The market-leading text, An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology, sixth edition provides an updated, integrated presentation of the study of hormone-behaviour-brain interactions. Maintaining a comparative approach, the text explores the endocrine mechanisms that have evolved in both human and nonhuman animals to solve common problems in survival and reproduction.
The text describes interactions among hormones, brain, and behaviour from a historical perspective, emphasizing connections among key theories and tracing the emergence of important hypotheses. The book is organized around the conceptual theme that hormones affect behaviour by influencing one or more of three "components" of behaving animals-input mechanisms (such as sensory or perceptual processes), the central processing mechanisms of the nervous system (either directly, or by affecting its development or structure), and output mechanisms (such as effectors or peripheral structures). Despite increased coverage of molecular and cellular approaches, the book strives for accessibility for non-biological science students.
An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology, sixth edition, is appropriate for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology, biology, anthropology, or zoology. It contains several important pedagogical features:
- Learning objectives are set out at the beginning of each chapter and now include 3 multiple choice questions per objective in the enhanced ebook.
- Learning Activity in each chapter (new to this edition)
- Key terms are defined in the margins throughout the text.
- The text is richly illustrated with colour photographs and drawings.
- Chapter-end summaries restate important points.
- Discussion questions and suggested further readings are also included in each chapter.
- The text contains nearly 2,400 references to the literature in behavioural endocrinology.
1. The Study of Behavioral Endocrinology
2. The Endocrine System
3. Sex Differences in Behavior: Sex Determination and Differentiation
4. Sex Differences in Behavior: Animal Models and Humans
5. Male Reproductive Behavior
6. Female Reproductive Behavior
7. Parental Behavior
8. Hormones and Social Behavior
9. Homeostasis and Behavior
10. Biological Rhythms
11. Stress
12. Learning and Memory
13. Hormones and Affective Disorders
Glossary
Illustration
Credits
References
Index
Randy J. Nelson is a Distinguished University Professor and holds the Brumbaugh Chair in Brain Research and Teaching at The Ohio State University. He is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience and a member of the Institute for Behavioral Medicine at The Ohio State University Medical Center. He is the recipient of the Ohio State University Alumni Distinguished Teaching Award. Dr Nelson earned his A.B. degree in Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and began his graduate career with work on canine behavioural sex differentiation under Dr Frank Beach. After receiving his M.A. in Psychology, he began focusing on circadian rhythms and photoperiodism with Dr Irving Zucker. He simultaneously earned a PhD in Psychology and a PhD in Endocrinology from the University of California, Berkeley, then went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship in reproductive physiology at the Institute for Reproductive Biology at the University of Texas, Austin. Dr Nelson served on the faculty at Johns Hopkins University for fifteen years before moving to Columbus. He has published over 400 research articles and several books describing studies in seasonality, behavioural endocrinology, biological rhythms, immune function, sex behaviour, and aggressive behaviours. His current research focuses on the role of light at night in disrupting the circadian organization of hormones, the brain, and behaviour.
Lance J. Kriegsfeld is a Professor and Vice-Chair in the Department of Psychology at The University of California, Berkeley. He also holds a joint appointment in The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute at The University of California, Berkeley. Dr Kriegsfeld earned his PhD at Johns Hopkins University investigating the neural mechanisms underlying the seasonal control of reproduction under Dr Randy Nelson. Following his PhD, he then went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship investigating circadian biology and behaviour with Dr Rae Silver at Columbia University. After completing his postdoctoral fellowship, he joined the faculty at The University of California, Berkeley. Dr Kriegsfeld has published over 100 research articles and a book covering topics in sexual differentiation, behavioural endocrinology, circadian biology, reproductive biology, behavioural genetics, immune function, and sex and aggressive behaviours. He is a recipient of the Frank A. Beach Award in Neuroendocrinology and the University of California Excellence in Postdoctoral Mentoring Award.