The editors have assembled 21 papers on neural computation that are meant to represent the current state of the art within the discipline. The result of their efforts is an interesting and challenging read.

The contributions range from neural encoding through decoding and neuron spikes, with many topics in between covered in various degrees of detail. Neural computation is a rapidly evolving and expanding area of both computation and neurobiology, and this volume places many of the critical issues in context. It is not an easy read. The variety of authors and the enormous range of topics covered make it difficult for someone outside the discipline to fully appreciate the material’s quality and importance. For the uninitiated, it is not always clear why a particular contribution appears at all or in a particular sequence. Fortunately, the editors provide an excellent introduction, complete with an exhaustive supporting bibliography, to guide the neophyte through the nuances and significant issues that will be addressed in the later chapters. The first chapter, “Deciphering the Brain’s Codes,” is an elegant overview, written from the vantage point of two sensory systems. It places the problems and issues in context and lays a firm foundation for the remaining contributions.

Many of the contributions are highly technical and narrowly focused. These papers will be used by the students of these problems as essential background to further studies. The integration of such issues as coding, physiological response, energy-efficient codes, statistical modeling, and especially temporal sequencing provides a rich source of information for anyone interested in gaining an appreciation of the field. Each chapter begins with a modest overview. These overviews are well written and address the key issues discussed in the body of the chapter. For the reader interested in gaining some sense of the field, these half-page summaries will provide information and insight into a rapidly progressing, interdisciplinary field.