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The Postmortem Brain in Psychiatric Research pp 21–35Cite as

Methodological and Stereological Considerations in Postmortem Psychiatric Brain Research

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Part of the book series: Neurobiological Foundation of Aberrant Behaviors ((NFAB,volume 4))

Abstract

There has been a renewal of interest in understanding the brain changes that may underlie schizophrenia. However, microscopic assessment of the brain is not a trivial task and there are many potential factors, which can affect experimental results. In this chapter we will review the major potential confounding variables to be considered and principles of quantifying microscopic indices such as cell number and size. In this regard the basic principles of stereology will be outlined as well as the basic ideas of quantifying cellular arrangement by the newly emerging tool of spatial pattern analysis. During these description examples from the published literature will be provided.

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Authors
  1. Ian Paul Everall
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  2. Paul J. Harrison
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Stanley Foundation International Research Center and Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva, Israel

    Galila Agam  & R. H. Belmaker  & 

  2. Departments of Neuropathology and Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, DeCrespigny Park, SE5 8AF, London, UK

    Ian Paul Everall

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Everall, I.P., Harrison, P.J. (2002). Methodological and Stereological Considerations in Postmortem Psychiatric Brain Research. In: Agam, G., Everall, I.P., Belmaker, R.H. (eds) The Postmortem Brain in Psychiatric Research. Neurobiological Foundation of Aberrant Behaviors, vol 4. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3631-1_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3631-1_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-4921-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-3631-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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