call for papers: JIN special issue honoring Paul Bach-y-Rita, Wisconsin University Medical School

[INTEGRATIVE NEUROSCIENCE]

Journal of Integrative Neuroscience (JIN) 
An Interdisciplinary Journal

CALL FOR PAPERS: 

Non-synaptic Communication in Brains and Integrative functions : a
special issue honoring Paul Bach-y-Rita, Wisconsin University Medical
School and Biomedical Engineering

To appear in: VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4   DECEMBER 2005

The synaptic model of neurocommunication in the brain has dominated
the neurosciences for more than a century. Generally, little
consideration is given to other modes of neurotransmission in animal
and human brains, even though there is indirect evidence that less
than half of the communication between cells is by
synapses. Non-synaptic diffusion neurotransmission may be the primary
information transmission mechanism in certain normal and abnormal
functions. Non-synaptic diffusion is vastly more economical than
synaptic transmission in regards to space and energy expenditure in
the brain, and may play a role in the evolution of species and in a
proposed Law of Conservation of Energy and Space in the Brain. In view
of the non-synaptic nature of much of the brain's information
management, mechanistic concepts, such as comparisons of the brain to
a digital computer become less tenable than is conventionally
believed. The human brain is much more technically sophisticated than
any present or even presently foreseeable electronic device. Even the
nervous systems of insects defy simulation on the most advanced
computers.
 
"We see with our brains not eyes" .............Paul Bach-y-Rita

Paul Bach-y-Rita, M.D. is a professor of rehabilitation medicine and
of biomedical engineering at the University of Wisconsin. He is also
chief scientist and chairman of the Board of WICAB. His discoveries
have enabled the blind to see, the victims of leprosy to feel, and the
quadriplegic to enjoy sex. He has researched and published extensively
in human-machine interfaces, related neuroscience and Rehabilitation
Engineering, brain plasticity, brain neurotransmission, development of
instrumentation for home rehabilitation, development of late
rehabilitation of brain damaged and of persons with facial paralysis,
and functional assessment by computer image analysis. The books that
he has written, edited, or co-authored include Nonsynaptic Diffusion
Neurotransmission and Late Brain Reorganization, Vitamins: Their Use
and Abuse, Brain Mechanisms in Sensory Substitution, Recovery of
Function: Theoretical Considerations for Brain Injury Rehabilitation,
Traumatic Brain Injury (Comprehensive Neurologic Rehabilitation, Vol
2). He was founding director (starting in 1975) of the San Francisco
Rehabilitation Engineering Center. He is the co-inventor of the tongue
human-machine interface.
 
Authors should be aware of the following tentative key dates:

Proposals to Special Edition Editor (Steve Kercel) due no later than
January 20, 2005. (Early submittals are encouraged. Preferred
submission channel is e-mail, kercel1 at suscom-maine.net).

A proposal consists of an abstract of approximately one page, an
estimate of the the expected length of the proposed paper, a list of
co-authors (if any), and brief (one page of highlights, with emphasis
on connection to Dr. Bach-y-Rita) CV of principal author.

The Special Edition Editor expects to issue accept/reject
notifications of specific proposals within one month of the date that
he receives the proposal. Early submissions will receive a
correspondingly early decision.

Full manuscript (including illustrations and references) due April 30, 2005.
Referee comments will be sent to the authors as soon as practicable.
Revised manuscript, accounting for referee and editorial comments due July 31, 2005.
The finished edited camera ready copy due September 30, 2005.

Dr. Stephen W. Kercel
2 Brian Drive
Brunswick ME 04011 USA

Phone: (207) 729-4504
FAX: (207) 729-6226
E-mail: kercel1 at suscom-maine.net