The Advances in Neurochemistry series was initiated for a readership of neuroscientists with a background in biochemistry. True to this concept, the present volume brings together various applications of magnetic resonance technology to advance our knowledge of how the nervous system functions. Whether at the cellular, tissue slice, or intact organism level. magnetic resonance techniques are by their nature noninvasive, and thus provide a window through which biochemical reactions can be viewed without grinding, binding, or other­ wise perturbing ongoing physiological processes. As technological improve­ ments in methodology, such as higher and more uniform magnetic fields, novel paradigms for data analysis, etc. , are made, we find increased sensitivity and improved temporal and spatial resolution for functional imaging techniques on the one hand, and better separation of signals that identify chemical properties in spectral shift studies, on the other. It is upon knowledge such as is described in the twelve chapters that follow, that further advances in scientific discovery and the biomedical applications of tomorrow will be based. We are grateful to Dr. Bachelard, the Volume Editor, and to the authors of the individual chapters for their efforts. We also note that with this volume Dr. Morris Aprison, a co-founder of the Advances in Neurochemistry series has stepped down and acknowledge with thanks his major role in its inception. In addition, we thank our past and present Advisory Editors. Bernard W. Agranoff Kunihiko Suzuki Series Editors ix CONTENTS LIST OF SYMBOLS AND GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . XXI INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .