Each article in this text has received an award from the Fidia Research Foundation. Amongst the areas covered are inositol lipids and calcium signalling and the use of fluorescence imaging and electrophysiology to examine calcium responses of mammallian central nervous system neurons.

The Fidia Research Foundation annually honours distinguished investigators in the neurosciences and invites them to contribute to a special volume of timely review articles on significant developments in their particular areas of research. Because of the eminent stature of the award-winning authors, and their coverage of advances that are opening up new vistas for future research, the books are uniquely suited for use as teaching aids in most neuroscience courses. This volume contains review articles by Michael J. Berridge, Bert Sakmann, John A. Connor, and Eric A. Barnard, the recipients of the 1990-1991 awards. Dr. Berridge's article focuses on inositol lipids and calcium signalling. Dr. Sakmann describes a new model for studying synaptic plasticity. Dr. Connor presents studies using fluorescence imaging and electrophysiology to examine calcium responses of mammalian central nervous system neurons to excitatory amino acids. Dr. Barnard discusses the significance of cloned receptor genes in contemporary pharmacology and neuroscience.