an outstanding collection of detailed, state-of-the-art techniques for studying many aspects of nervous system cell biology. the methods span a multidisciplinary range of cellular and molecular approaches to both normal and injured nervous system function, and particularly to neurodegenerative processes. included are basic rt-pcr techniques, cell culture systems, second-messenger signaling methods, and patch-clamp techniques. these powerful techniques will illuminate nervous system function, injury, degeneration, and the repair/regenerative process.