The Behavioral Neurology of White Matter

Behavioral neurology is founded on lesions of cortical gray matter, but recently the contributions of cerebral white matter to cognitive and emotional dysfunction have also attracted attention. The Behavioral Neurology of White Matter surveys this broad and fascinating field from a clinical perspective. Stimulated by recent improvements in neuroimaging, white matter has been carefully studied, and its role in the operations of cognition and emotionclarified by correlations with clinical observations. The relevance of normal and abnormal white matter to behavioral neurology is apparent in every context where this question has been examined: in development, aging,and in a host of diseases, intoxications, and injuries. Since the first edition of this book in 2001, steady advances have been made in understanding the neurobiology of white matter and its clinical significance; this edition provides a comprehensive update on this rapidly expanding field. Every chapter has been extensively rewritten, including a comprehensive revision of the account of the neuropsychiatry of white matter, a particularly challenging area. The syndrome of white matter dementiais discussed in detail, and its refinement with new information is considered along with the proposal of mild cognitive dysfunction as a precursor syndrome in many clinical settings. In addition, twonew chapters have been added, one on the emerging area of white matter changes associated with neurodegenerative disorders such Alzheimer's Disease, and another on neurologic aspects of white matter including intriguing new information on white matter plasticity. A unifying theme is the concept of connectivity, as it is clear the white matter forms an essential component of the widespread distributed neural networks by which cognition and emotion are organized. In addition to themicroconnectivity within gray matter that subserves information processing, the macroconnectivity of white matter enables information transfer - both are critical for the functions of the human mind.

“"Lesions of cerebral white matter disrupt distributed neural circuits subserving elementary and higher order behavior causing deficits that fall within the domains of behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry. In this detailed and comprehensive monograph, Christopher Filley provides a timely overview of important historical, anatomical, and contemporary imaging approaches to cerebral white matter, and a meticulously crafted and masterful consideration of white matter disorders producing dementia and focal neurobehavioral syndromes. Written with a narrative style that reads effortlessly, this outstanding second edition of Filley's book adds critical clinical relevance to the knowledge of cerebral white matter pathways. It is a welcome and essential guide for neurologists, and for clinical and research cognitive neuroscientists." -- Jeremy D. Schmahmann, MD, Professor of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA "If you are neuropsychologist like me, with some familiarity with white matter structure and function based on occasional readings of journal articles and the usual teachings in graduate school, The Behavioral Neurology of White Matter, 2nd Edition, will certainly broaden your perspective and introduce you to new ways of thinking about the ''other half'' of the brain." -- Joseph Sadek, PhD, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society”

"Lesions of cerebral white matter disrupt distributed neural circuits subserving elementary and higher order behavior causing deficits that fall within the domains of behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry. In this detailed and comprehensive monograph, Christopher Filley provides a timely overview of important historical, anatomical, and contemporary imaging approaches to cerebral white matter, and a meticulously crafted and masterful consideration of whitematter disorders producing dementia and focal neurobehavioral syndromes. Written with a narrative style that reads effortlessly, this outstanding second edition of Filley's book adds critical clinicalrelevance to the knowledge of cerebral white matter pathways. It is a welcome and essential guide for neurologists, and for clinical and research cognitive neuroscientists." -- Jeremy D. Schmahmann, MD, Professor of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA"If you are neuropsychologist like me, with some familiarity with white matter structure and function based on occasional readings of journal articles and the usual teachings in graduate school, The Behavioral Neurology of White Matter, 2nd Edition, will certainly broaden your perspective and introduce you to new ways of thinking about the ''other half'' of the brain."-- Joseph Sadek, PhD, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society

Christopher M. Filley, MD is Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry, and Director of the Behavioral Neurology Section at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and Neurology Service Chief at the Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center. A graduate of Williams College and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, he completed his neurology residency at the University of Colorado and served a behavioral neurology fellowship at the Boston VA Hospital.

Behavioral neurology is founded on lesions of cortical gray matter, but recently the contributions of cerebral white matter to cognitive and emotional dysfunction have also attracted attention. The Behavioral Neurology of White Matter surveys this broad and fascinating field from a clinical perspective. Stimulated by recent improvements in neuroimaging, white matter has been carefully studied, and its role in the operations of cognition and emotion clarified by correlations with clinical observations. The relevance of normal and abnormal white matter to behavioral neurology is apparent in every context where this question has been examined: in development, aging, and in a host of diseases, intoxications, and injuries. Since the first edition of this book in 2001, steady advances have been made in understanding the neurobiology of white matter and its clinical significance; this edition provides a comprehensive update on this rapidly expanding field. Every chapter has been extensively rewritten, including a comprehensive revision of the account of the neuropsychiatry of white matter, a particularly challenging area. The syndrome of white matter dementia is discussed in detail, and its refinement with new information is considered along with the proposal of mild cognitive dysfunction as a precursor syndrome in many clinical settings. In addition, two new chapters have been added, one on the emerging area of white matter changes associated with neurodegenerative disorders such Alzheimer's Disease, and another on neurologic aspects of white matter including intriguing new information on white matter plasticity. A unifying theme is the concept of connectivity, as it is clear the white matter forms an essential component of the widespread distributed neural networks by which cognition and emotion are organized. In addition to the microconnectivity within gray matter that subserves information processing, the macroconnectivity of white matter enables information transfer - both are critical for the functions of the human mind.

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