Techniques in the neurosciences are evolving rapidly. There are currently very few volumes dedicated to the methodology - ployed by neuroscientists, and those that are available often seem either out of date or limited in scope. This series is about the methods most widely used by modern-day neuroscientists and is written by their colleagues who are practicing experts. Volume 1 will be useful to all neuroscientists since it concerns those procedures used routmely across the widest range of s- disciplines. Collecting these general techniques together in a single volume strikes us not only as a service, but will no doubt prove of exceptional utilitarian value as well. Volumes 2 and 3 describe all current procedures for the analyses of amines and theirmetabolites and of amino acids, respectively. These collections will clearly be of value to all neurosclentists working m or contemplating research in these fields. Similar reasons exist for Volume 4 on receptor binding techniques, since experimental details are provided for all types of ligand-receptor binding, including chapters on general principles, drug discovery and development, and a most useful appendix on computer programs for Scatchard, nonlinear, and competitive d- placement analyses. Volume 5 provides procedures for the asse- ment of enzymes involved in biogenic amine synthesis and catabolism. Volumes in the NEUROMETHODS series will be useful to neurochemists, -pharmacologists, -physiologists, -anatomlsts, psychopharmacologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, and chemists (organic, analytical, pharmaceutical, medicinal); in fact, everyone involved in the neurosciences, both basic and clinical.

Cerebrovascular Water and Ion Transport.- The Choroid Plexus-Arachnoid Membrane-Cerebrospinal Fluid System.- Fluid Compartments.- Physical and Biochemical Methods for Analysis of Fluid Compartments.- Measurement of Metabolic Activity Associated with Ion Shifts.- Use of Ion-Selective Microelectrodes and Voltammetric Microsensors to Study Brain Cell Microenvironment.- Patch Clamp Recording Methodology.- Analysis of Ion Fluxes and Fluid Compartmentation in Brain Slices.- Ion Transport and Volume Measurements in Cell Cultures.- Electrophysiological Methods Applied in Nervous System Cultures.- Electrophysiological Methods for Studying Ionic Currents in Brain Slices and Cell Cultures.- Calcium Ions.- Acid-Base Balance.- Magnesium Ions.