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This new book extensively explores a range of topics related to astrocyte-neuron interactions under multiple conditions, in both health and disease. These include the types of interactions that occur during development and the establishment of neuronal circuits that underlie learning and memory formation in various animal models as well as humans. Furthermore, the book addresses topics on how these interactions go awry in disease and injury. In addition, the authors propose inspiring new avenues to explore therapeutic approaches using astrocytes as targets. A cadre of international experts presents a broad range of views on the state-of-the-art of astrocyte-neuron interactions.

The book “Applied Assistive Technologies and Informatics for Students with Disabilities” provides a comprehensive guide to assist students with learning disabilities in higher education via modern assistive technologies and informatics. This book will take us on a tour of the various modern assistive technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, computer vision (CV), text analytics (TA), the metaverse, human-computer interaction (HCI), digital twins (DT), and federated learning (FL), and how they support higher education students with learning disabilities. This book is intended for students with learning disabilities, scientists and researchers, lecturers and teachers, academic and corporate libraries, practitioners, and professionals who are interested in providing inclusive education to students with learning disabilities through the application of modern assistive technologies and informatics. This book is ideal for readers who are new to the subject and knowledgeable about the principles of inclusive education. In addition, it is a fantastic resource for teachers and parents assisting students with learning disabilities. This book can be a powerful tool to educate more students about learning disabilities, which can help eradicate the bullying of these students.

The 9-volume set LNAI 14267-14275 constitutes the proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Intelligent Robotics and Applications, ICIRA 2023, which took place in Hangzhou, China, during July 5–7, 2023.The 413 papers included in these proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 630 submissions. They were organized in topical sections as follows:Part I: Human-Centric Technologies for Seamless Human-Robot Collaboration; Multimodal Collaborative Perception and Fusion; Intelligent Robot Perception in Unknown Environments; Vision-Based Human Robot Interaction and Application.Part II: Vision-Based Human Robot Interaction and Application; Reliable AI on Machine Human Reactions; Wearable Sensors and Robots; Wearable Robots for Assistance, Augmentation and Rehabilitation of Human Movements; Perception and Manipulation of Dexterous Hand for Humanoid Robot.Part III: Perception and Manipulation of Dexterous Hand for Humanoid Robot; Medical Imaging for Biomedical Robotics; Advanced Underwater Robot Technologies; Innovative Design and Performance Evaluation of Robot Mechanisms; Evaluation of Wearable Robots for Assistance and Rehabilitation; 3D Printing Soft Robots.Part IV: 3D Printing Soft Robots; Dielectric Elastomer Actuators for Soft Robotics; Human-like Locomotion and Manipulation; Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning for Smart Robots.Part V: Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning for Smart Robots; Robotic Tactile Sensation, Perception, and Applications; Advanced Sensing and Control Technology for Human-Robot Interaction; Knowledge-Based Robot Decision-Making and Manipulation; Design and Control of Legged Robots.Part VI: Design and Control of Legged Robots; Robots in Tunnelling and Underground Space; Robotic Machining of Complex Components; Clinically Oriented Design inRobotic Surgery and Rehabilitation; Visual and Visual-Tactile Perception for Robotics.Part VII: Visual and Visual-Tactile Perception for Robotics; Perception, Interaction, and Control of Wearable Robots; Marine Robotics and Applications; Multi-Robot Systems for Real World Applications; Physical and Neurological Human-Robot Interaction.Part VIII: Physical and Neurological Human-Robot Interaction; Advanced Motion Control Technologies for Mobile Robots; Intelligent Inspection Robotics; Robotics in Sustainable Manufacturing for Carbon Neutrality; Innovative Design and Performance Evaluation of Robot Mechanisms.Part IX: Innovative Design and Performance Evaluation of Robot Mechanisms; Cutting-Edge Research in Robotics.

This textbook covers topics in sport and exercise psychology for students of psychology and sport science, as well as for sport practitioners who want to understand topics in sport psychology in more detail and depth.The book is divided into two main parts: Theory and Application. The first part covers the theoretical facets of sport and exercise psychology, and the close link between theory and practice, divided into the sub-disciplines of psychology (cognition, motivation, emotion, personality and development, and social processes). The second part focuses on the applications of sport and exercise psychology in the context of performance and health.With contributions from scholars across the globe, the book offers an international and timely perspective on the key fundaments of sport psychology. Taken together, these chapters provide a challenging yet accessible overview of the larger field of sport and exercise psychology. This book issuitable for readers at different levels of competence, supported with didactic elements (learning objectives and learning control questions) to find the right learning level.

