The Visual Neurosciences

Rating:
Summary: Visual Neurophysiology, not Visual Neurosciences
Review: A great idea and a somewhat disappointing result. This book is missing one more volume that should have covered the anatomy of the vertebrate visual system. For some reason the editors have chosen to ignore a wealth of information on the anatomy of the amphibian, avian and mammalian vertebrate visual systems, without which visual neurophysiology cannot be fully understood or appreciated. Less specialized books, such as "Comparative Vertebrate Neuroanatomy" by Butler and Hodos, cover visual neuroanatomy much better than this two-volume set. As a comprehensive reference book on visual neurophysiology, "The Visual Neurosciences" (which should have been called "Visual Neurophysiology") may well deserve a place in the neuroscientist's library.

Rating:
Summary: Encyclopedia of Visual Neurophysiology
Review: This is 2 Volume 2000pg Tome on Vision. It's comprehensive and covers most of the topics. It is a reference work so you can look up the chapter on MST, V1, MT, Ganglion cell recordings, Illusions, you name it. It will go into pretty good depth on most things. If you're in Vision Research, it is not enough, you will need more specialized books and journals. The format kind of reminds me of the journal format for Nature Reviews Neuroscience. You better believe I am going to keep it in my library. Once reading, it can overwhelm you, so write down a list of 2 topics to look up each time you set-up to read it. This will easily be a standard reference for 7-10 years.

Rating:
Summary: Encyclopedia of Visual Neurophysiology
Review: This is 2 Volume 2000pg Tome on Vision. It's comprehensive and covers most of the topics. The physiology, neuroanatomy, psychology, and imaging (i.e. fMRI, EEG, VEPs) of Vision are covered. There is a large section of 200 pages devoted exclusively to Visual Psychophysics. Very well respected authors contribute to these to volumes, giving it an international flavor. The book is meant as a reference text. There is a very extensive bibliography at the end of each chapter. It is a reference work so you can look up the chapter on MST (heading perception), V1 (primary visual cortex), MT (motion perception), ganglion cell recordings, retinal dark current & ion channels, illusions, and others. It will go into good depth in most areas. If you're in Vision Research, it is not enough, you will need more specialized books and journals (i.e. Machine Vision, Vision Research, Eye Movements). The format reminds me of the journal format for Nature Reviews Neuroscience. You better believe I am going to keep it in my library. The weakness of this set of books is that it does not cover Machine Vision, robotics, electronics, new technologies in vision, and it does not have an experimental methods section. Once reading, it can overwhelm you, so write down a list of 2 topics to look up each time you set-up to read it. This will easily be a standard reference for 7-10 years.