Brain Development: Normal Processes and the Effects of Alcohol ...

As such, the present volume is the product of decades
of work by teams o f neuroscientists and developmen -
tal biologists . I than k th e name d an d nameles s o f
these dedicate d researcher s wh o hav e reache d m e
through bot h ora l and/o r writte n communications .
This volume builds on the foundation of research described
i n a boo k publishe d 1 3 year s ago , Development
of the Central Nervous System, Effects of Alcohol
and Opiates (Miller , 1992). Since tha t book was published,
our understanding of the mechanism s under -
lying norma l brai n developmen t an d th e effect s o f
ethanol neurotoxicit y o n neura l ontogen y ha s grown
exponentially. Interes t i n th e clinica l proble m o f
nicotine exposure has also increased.
Personally, m y researc h ha s bee n supporte d b y a
host of postdoctoral trainees, graduate and undergraduate
students, and technicians . I am greatl y indebted
to them fo r working toward our commo n goa l of un -
derstanding th e intricacie s o f brai n development .
Some o f my current students (Maria Bruns and Juli e
Siegenthaler) an d collaborator s (Sandr a Mooney )
Acknowledgments
contributed t o the writing of this book. My career has
been consistentl y an d substantivel y supported b y the
federal government , notably the Nationa l Institute of
Alcohol Abus e an d Alcoholis m an d th e Departmen t
of Veterans Affairs. Without the suppor t of these agen -
cies I would not hav e been abl e t o study normal an d
abnormal brain development, no r would I have been
able t o mee t th e peopl e wh o wrot e chapter s fo r this
volume. These people hav e brought considerabl e expertise
and keen insights to their contributions of outstanding
chapters .
The dua l sculptors, nature and nurture, have bee n
essential factor s in m y development as a scientist. M y
fascination wit h science—ho w thing s wor k and ho w
they fail—wa s fostere d b y m y parent s an d th e post -
Sputnik America n culture . I t i s m y grea t hop e tha t
children of all ages, boys and girls, retain their wonder
as to why things are a s they are. This sense o f marvel
should b e celebrate d an d hel d i n aw e by society. My
candle was stoked by high schoo l an d college teachers
(including Willia m Harri s and Willia m Tully , an d