It has been well recognized that following an ischemicinsult many nerve cells of the brain are not killedoutright, but may suffer a "delayed neuronal death" or evenrecover. This led to the concept of "maturation phenomenon"with its main implication that the maturation of ischemiclesions may provide a "window of opportunity" i.e. a periodof time when the injury to neuronal elements is stillreversible, and during which an application of propertherapeutic measures might be successful.The symposium on Maturation Phenomenon in Cerebral Ischemiawas the first international meeting focussed primarily onthis subject and the resulting publication containspresentations and discussionsby prominent researchersengaged in this field. This book should stimulate furtherresearch on potential of brain tissue for recovery, andparticularly with regard to a functional recovery of neuronssuffering from chronic ischemic injury.