Scotophobin: Darkness at the Dawn of the Search for Memory Molecules

This book chronicles the apparent discovery of "memory molecules" in 1965, the loss of credibility that plagued those findings, and the subsequent triumphant discovery of the neuroactive peptides, including endorphins. The story is told through a series of biographical vignettes and the author's own experiences that unfolded from the plains of West Texas, through Kansas, Houston, New York, Detroit, and Boston. This seminal episode in the early history of neuroscience flows smoothly for the lay reader as an engaging story of the clash between personalities, conventional wisdom, and unconventional explanations. The book is well documented for the scientist and historian, providing a definitive account of early attempts to understand memory at the molecular level.