1. Changing Perspectives Concerning Neural Control of the Heart / Walter C. Randall -- 2. Cardiac Receptors: Discharge Characteristics and Reflex Effects / Michael L. Smith and Marc D. Thames -- 3. Parasympathetic Effects on Cardiac Function / Matthew N. Levy and Margaret R. Warner -- 4. Efferent Sympathetic Innervation of the Heart / Walter C. Randall -- 5. Structure and Function of Mammalian Intrinsic Cardiac Neurons / Jeffrey L. Ardell -- 6. Mammalian Intrinsic Cardiac Neurons in Cell Culture / Timothy G. J. Allen, Candice J. S. Hassall and Geoffrey Burnstock -- 7. Neural Control of Coronary Blood Flow / Eric O. Feigl -- 8. Autonomic Modulation of Myocardial Electrical Properties and Cardiac Rhythm / Rene Cardinal -- 9. Neural Control of Cardiac Myocyte Function / Otto-Erich Brodde and Hans-Reinhard Zerkowski -- 10. Peripheral Autonomic Neuronal Interactions in Cardiac Regulation / J. Andrew Armour -- 11. Spinal Cord Neuronal Regulation of the Cardiovascular System / Robert D. Foreman.

12. Cardiorespiratory Neurons in the Medulla Oblongata: Input and Output Relationships / David A. Hopkins and Howard H. Ellenberger -- 13. Suprabulbar Neuronal Regulation of the Heart / Stephen M. Oppenheimer and David A. Hopkins -- 14. Autonomic Nervous Control of Cardiovascular Function in the Awake Animal / David C. Randall and David R. Brown -- 15. Clinical Neurocardiology: Arrhythmias / Raul D. Mitrani and Douglas P. Zipes -- 16. Clinical Neurocardiology: Role of the Autonomic Nervous System in Clinical Heart Failure / David W. Ferguson and Allyn L. Mark.

During the past two decades, a great deal of research has been conducted in an effort to delineate the neuroanatomical and functional organization of the autonomic nervous system which controls cardiac function. This groundbreaking volume provides a full description of current knowledge about the neuronal mechanisms regulating the heart. It gives a coherent overview of the function of populations of neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems that are involved in maintaining cardiac function.

Recently developed concepts about the function of afferent and efferent autonomic neurons regulating the heart, as well as those interposed between, are presented in a comprehensive fashion from the level of central neurons to those innervating the heart. Data provided in this book challenge currently held concepts about how central and peripheral autonomic neurons interact to regulate the heart.

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An authoritative and well-organized volume, Neurocardiology highlights current concepts about cardiac afferent mechanisms responsible for cardiovascular reflexes, as well as the role of efferent autonomic neurons in regulating cardiodynamics and coronary artery blood flow and in generating cardiac arrhythmias. In addition, neurohumoral regulation of cardiac myocyte function is brought up to date with particular emphasis on myocyte regulation in disease states.

New ideas about intrinsic and extrinsic cardiac intrathoracic neurons, the role of spinal cord and medullary and higher center neurons are presented. The final chapters focus on the role that autonomic neurons play in the maintenance of cardiac function in the conscious state as well as in two major clinical conditions, dysrythimias and heart failure.

Thus, this comprehensive work offers a succinct overview of the function of central and peripheral autonomic neurons regulating the heart in normal and disease states.