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From Photon to Neuron: Light, Imaging, Vision
A richly illustrated undergraduate textbook on the physics and biology of light
Students in the physical and life sciences, and in engineering, need to know about the physics and biology of light. Recently, it has become increasingly clear that an understanding of the quantum nature of light is essential, both for the latest imaging technologies and to advance our knowledge of fundamental life processes, such as photosynthesis and human vision. From Photon to Neuron provides undergraduates with an accessible introduction to the physics of light and offers a unified view of a broad range of optical and biological phenomena. Along the way, this richly illustrated textbook builds the necessary background in neuroscience, photochemistry, and other disciplines, with applications to optogenetics, superresolution microscopy, the single-photon response of individual photoreceptor cells, and more.
With its integrated approach, From Photon to Neuron can be used as the basis for interdisciplinary courses in physics, biophysics, sensory neuroscience, biophotonics, bioengineering, or nanotechnology. The goal is always for students to gain the fluency needed to derive every result for themselves, so the book includes a wealth of exercises, including many that guide students to create computer-based solutions. Supplementary online materials include real experimental data to use with the exercises.
Assumes familiarity with first-year undergraduate physics and the corresponding math
Overlaps the goals of the MCAT, which now includes data-based and statistical reasoning
Advanced chapters and sections also make the book suitable for graduate courses
An Instructor's Guide and illustration package is available to professors
Students in the physical and life sciences, and in engineering, need to know about the physics and biology of light. Recently, it has become increasingly clear that an understanding of the quantum nature of light is essential, both for the latest imaging technologies and to advance our knowledge of fundamental life processes, such as photosynthesis and human vision. From Photon to Neuron provides undergraduates with an accessible introduction to the physics of light and offers a unified view of a broad range of optical and biological phenomena. Along the way, this richly illustrated textbook builds the necessary background in neuroscience, photochemistry, and other disciplines, with applications to optogenetics, superresolution microscopy, the single-photon response of individual photoreceptor cells, and more.
With its integrated approach, From Photon to Neuron can be used as the basis for interdisciplinary courses in physics, biophysics, sensory neuroscience, biophotonics, bioengineering, or nanotechnology. The goal is always for students to gain the fluency needed to derive every result for themselves, so the book includes a wealth of exercises, including many that guide students to create computer-based solutions. Supplementary online materials include real experimental data to use with the exercises.
Assumes familiarity with first-year undergraduate physics and the corresponding math
Overlaps the goals of the MCAT, which now includes data-based and statistical reasoning
Advanced chapters and sections also make the book suitable for graduate courses
An Instructor's Guide and illustration package is available to professors
512 pages, Paperback
Published May 9, 2017
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 3, 2019
This is a remarkable book, informal yet rigorous, conversational in style, yet dense with insight.
I am frankly amazed that it has not received many more reviews.
The Good Things
Some teachers take a breadth-first approach, others adopt a depth-first approach. Both have their merits. As novices, we are often inspired by learning about the breadth of a subject, the broad sweep of glittering phenomena that surprise and delight. But we can, and should, habituate to these superficial fireflies of wonder. Then it is time to study Nelson’s book.
This book delves deep into the science of vision by first exploring the nature of light. But this is no day-trip. It is a well-equipped expedition into the core physics of how the fundamental nature of light and matter interact to yield the engineering marvels that underpin biological vision. Preparation for this expedition begins early in the book, with an account of the physics of light in relation to quantum mechanics. In a sense, this preparation extends throughout most of book, so that it is only by the time we reach the 11th chapter (out of 14 chapters) that we consider the first synapse within the retina. But this is not intended as a criticism; as with any expedition, detailed preparation is essential.
Nelson is a physicist, and this comes across in his ruthless and meticulous analysis of the simplest phenomena. In contrast to most popular science books, and even some textbooks, there is no hand-waving explanation-by-analogy here. Explanations are precise, accompanied by carefully written accounts and detailed mathematical analysis, which are supported by clear, well labelled diagrams. There is a reasonable amount of historical background, which helps to motivate much of the text.
