An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology

By Randy J. Nelson

Book Overview

An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology, Fifth Edition, retains all of the features of the bestselling prior editions, and provides an updated, integrated presentation of the study of hormone-behavior-brain interactions. Continuing to emphasize 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 fifth edition benefits by the addition of a new coauthor, Lance Kriegsfeld (The University of California, Berkeley), who brings additional expertise and teaching experience in behavioral endocrinology.

The text describes interactions among hormones, brain, and behavior 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 behavior 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, Fifth Edition, is appropriate for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology, biology, anthropology, or zoology. It contains several important pedagogical features:

*Learning objectives (new to this edition) are set out at the beginning of each chapter.
*Key terms are defined in the margins throughout the text.
*The text is richly illustrated with color 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 behavioral endocrinology.

RESOURCES

For Students
As with previous editions, the book is accompanied by animations, video, web links, sound files, a complete glossary, and graphics--accessible via the Companion Website--to aid in understanding the material in the text.

For Instructors
-The Instructor's Resource Library includes electronic versions of all the textbook's figures and tables. All images are provided as both high- and low-resolution JPEGs, formatted and optimized for excellent legibility when projected. All figures and tables are also provided in ready-to-use PowerPoint presentations.

-The Test Bank includes multiple-choice, short-answer, and essay questions for each chapter of the textbook. Prepared by the author, these questions are a helpful resource that can greatly speed the process of preparing exams and quizzes for the course.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1605353205
• ISBN13: 9781605353203
• Release Date: October 2016
• Publisher: Sinauer Associates Is an Imprint of Oxford Un
• Length: 722 Pages
• Weight: 4.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 8.8" x 11.1"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Suvey of Behavioral Endocrinology!

I have been using this book for interest purposes. As an advanced undergraduate interested in behavioral neuroscience, I find this to be an excellent survey of this developing field. The book is very readable with concise chapters. Its very broad in scope and includes many recent, key experiments which are fundamental to the field. It is interdisciplinary in approach with references to fields such as: social, evolutionary and physiological psychology. It appears as though the author(s) have done well to bring this excellent text up to date with each edition. There are many fine, recent references. I am currently reviewing the third edition and have had an opportunity to glance at the previous editions in the library. Overall, I recommend it highly to those interested in social, development and physiological psychology. If you are interested in neuroscience and biochemistry/endocrinology this is a very interesting approach to a fascinating discipline!

What a book!

This textbook is a delight. Well written, accessible, wonderfully wideranging and thoughtful. It's even funny.

Comprehensive and engaging book about sex behavior

This book is one of the most informative books about the basic mechanisms underlying sex behavior and sex differences. Forget about Venus and Mars. This book really gets to the basics in a readible and enjoyable fashion. You don't need much biological training to learn a lot from this book (in fact, I skipped Chapter 2 which was a rather dense treatment of hormones, but is a good resource to consult) and didn't have any trouble in later chapters. Learn about how sex differences in behavior arise, and learn about the many ways that hormones have subtle effects on our behavior...

Excellent review of the interaction of hormones and behavior

Quite simply, this is the best textbook on hormones and behavior available today. The text is clearly written and enjoyable as well, a rarity in academic textbooks. A must-buy for anyone interested in the the interaction of hormones and behavior.