Nerve Cells and Animal Behaviour

This book explains the neuronal basis of animal behaviour to final year undergraduates and postgraduates without needing detailed knowledge of neurophysiology.

Peter Simmons (Author), David Young (Author)

9780521899772, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 27 May 2010

292 pages, 137 b/w illus.
25.3 x 19.3 x 1.8 cm, 0.8 kg

"Throughout, the prose is lively and the discussions of even complex phenomena are lucid. The figures are carefully crafted to be clear and uncluttered, and there are just enough of them to keep the explanations moving along. Nerve Cells and Animal Behaviour is an interesting and pleasant read that conveys the thrill of studying the neural basis of animal behavior; it would be ideal for triggering interesting discussions in a relatively small biology or psychology course.
William B. Kristan, Jr., The Quarterly Review of Biology

An extensively revised third edition of this introduction to neuroethology - the neuronal basis of animal behaviour - for zoology, biology and psychology undergraduate students. The book focuses on the roles of individual nerve cells in behaviour, from simple startle responses to complex behaviours such as route learning by rats and singing by crickets and birds. It begins by examining the relationship between brains and behaviour, and showing how study of specialised behaviours reveals neuronal mechanisms that control behaviour. Information processing by nerve cells is introduced using specific examples, and the establishing roles of neurons in behaviour is described for a predator-prey interaction, toads versus cockroaches. New material includes: vision by insects, which describes sensory filtering; hunting by owls and bats, which describes sensory maps; and rhythmical movements including swimming and flying, which describes how sequences of movements are generated. Includes stunning photographs which capture the detail of the behaviour.

1. Organisation of animal behaviour and of brains - feeding in star-nose moles and courtship in fruit flies
2. Signals in nerve cells - reflexes in mammals and insects
3. Neuronal mechanisms for releasing behaviour - predator and prey: toad and cockroach
4. Neuronal pathways for behaviour - startle behaviours and giant neurons in crayfish and fish
5. Eyes and vision - sensory filtering and course control in insects
6. Sensory maps - hunting by owls and bats
7. Programmes for movement - how nervous systems generate and control rhythmic movements
8. Changes in nerve cells and behaviour - learning in bees and rats
swarming in locusts
9. Nerve cells and animal signalling - songs of crickets, electric fish and birds.

Subject Areas: Animal behaviour [PSVP], Neurosciences [PSAN], Physiological & neuro-psychology, biopsychology [JMM]