Because my main interest is animal vision, I paid more attention to that aspect of the book. But there are also detailed accounts of 21st century physical techniques, including optogenetics, superresolution two-photon imaging, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer, along with their applications to modern life sciences.
It is worth repeating that the writing style is informal, so the reader does not feel as if facts are being handed down from an oracle. I particularly liked the Signpost at the start of each chapter, because I think it is important to tell the reader what really matters in the body of the forthcoming chapter.
The Bad Things
My main criticism is that the book has no glossary, which is an essential part of any textbook. Personally, I don’t like footnotes because I read every single one, and some are useful and some are just a distraction, but that is a minor point.
I am not sure if this is a bad thing, but if you are looking for a whizz-bang, superficial tour of vision then this book is not for you. It requires a reasonable amount mathematical competence, and some serious study. If you read it carefully then you will gain, not only facts, but the conceptual and mathematical tools for how to analyse biological systems in terms of fundamental physical quantities, which is definitely not a Bad Thing.
Conclusion
This is how to do science properly.
Study it.
Apply its methods everywhere you go.
Who Am I?
Just to reassure you that I have some expertise on this topic, I am an Honorary Reader in Vision and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sheffield, England. I have studied vision for many years, and have published research papers and two textbooks on vision. I specifically asked P Nelson to send me a copy of his book so that I could study and review it.
James V Stone
I am frankly amazed that it has not received many more reviews.
The Good Things
Some teachers take a breadth-first approach, others adopt a depth-first approach. Both have their merits. As novices, we are often inspired by learning about the breadth of a subject, the broad sweep of glittering phenomena that surprise and delight. But we can, and should, habituate to these superficial fireflies of wonder. Then it is time to study Nelson’s book.
This book delves deep into the science of vision by first exploring the nature of light. But this is no day-trip. It is a well-equipped expedition into the core physics of how the fundamental nature of light and matter interact to yield the engineering marvels that underpin biological vision. Preparation for this expedition begins early in the book, with an account of the physics of light in relation to quantum mechanics. In a sense, this preparation extends throughout most of book, so that it is only by the time we reach the 11th chapter (out of 14 chapters) that we consider the first synapse within the retina. But this is not intended as a criticism; as with any expedition, detailed preparation is essential.
Nelson is a physicist, and this comes across in his ruthless and meticulous analysis of the simplest phenomena. In contrast to most popular science books, and even some textbooks, there is no hand-waving explanation-by-analogy here. Explanations are precise, accompanied by carefully written accounts and detailed mathematical analysis, which are supported by clear, well labelled diagrams. There is a reasonable amount of historical background, which helps to motivate much of the text.
Because my main interest is animal vision, I paid more attention to that aspect of the book. But there are also detailed accounts of 21st century physical techniques, including optogenetics, superresolution two-photon imaging, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer, along with their applications to modern life sciences.
It is worth repeating that the writing style is informal, so the reader does not feel as if facts are being handed down from an oracle. I particularly liked the Signpost at the start of each chapter, because I think it is important to tell the reader what really matters in the body of the forthcoming chapter.
The Bad Things
My main criticism is that the book has no glossary, which is an essential part of any textbook. Personally, I don’t like footnotes because I read every single one, and some are useful and some are just a distraction, but that is a minor point.
I am not sure if this is a bad thing, but if you are looking for a whizz-bang, superficial tour of vision then this book is not for you. It requires a reasonable amount mathematical competence, and some serious study. If you read it carefully then you will gain, not only facts, but the conceptual and mathematical tools for how to analyse biological systems in terms of fundamental physical quantities, which is definitely not a Bad Thing.
Conclusion
This is how to do science properly.
Study it.
Apply its methods everywhere you go.
Who Am I?
Just to reassure you that I have some expertise on this topic, I am an Honorary Reader in Vision and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sheffield, England. I have studied vision for many years, and have published research papers and two textbooks on vision. I specifically asked P Nelson to send me a copy of his book so that I could study and review it.
James V Stone
Displaying 1 of 1 review