Virtual Lesions: Examining Cortical Function with Reversible Deactivation

The study of brain lesions and their impact on cognition and behavior has been the dominant tool used to examine the complex function of the brain for the last three centuries. By testing neuropsychological deficits that correlate with a lesion in a particular part of the brain, it is possible to hypothesise about the role and cognitive function of that individual brain area. Over the past several decades, the rapid development and implementation of many new technologies to visualize brain activity has greatly augmented our understanding of brain function. However, even now there are many experimental questions that are difficult, if not impossible to answer in any way other than lesion techniques. Such studies though are not without their own challenges to overcome such as lesion-induced neuroplasticity, widespread degenerative changes, and the permanent nature of a lesion. Recent developments in different fields of neuroscience have provided tools to overcome many of the problems related to conventional lesion techniques and have succeeded to synthesizing these new approaches with a variety of new techniques to visualize brain activity on the level of individual neurons as well as on the level of cognitive performance.

These 'virtual lesions' involve the temporary deactivation of a part of the brain, by means of a range of techniques that have been recently developed. Because these deactivations are reversible, and leave the neuronal substrate unaffected, they provide a much more controllable, and rigorous way of testing subjects. These 'virtual lesion' approaches provide an essential bridge across the gap between basic research and computational approaches and provide mechanisms to test the applicability of models and their annexant hypotheses. 'Virtual Lesions' provides a state of the art guide to the full range of reversible deactivation techniques available. With each chapter written by experts in their respective field, and providing evidence of the practical applications of their methods, along with potential pitfalls, the book will serve as a valuable and practical guide for future experimentation within cognitive neuroscience.

'Virtual lesions' involve the temporary deactivation of a part of the brain, by means of a range of techniques that have been recently developed. Because these are reversible, and leave the neuronal structure unaffected, they provide a much more contollable, and rigorous way of testing subjects. 'Virtual lesions' provides a state of the art guide to the full range of reversible deactivation techniques available. With each chapter written by a leader in their field, and providing evidence of the practical applications of their methods, along with potential pitfalls, the book will serve as a valuable and practical guide to future experimentation within cognitive neuroscience. "This is a compilation of ideas on the topic of virtual lesions in the nervous system. The visual aspect of the book is very attractive and demonstrates its purpose at first glance. . . Twenty-six authors contribute 14 chapters, which are divided into two sections. The first one addresses the understanding of particular neuronal circuits based on selective virtual lesions in the brain. The second uses the concepts illuminated in the first section to apply to possible animal models of research. Throughout the book, there is a consistent presentation of illustrations of excellent quality, quality writing, and updated references. . .This is an important book for neuroscience laboratories and for libraries in those neurology departments where a progressive research strategy is the norm."--Doody's 'Virtual lesions' involve the temporary deactivation of a part of the brain, by means of a range of techniques that have been recently developed. Because these are reversible, and leave the neuronal structure unaffected, they provide a much more contollable, and rigorous way of testing subjects. 'Virtual lesions' provides a state of the art guide to the full range of reversible deactivation techniques available. With each chapter written by a leader in their field, and providing evidence of the practical applications of their methods, along with potential pitfalls, the book will serve as a valuable and practical guide to future experimentation within cognitive neuroscience. "This is a compilation of ideas on the topic of virtual lesions in the nervous system. The visual aspect of the book is very attractive and demonstrates its purpose at first glance. . . Twenty-six authors contribute 14 chapters, which are divided into two sections. The first one addresses the understanding of particular neuronal circuits based on selective virtual lesions in the brain. The second uses the concepts illuminated in the first section to apply to possible animal models of research. Throughout the book, there is a consistent presentation of illustrations of excellent quality, quality writing, and updated references. . .This is an important book for neuroscience laboratories and for libraries in those neurology departments where a progressive research strategy is the norm."--Doody's 'Virtual lesions' involve the temporary deactivation of a part of the brain, by means of a range of techniques that have been recently developed. Because these are reversible, and leave the neuronal structure unaffected, they provide a much more contollable, and rigorous way of testing subjects. 'Virtual lesions' provides a state of the art guide to the full range of reversible deactivation techniques available. With each chapter written by a leader in their field, and providing evidence of the practical applications of their methods, along with potential pitfalls, the book will serve as a valuable and practical guide to future experimentation within cognitive neuroscience. "This is a compilation of ideas on the topic of virtual lesions in the nervous system. The visual aspect of the book is very attractive and demonstrates its purpose at first glance. . . Twenty-six authors contribute 14 chapters, which are divided into two sections. The first one addresses the understanding of particular neuronal circuits based on selective virtual lesions in the brain. The second uses the concepts illuminated in the first section to apply to possible animal models of research. Throughout the book, there is a consistent presentation of illustrations of excellent quality, quality writing, and updated references. . .This is an important book for neuroscience laboratories and for libraries in those neurology departments where a progressive research strategy is the norm."--Doody's 'Virtual lesions' involve the temporary deactivation of a part of the brain, by means of a range of techniques that have been recently developed. Because these are reversible, and leave the neuronal structure unaffected, they provide a much more contollable, and rigorous way of testing subjects. 'Virtual lesions' provides a state of the art guide to the full range of reversible deactivation techniques available. With each chapter written by a leader in their field, and providing evidence of the practical applications of their methods, along with potential pitfalls, the book will serve as a valuable and practical guide to future experimentation within cognitive neuroscience. "This is a compilation of ideas on the topic of virtual lesions in the nervous system. The visual aspect of the book is very attractive and demonstrates its purpose at first glance. . . Twenty-six authors contribute 14 chapters, which are divided into two sections. The first one addresses the understanding of particular neuronal circuits based on selective virtual lesions in the brain. The second uses the concepts illuminated in the first section to apply to possible animal models of research. Throughout the book, there is a consistent presentation of illustrations of excellent quality, quality writing, and updated references. . .This is an important book for neuroscience laboratories and for libraries in those neurology departments where a progressive research strategy is the norm."--Doody's