This contributed volume explores the ways in which researchers engineer new biomaterials for the challenging problems of the peripheral and central nervous systems. These biomaterials are uniquely positioned for use in creating in vitro models of injury and disease, testing therapeutic treatments, understanding neural development, and mapping the multi-scalar environment of the brain. This book informs readers from biology, chemistry, materials science, engineering, and neuroscience on cutting edge research in engineering technologies, from fundamental material development through pre-clinical studies. The book also highlights target applications in three areas of research: (1) engineering neural models and materials, (2) probing biological underpinnings of neurological function and disease, and (3) designing therapeutic and diagnostic treatments for neurological disease.

This revised, updated, and substantially expanded third edition provides an accessible, practical overview of major areas of research, technical development and clinical application in the field of neurorehabilitation movement therapy. The initial section provides the basic framework and a rationale for technology application in movement therapy by summarizing recent findings in neuroplasticity and motor learning. The following section provides a detailed overview of the movement physiology of various neurologic conditions, illustrating how this knowledge has been used to design various neurorehabilitation technologies. The third section then explains the principles of human-machine interaction for movement rehabilitation. The fourth section provides an overview of assessment technology and predictive modeling in neurorehabilitation. The fifth section provides a survey of technological approaches to neurorehabilitation, including spinal cord stimulation, functional electrical stimulation, virtual reality, wearable sensing, brain computer interfaces, mobile technologies, and telerehabilitation. The final two sections examine in greater detail the ongoing revolution in robotic therapy for upper extremity movement and walking, respectively. The promises and limitations of these technologies in neurorehabilitation are discussed, including an Epilogue which debates the impact and utility of robotics for neurorehabilitation. Throughout the book the chapters provide detailed practical information on state-of-the-art clinical applications of these devices following stroke, spinal cord injury, and other neurologic disorders and future developments in the field. The text is illustrated throughout with photographs and schematic diagrams which serve to clarify the information for the reader.Neurorehabilitation Technology, Third Edition is a valuable resource for neurologists, biomedical engineers, roboticists, rehabilitation specialists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and those training in these fields.Chapter “Spinal Cord Stimulation to Enable Leg Motor Control and Walking in People with Spinal Cord Injury is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the Third Latin American Workshop, LAWCN 2021, held in Sao Luis do Maranhao, Brazil, during December 8–10, 2021.The 13 full papers and 3 short papers included in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 27 submissions. They were organized in topical sections as follows: Interdisciplinary applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML); AI and ML applied to robotics; AI and ML applied to biomedical sciences; Health issues and computational neuroscience; Software and hardware implementations in neuroscience; and Neuroengineering – science and technology.

Dieses Praxisbuch gibt Physiotherapeuten und Ergotherapeuten den perfekten Überblick über die Spiegeltherapie. Erfahren Sie, wie Lernen und Trainieren nach zentralen Läsionen funktioniert, welche Rolle Bewegungsbeobachtung dabei spielen kann und was die Transcranial direct current stimulation damit zu tun hat. Zahlreiche Studienergebnisse werden übersichtlich zusammengefasst und hilfreiche Tipps für die Praxis abgeleitet.Aus dem Inhalt:•Neurophysiologische Grundlagen u.a. neuronale Plastizität und die Funktion von Spiegelneuronen•Indikationen wie z. B. Phantomschmerz, periphere Nervenläsionen oder Schlaganfall•Kombinationstherapien zur Optimierung der Therapieeffekte

The purpose of this book is to educate readers regarding the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation across a variety of neurological conditions, with specific emphasis on rehabilitation-related change detectable via neuroimaging. For ease of reference, this information is divided into separate chapters by neurological condition, since the nature of cognitive impairment and mechanism of rehabilitation may differ across populations. Also included are discussions of the use of neuroimaging in cognitive rehabilitation trials, rigorous design of cognitive rehabilitation trials to have greater scientific impact (e.g., obtaining Class I evidence), and future directions for the field. As such, the book is designed to be useful to both clinicians and researchers involved in the rehabilitation of such conditions so that they can make informed decisions regarding evidence-based treatment to deploy in clinical settings or to further study in research endeavors.

