The book on Processes of Recovery from Neural Trauma contains the
proceedings of an international symposium which was sponsored by the
Weizmann Institute of Science and was held in June 1984 in Israel. One
of the central problems in neurobiology and clinical neurology are the
processes which underlie the ability of the nervous system to recover
from damage. Neurons of the mammalian nervous system cannot be replaced
once the generative embryonic period has ended. Thus, recovery after
trauma is limited by the degree to which regeneration of damaged neural
processes is possible and by the capac- ity of uninjured neurons to form
new synaptic contacts or to use their existing ones more effectively.
The lack of successful axon regeneration in the central nervous system
is the reason for the permanent damage and the very limited recovery of
function seen in victims of traumatic injury. Over the past few years,
research on neural trauma has witnessed significant progress, resulting
from interdis- ciplinary research carried out in an increasing number of
laboratories throughout the world. Accordingly, the book includes
reports on the progress made in the forefront of research in this field.
We hope that in addition to being a source of new informa- tion, readers
of the book will be stimulated to work and to generate new ideas and
research strategies in this field of research.