In simple terms, neurophysiology is the scientific study of the nervous system; or the neuroscience that deals with the operational network of the entire nervous system. To this end, you will learn the functional compositions of neurones, glia, and nerve networks.
As a neurophysiologist, you may use study brain functions using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and calcium imaging among other molecular techniques.
Best Neurophysiology Textbooks: Our Top Recommendations
So if you want to deepen your knowledge of neurophysiology within and outside the classroom, you must consult the 7 best neurophysiology textbooks curated by our team of medical editors. Authored by board-certified neurophysiologists, these academic books will expose you to ion channels, neuromuscular synapses, nerve conduction, resting membrane, and action potential, as well as neurotransmitters, receptors, and pathways.
Here then are the 7 best neurophysiology textbooks as curated by our internal team of reviewers:
1. Neurophysiology: A Conceptual Approach
Written by a professor of oculomotor physiology and a clinical senior lecturer with vast experience in intensive care, this book provides a comprehensive guide into neurology and neuroscience. Neurophysiology: A Conceptual Approach covers the entire field of neurophysiology and provides insights into the principles and functional concepts of the specialized subject.
Available in paperback and Kindle format, this book is recommended for students of medicine, physiology, applied physiology, neurophysiology, neuroscience, and all fields of biosciences. It contains tons of color photos and images that illustrate electrical nerve impulses and brain functions in the overall nervous system. Written in plain language, it also contains materials from a supplemental website that could be used for self-assessment.
- Author(s): Roger Carpenter and Benjamin Reddi
- Publisher: CRC Press
- Current Edition: Fifth Edition (August 2012)
- Pages: 448
2. Clinical Neurophysiology (Contemporary Neurology Series)
This book is a practical neurophysiology textbook for professional neurologists, psychiatrists, and clinical neurophysiologists as well as students in related clinical research. It offers updated information regarding the research and techniques of clinical neurophysiology, newer illustrations depicting basic and advanced key concepts, as well as case examples for practical applications.
Written by a professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic, and a clinical neurologist/neurophysiologist, Clinical Neurophysiology (Contemporary Neurology Series) contains all the tests required to test patients suffering from various brain diseases and those of the nervous system. It contains testing methods for patients with epilepsy, neuromuscular diseases, movement disorders, demyelinating diseases, sleep disorders, autonomic disorders and those undergoing orthopedic and
neurosurgical procedures.
So if you are interested in learning the multiple diagnostic techniques for testing and interpreting disorders associated with the central and peripheral nervous system, you must acquire this book.
- Author(s): Devon Rubin and Jasper Daube
- Publisher: Oxford Univesity Press
- Current Edition: Fourth Edition (April 2016)
- Pages: 1032
3. Oxford Textbook of Clinical Neurophysiology (Oxford Textbooks in Clinical Neurology)
This neurophysiology textbook focuses on the fundamentals of neuroscience procedures and how these techniques are applied in clinical situations. Divided into four major areas, the book covers electromyography, magnetoencephalography, the peripheral nervous system, and the central nervous system in clinical applications.
Available in hardcover, this expanded book also includes audio and video texts used to illustrate basic concepts in diagnostic neurophysiology.
This is a must-have academic resource if you really want to understand the basics of neurophysiology and also advance into the more specialized aspects of neuroscience and neurology combined. It is suitable for students of neurology and practitioners neuromedical labs across the world.
- Author(s): Kerry R. Mills
- Publisher: Oxford University Press
- Current Edition: First Edition (January 2017)
- Pages: 512
4. Cellular Physiology and Neurophysiology: Mosby Physiology Series (Mosby’s Physiology Monograph)
This book is one of the volumes available in the Mosby Physiology Series that cover endocrine and reproductive physiology, gastrointestinal physiology, renal physiology, respiratory physiology, cardiovascular physiology, and pathophysiology among others. Cellular Physiology and Neurophysiology: Mosby Physiology Series provides a comprehensive and concise approach to the scientific study of the nervous system.
Designed like a curriculum, this neurophysiology book comes with learning objectives, study questions, and structured examination to test your learning and assimilation skills. Drawing from the related aspects of pharmacology and pathophysiology, the book examines practical examples of neuroscience as they regard clinical implications. It also x-rays cell functions in health and disease situations with a view to determining sensory development.