This book covers the explosion of new information about the relationship between the brain and its blood supply since the first edition was published in 2009. With new knowledge and its impact on clinical care, neurovascular neuropsychology has become a recognized sub-specialty that has been integrated into health care systems in the US and abroad. The second edition brings to this larger audience the latest word on these matters, with new emphasis on women's issues, relevance to the pediatric population, insights from modern imaging, and advances in medical and surgical treatments such as heart transplantation, cardiovascular transarterial therapies, and noninvasive brain stimulation in connection with neurocognitive outcomes.

This book reviews the latest research from psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral economics evaluating how people make financial choices in real-life circumstances. The volume is divided into three sections investigating financial decision making at the level of the brain, the level of an individual decision maker, and the level of the society, concluding with a discussion of the implications for further research. Among the topics discussed:Neural and hormonal bases of financial decision makingPersonality, cognitive abilities, emotions, and financial decisionsAging and financial decision makingCoping methods for making financial choices under uncertaintyStock market crashes and market bubblesPsychological perspectives on borrowing, paying taxes, gambling, and charitable giving Psychological Perspectives on Financial Decision Making is a useful reference for researchers both in and outside of psychology, including decision-making experts, consumer psychologists, and behavioral economists.

The new frontiers of robotics research foresee future scenarios where artificial agents will leave the laboratory to progressively take part in the activities of our daily life. This will require robots to have very sophisticated perceptual and action skills in many intelligence-demanding applications, with particular reference to the ability to seamlessly interact with humans. It will be crucial for the next generation of robots to understand their human partners and at the same time to be intuitively understood by them. In this context, a deep understanding of human motion is essential for robotics applications, where the ability to detect, represent and recognize human dynamics and the capability for generating appropriate movements in response sets the scene for higher-level tasks. This book provides a comprehensive overview of this challenging research field, closing the loop between perception and action, and between human-studies and robotics. The bookis organized in three main parts. The first part focuses on human motion perception, with contributions analyzing the neural substrates of human action understanding, how perception is influenced by motor control, and how it develops over time and is exploited in social contexts. The second part considers motion perception from the computational perspective, providing perspectives on cutting-edge solutions available from the Computer Vision and Machine Learning research fields, addressing higher-level perceptual tasks. Finally, the third part takes into account the implications for robotics, with chapters on how motor control is achieved in the latest generation of artificial agents and how such technologies have been exploited to favor human-robot interaction. This book considers the complete human-robot cycle, from an examination of how humans perceive motion and act in the world, to models for motion perception and control in artificial agents. In this respect, the book will provide insights into the perception and action loop in humans and machines, joining together aspects that are often addressed in independent investigations. As a consequence, this book positions itself in a field at the intersection of such different disciplines as Robotics, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, Psychology, Computer Vision, and Machine Learning. By bridging these different research domains, the book offers a common reference point for researchers interested in human motion for different applications and from different standpoints, spanning Neuroscience, Human Motor Control, Robotics, Human-Robot Interaction, Computer Vision and Machine Learning.Chapter'The Importance of the Affective Component of Movement in Action Understanding'of this book is available open access under a CC BY 4.0 license at link.springer.com.

This book provides the first presentation of the state-of-the-art in the application of modern Neuroscience research in predicting, preventing and alleviating the negative sequelae of neurodevelopmental, acquired, or neurodegenerative brain abnormalities on speech and language. To this end, this edited volume brings together contributions from several leading experts in a markedly broad range of disciplines, comprising Neurology, Neurosurgery, Genetics, Engineering, Neuroimaging and Neurostimulation, Neuropsychology, and Speech and Language Therapy.

This book provides a comprehensive overview on Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and the clinical applications of this promising technique. Separated into three parts, the book begins with basic principles, mechanisms and approaches of tDCS. This is followed by a step-by-step practicum, methodological considerations and ethics and professional conduct pertaining to this novel technique. Chapters are authored by renowned experts who also direct and plan tDCS educational events worldwide. Bridging the existing gap in instructional materials for tDCS while addressing growing interest in education in this field, professionals within a broad range of medical disciplines will find this text to be an invaluable guide.

