Elsevier’s Encyclopedia of Neuroscience attempts to provide access to all current information on neuroscience and the brain. For some reason, I found myself unable to load the software to view the contents of the product, and therefore this description is based on accompanying material, which is rather sparse. When loading the CD, both Netscape Navigator and Macromedia Shockwave software must be open as well; and this appears to take up quite a bit of memory on the computer. Why this happens is not obvious, as the system requirements for both Macintosh and PC do not indicate that it requires any extra memory than other products I have tested. In any case, Elsevier products have always been of high quality and standards; and I am sure that these same standards have gone into this product as well.
The opening screen provides the user with access to the Table of Contents, Themes, Author Index, Keyword Index, Full Text Search, Encyclopedia Web Site, and Brain Views. Other Elsevier products use 3‐D graphics to educate and awe the user; and I am sure that the Brain Views provide this same type of graphic, as well as cross‐sectional views of the brain.
Access to the Elsevier web site is also possible through the CD. The indexes provide the user with various access methods to search for and find specific information regarding neurosciences and the brain. While I am dubious about the system loading capabilities, the CD does come with loading instructions. Otherwise, until the CD is loaded onto the computer, the user has very little idea what to expect or what is contained in the product. I am sure that there is promotional literature available for this product; but I did not receive it. On this basis, therefore, I would recommend this product only because of previous experience with Elsevier products. I cannot vouch for the integrity of this product; but I can vouch for other Elsevier endeavors, and this seems to be along those same lines. Anyone interested in medical areas, specifically brain and neuroscience areas, would be interested in obtaining this product.