One of the major benefits to acquiring this book is that it comes with an eBook version. This digital version contains comprehensive texts, figures, and references that can be accessed on various electronic and communication devices. This makes personal study easier on the go without the bulk of the main book.
- Author(s): Mordecai P. Blaustein, Joseph P.Y. Kao, and Donald R. Matteson
- Publisher: Elsevier
- Current Edition: Third Edition (June 2019)
- Pages: 304
5. Clinical Neurophysiology (Contemporary Neurology Series)
Whether you are a trainee or professional neurologist, psychiatrist, and clinical neurophysiologist, you need an updated and comprehensive academic resource that focuses on electrophysiologic tests for various nervous disorders. Some of these conditions are epilepsy and spells, neuromuscular diseases, movement disorders, demyelinating diseases, sleep disorders, autonomic disorders, and those undergoing orthopedic and neurosurgical procedures.
The book Clinical Neurophysiology (Contemporary Neurology Series) covers the entire techniques, conclusions, research, and procedures applicable in clinical neurophysiology. Some of its focus are electroencephalography, electromyography, evoked potentials, movement disorder studies, and sleep studies. It is the latest edition with tons of color images and illustrations that drive home points being made.
- Author(s): Devon I. Rubin
- Publisher: Oxford University Press
- Current Edition: Fifth Edition (June 2021)
- Pages: 1128
6. The Clinical Neurophysiology Primer
Available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle format, The Clinical Neurophysiology Primer is an updated reprint of the 2007 first edition. It is a lecture series on clinical neurophysiology that held at Rhode Island Hospital and the Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center. It covers various aspects of neuroscience with particular emphasis on clinical neurophysiology.
Written by acclaimed neurophysiologists at the academic and professional levels, this book contains all a trainee and practitioner would require to climb the knowledge ladder in neuroscience. It is written in plain and concise language, and fully illustrated with relevant photos that explain the points. This is one neurophysiology resource that is both for the roads and the library.
- Author(s): Andrew S. Blum and Seward B. Rutkove
- Publisher: Humana
- Current Edition: Softcover Reprint of Hardcover – First 2007 Edition (December 2010)
- Pages: 536
7. Surgical Neurophysiology – 2nd Edition: A Reference Guide to Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring
If you are a student preparing for IONM and CNIM examinations, then this is the book for you. This handy resource eliminates the need for various handouts and study guides on surgical neurophysiology. It is a comprehensive reference that practically contains all you need to succeed at IONM and CNIM examinations.
According to top university professors who reviewed Surgical Neurophysiology: A Reference Guide to Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring, this book is best suited to technologists, neurophysiologists, neurologists, anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons or ENT surgeons as a quick guide to understanding the basics of surgical neurophysiology.
It contains 10 major chapters and 11 quizes as well as 600 multiple choice questions that facilitate the comprehension of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring. Users can easily understand and memorize the lessons of the book while also attempting the questions to evaluate their comprehension. It is a staple reference that is very practical for all trainees and technologists in clinical/surgical neurophysiology.
- Author(s): Faisal R. Jahangiri
- Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
- Current Edition: Second Edition (April 2012)
- Pages: 410
Final Thoughts
These 7 best neurophysiology textbooks come highly recommended by industry experts in neuroscience and specifically in neurophysiology. They were curated by our internal team of editors and reviewers after analyzing the merits and demerits of hundreds of related books. Available in various formats, they can be comprehended in digestible bits and they can be consumed on the go using digital devices. And best of all, they are cheap and affordable.
The highlighted seven textbooks on neurophysiology are suitable for practicing professionals and clinical interns as well as academic researchers who require comprehensive but concise guides to neuroscience. They teach everything from neural cells to molecular compositions and how they determine the functions of the central/peripheral nervous system for health and disease situations. And these books are usable for examination studies.
Certified by industry experts and reviewed by leading authors, these seven books represent all students and professionals must acquire to succeed in the field of neurophysiology. Some of them also contain audio and video resources that complement textual information in the books. They are recommended for all categories of medical trainees and practitioners, and they can even be gifted to friends within the sector.
Get one or two of these books today, and build your assurance for a successful career in the field. And as a side note, you will also find the books invaluable if you plan on writing your own academic books on the niche. They will serve as reference guides, updated materials, and background research to your endeavors as a professional or academic expert in neurophysiology.