This book gathers the proceedings of MEDICON 2019 – the XV Mediterranean Conference on Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing – which was held in September 26-28, 2019, in Coimbra, Portugal. A special emphasis has been given to practical findings, techniques and methods, aimed at fostering an effective patient empowerment, i.e. to position the patient at the heart of the health system and encourages them to be actively involved in managing their own healthcare needs. The book reports on research and development in electrical engineering, computing, data science and instrumentation, and on many topics at the interface between those disciplines. It provides academics and professionals with extensive knowledge on cutting-edge techniques and tools for detection, prevention, treatment and management of diseases. A special emphasis is given to effective advances, as well as new directions and challenges towards improving healthcare through holistic patient empowerment.

This practical guide aids clinicians in distinguishing the different dimensions of hand function such as impairment, disability, and handicap. New and updated chapters discuss cerebral palsy, sports injuries, robotics, and assistive technologies. Extensively revised, the book provides a broad overview of the basic principles and examination of hand function. It describes how to evaluate hand function in specific afflicted populations, including the rheumatoid patient, the stroke patient, the trauma patient, the geriatric patient, and the pediatric patient as well as special populations such as diabetes mellitus patients and musicians. It also includes an appendix of hand function scales essential to the assessment of disability. The Second Edition of Hand Function is an ideal resource for all rheumatologists, physiatrists, hand surgeons, orthopedists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists caring for patients with impaired hand function.

This book discusses recent advances in the field of translational stroke research. The editors have designed the book to provide new insight into the importance of regeneration and repair mechanisms for stroke victims. The editors have brought together a talented group of international stroke researchers and clinicians to contribute to this volume, which is written for students, researchers and physicians in biotechnology, neurosciences, neurology, neuroradiology and neurosurgery.Throughout the world, stroke is still a leading cause of mortality and morbidity; there are 152,000 strokes in the United Kingdom, 62,000 in Canada, and approximately 15 million people worldwide. Large communities of stroke survivors are eagerly awaiting scientific advances in translational stroke research related to regeneration and recovery of function that would offer new therapeutics for rehabilitation and regeneration utilizing novel stem cell and molecular-based approaches. This volume will allow the reader to undersnd the future of stroke treatment from its inception in the laboratory through to clinical trial design. The reader will learn about the recent advances made in these areas related to basic and applied stroke research and their translational potential.Dr. Paul A. Lapchak is Professor of Neurology and Director of Translational Research in the Departments of Neurology & Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles CA, USA. Dr. Lapchak is an internationally recognized expert conducting translational drug development research for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Dr. John H. Zhang is Professor of Anesthesiology, Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Physiology, and Director, Center for Neuroscience Research at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA. Dr. Zhang is an internationally recognized expert working on drug development for hemorrhagic stroke.

This text reviews the anatomy and physiology of neuromodulation for treatment of various pathology of the human body, with specific emphasis on sacral neuromodulation for bladder and bowel dysfunction in the adult and pediatric populations. In addition to historical overview of the various methods of neuromodulation, present day applications will be discussed as well as possible future directions for use. Adult and Pediatric Neuromodulation will be of great value to medical professionals who are interested in the use of neuromodulation as a possible therapy option for their patients, particularly when other traditional or medical management options have failed. Each chapter is written by experts in the topic of various modalities of neuromodulation.

This unique treatise expands on the philosophy of technology to argue for a psychology of technology based on the complex relationships between psychology, biology and technology, especially in the light of our relationships with our digital devices, our online lives, and our human experience. Drawing from disciplines ranging from philosophy and evolution to cognition and neuroscience, it examines myriad aspects of the brain's creative development: the cognitive, sensory, and motor processes that enable technological progress and its resulting efficiencies and deficiencies along with our discomforts and pleasures. These experiences are key to behavioral and affective processes in technology, manifest in such diverse phenomena as multitasking, the shift in tech design from ergonomics to hedonomics, and the many types of online problem behaviors. Through these rich pages, readers can understand more deeply the history and future of human adjustment and adaptation in an environment intertwined with technology—and, with the ascendance of video games and virtual reality, new conceptions of the human self. Among the topics covered: Could we have remained a tech-devoid society?Technology, ergonomics and the non-executive functions of our body.New directions in brain-computer interface.From avatars and agents to virtual reality technology.

This volume presents the proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Movement, Health and Exercise 2016 (MoHE2016). The conference was jointly organized by the Biomedical Engineering Department and Sports Centre, University of Malaya. It was held in Malacca, from 28-30 September 2016.MoHE 2016 provided a good opportunity for speakers and participants to actively discuss about recent developments in a wide range of topics in the area of sports and exercise science. In total, 83 presenters and 140 participants took part in this successful conference.

With the expertise of an author panel of leading clinicians in the field of surgery, trauma, critical care and geriatrics the new edition of this text addresses the explosion in knowledge on the impact aging has on injury, acute illness and critical care management. The text covers the physiologic changes associated with aging, as well as the clinical assessment, stratification, and management of acute illness and injury. Furthermore, the new edition discusses the full spectrum of critical care management of the elderly.Part I explores the impact of aging on health and the healthcare system. There will be detailed discussion on the physiologic effects of aging and the impact on clinical management. The management of common surgical emergencies in the elderly is addressed in Part II. Part III addresses the evaluation and management of trauma and injury. Finally, Part IV explores the specific challenges of critical care management, including end-of-life and ethics, in the geriatric population. Updated information, reflective of the expansive literature, is addressed in all sections. New to the second edition are chapters on prehospital care, burns, nursing concerns, and abdominal solid organ injury. Appropriate chapters will include case vignettes and clinical algorithms. All chapters include a bullet-point summary.Geriatric Trauma and Critical Care, 2nd Edition will be of great value to trauma surgeons, acute care surgeons, critical care specialists, emergency medicine physicians, geriatricians, general surgeons, and trainees in surgery, critical care, and emergency medicine. Advanced practice nurses, critical care nurses, and physician assistants will also find this a useful and practical resource.

How does knowledge of phenomena and events we have no direct experiences of emerge? Having a brain that learns from being in the world, how can we conceive of prehistoric dinosaurs, Atlantis, unicorns or even ‘desire'? This book is about how abstract knowledge becomes anchored in direct experiences through well-formed conversations.Within the framework of evolutionary biology and through the lens of contemporary studies in cognitive science, the neurosciences, sociology and anthropology, this book traces topics such as our inborn sensitivity to the environment, bottom-up and top-down processes in knowledge formation and the importance of language when we learn to categorise the world. A major objective of this monograph is to identify the key determinants of the specific interactivity mechanisms that control the cognitive processes while we are linguistically immersed. The emphasis is on real-life interactions in conversations. While the concrete word-object paradigm depends relatively more on direct experiences, the successful acquisition of abstract knowledge depends on the emphatic skills of the interlocutor. He or she must remain sensitive to the level and quality of the imagination of the child while making mental tableaus that are believed to elicit images to which the child associates the concept. Derived embodiment in abstract thought is a landmark synthesis that operationalizes contemporary neuroscience studies of acquisition of knowledge in the real life conversational context. The result is an exciting biology-based contribution to theories of knowledge acquisition and thinking in sociology, cognitive robotics, anthropology and not at least, pedagogy.

This revised, updated second edition provides an accessible, practical overview of major areas of technical development and clinical application in the field of neurorehabilitation movement therapy. The initial section provides a rationale for technology application in movement therapy by summarizing recent findings in neuroplasticity and motor learning. The following section then explains the state of the art in human-machine interaction requirements for clinical rehabilitation practice. Subsequent sections describe the ongoing revolution in robotic therapy for upper extremity movement and for walking, and then describe other emerging technologies including electrical stimulation, virtual reality, wearable sensors, and brain-computer interfaces. The promises and limitations of these technologies in neurorehabilitation are discussed. Throughout the book the chapters provide detailed practical information on state-of-the-art clinical applications of these devices following stroke, spinal cord injury, and other neurologic disorders. The text is illustrated throughout with photographs and schematic diagrams which serve to clarify the information for the reader. Neurorehabilitation Technology, Second Edition is a valuable resource for neurologists, biomedical engineers, roboticists, rehabilitation specialists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and those training in these fields.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is increasingly being studied and used in stroke rehabilitation. This handbook is the first concise guide for clinicians and researchers working with or learning about rTMS in stroke rehabilitation. It gives you a practical guide to the novel use of rTMS in combination with intensive rehabilitation for the treatment of neurological sequelae of stroke. The application areas included are post-stroke upper limb hemiparesis, lower limb hemiparesis, aphasia and dysphagia.

