FOREWORD 



The assembly of groups of people of divergent views for the purpose 

 of educating each other is a goal which is not too often attained. However, 

 these directions were the ones given to the Symposium and program chair- 

 men by the committee that had decided it was time to look into effects of 

 ionizing radiations on the nervous system. 



This was a new approach, because many had said that the nervous 

 system was insensitive to radiation, but the undercurrent arriving from 

 many laboratories indicated that the statement was only partly true. If we 

 wished to understand the radiation syndrome itself it would be necessary 

 to consider the ner\ous system in our o\er-all outlook. Upon this basis it 

 was decided that a beginning should be made by reviewing neonatal 

 aspects, histopathological effects, ablation of specific central nervous system 

 areas by particulate irradiation, ev^aluation of functional changes, and last 

 but not least, the psychological effects of irradiation on animal performance. 



To further these goals, investigators from many parts of the world 

 joined with their colleagues in the United States to present the material 

 contained in the following pages. We do not believe that all available 

 information on the subject is contained herein, but we have strived honestly 

 for a beginning in order that investigators will not only know what has been 

 done and is being done, but also what the future may cause to have done. 



This symposium was made possible by research grants to Northwestern 

 University from the Institute of Neurology and Blindness, National Insti- 

 tutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, and the U. S. Atomic Energy Com- 

 mission, Washington, D. C. Special thanks go to the Neurology Study Sec- 

 tion of National Institutes of Health for the necessary services it rendered. 



We hope that this modest beginning will inspire others to assist all to 

 a better understanding of the various effects produced by irradiation of 

 the nervous system. 



Thomas J. Haley 

 Program Chairman 

 Ray S. Snider 

 Symposium Chairman 



