1 Basic Concepts in General Sensory Physiology.- 1.2 Relation Between Stimulus and Behavior; Conditioned Reflex.- 1.3 Measurement of the Intensity of Sensations; Psychophysics.- 1.4 Spatial, Temporal, and Affective Aspects of Sensation.- 2 Somatovisceral Sensibility.- 2.1 Mechanoreception.- 2.2 Proprioception.- 2.3 Thermoreception.- 2.4 Visceral Sensibility.- 3 Neurophysiology of Sensory Systems.- 3.1 Transformations of Stimuli in Receptors.- 3.2 Sensory Functions of the CNS - a Survey.- 3.3 Properties and Operation of Sensory Neurons and Aggregates of Neurons.- 3.4 The Somatosensory System: Spinal Cord, Ascending Pathways, and Brain Stem.- 3.5 The Somatosensory System in Thalamus and Cortex.- 3.6 The Sensory System in the Light of Information Theory.- 4 Nociception and Pain.- 4.1 The Qualities and Components of Pain.- 4.2 Neurophysiology and Psychophysics of Pain.- 4.3 Pathophysiology of Pain; Special and Abnormal Forms of Pain.- 4.4 Factors that Affect Pain; Pain Therapy.- 5 Physiology of Vision.- 5.1 The Eye.- 5.2 Psychophysics of Visual Perception.- 5.3 Neurophysiology of Vision.- 5.4 Eye Movements and Sensorimotor Integration in Vision.- 6 Physiology of Hearing.- 6.1 Anatomy of the Ear.- 6.2 Auditory Performance.- 6.3 Functions of the Middle and Inner Ears.- 6.4 The Auditory Nerve and the Higher Stations of the Auditory Pathway.- 7 Physiology of the Sense of Equilibrium.- 7.1 Anatomy and Physiology of the Peripheral Organ.- 7.2 Central Nervous Basis of the Sense of Equilibrium.- 8 Physiology of Taste.- 8.1 Morphology of the Organs of Taste; Subjective Taste Physiology.- 8.2 Objective Taste Physiology.- 9 Physiology of Olfaction.- 9.1 The Olfactory Mucosa; Peripheral Mechanisms of Olfactory Reception.- 9.2 Subjective Olfactory Physiology; Central Connections.- 10 Thirst and Hunger: General Sensations.- 10.1 Thirst.- 10.2 Hunger.- 11 Suggested Reading.- 12 Answer Key.- 13 Subject Index.