The proposed book investigates brain asymmetry from the perspective of functional neural systems theory, a foundational approach for the topic. There is currently no such book available on the market and there is a need for a neuroscience book, with a focus on the functional asymmetry of these two integrated and dynamic brains using historical and modern clinical and experimental research findings with the field. The book provides evidence from multiple methodologies, including clinical lesion studies, brain stimulation, and modern imaging techniques. The author has successfully used the book in doctoral and advances undergraduate courses on neuroscience and neuropsychology. It has also been used to teach a course on the biological basis of behavior and could be used in a variety of contexts and courses.

There is a tremendous interest among researchers for the development of virtual, augmented reality and games technologies due to their widespread applications in medicine and healthcare. To date the major applications of these technologies include medical simulation, telemedicine, medical and healthcare training, pain control, visualisation aid for surgery, rehabilitation in cases such as stroke, phobia and trauma therapies. Many recent studies have identified the benefits of using Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality or serious games in a variety of medical applications.This research volume on Virtual, Augmented Reality and Serious Games for Healthcare 1 offers an insightful introduction to the theories, development and applications of virtual, augmented reality and digital games technologies in medical and clinical settings and healthcare in general. It is divided into six sections: section one presents a selection of applications in medical education and healthcare management; Section two relates to the nursing training, health literacy and healthy behaviour; Section three presents the applications of Virtual Reality in neuropsychology; Section four includes a number of applications in motor rehabilitation; Section five aimed at therapeutic games for various diseases; and the final section presents the applications of Virtual Reality in healing and restoration.This book is directed to the healthcare professionals, scientists, researchers, professors and the students who wish to explore the applications of virtual, augmented reality and serious games in healthcare further.

Remote sensing using aircraft and satellites has helped to open up to intensified scientific scrutiny the cold and remote regions in which snow and ice are prevalent. In this book, the utility of remote sensing for identifying, mapping and analyzing surface and subsurface properties of worldwide ice and snow features is described. Emphasis is placed on the use of remote sensing for developing an improved understanding of the physical properties of ice and snow and understanding the interrelationships of cryospheric processes with atmospheric, hydrospheric and oceanic processes. Current and potential applications of remotely sensed data are also stressed. At present, all-weather, day and night observations of the polar regions can be obtained from sensors operating in different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Because the approaches for analysis of remotely sensed data are not straightforward, Chapter 1 serves to introduce the reader to some of the optical, thermal and electrical properties of ice and snow as they pertain to remote sensing. In Chapter 2 we briefly describe many of the sensors and platforms that are referred to in the rest of the book. The remaining chapters deal with remote sensing of the seasonal snow cover, lake and river ice, permafrost, glacier ice and sea ice.

The study and modulation of cortical connections is a rapidly growing area in neuroscience. This unique book by prominent researchers in the field covers recent advances in this area. The first section of the book describes studies of cortical connections, modulation of cortical connectivity and changes in cortical connections with activities such as motor learning and grasping in primates. The second section covers the use of non-invasive brain stimulation to study and modulate cortical connectivity in humans. The last section describes changes in brain connectivity in neurological and psychiatric diseases, and potential new treatments that manipulate brain connectivity. This book provides an up-to-date view of the study of cortical connectivity, and covers its role in both fundamental neuroscience and potential clinical applications.

This book sets forth a new model of development from a causal perspective. As this is an area vital to several disciplines. It has been written at multiple levels and for multiple audiences. It is based on the work of Piaget and Neo-Piagetians, but also covers other major models in development. It has elements that make it attractive as a teaching text, but it is especially research-focused. It has clinical applications. It presents many new ideas and models consistent with the existing literature, which is reviewed extensively. Students, researchers, and practitioners should find it useful. The models presented in the present work build on models introduced in prior publications (e.g., Young, 1990a, 1990b; 1997).

This volume presents the 5th European Conference of the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering (EMBEC), held in Budapest, 14-18 September, 2011. The scientific discussion on the conference and in this conference proceedings include the following issues: - Signal & Image Processing - ICT - Clinical Engineering and Applications - Biomechanics and Fluid Biomechanics - Biomaterials and Tissue Repair - Innovations and Nanotechnology - Modeling and Simulation - Education and Professional