The Dopaminergic Mind in Human Evolution and History

This text explains the significance of dopamine and how it is at the root of many aspects of uniquely human behaviour.

Fred H. Previc (Author)

9780521360890, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 14 July 2011

226 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm, 0.34 kg

Review of the hardback: 'Whether you agree with Fred Previc's theories or not, his astonishingly ambitious history of the role of dopamine in the development of human consciousness is one of the most thought provoking and deeply informed science books I've read in years. A bold synthesis of evolutionary theory, genetics, and musings on war, technology, culture, and mental illness, this book will shake you up and make you see the timeline of human development - and the dynamics of your own mind - in startlingly fresh ways.' Steve Silberman, Senior Writer for Wired magazine

What does it mean to be human? There are many theories of the evolution of human behavior which seek to explain how our brains evolved to support our unique abilities and personalities. Most of these have focused on the role of brain size or specific genetic adaptations of the brain. In contrast, in this text, Fred Previc presents a provocative theory that high levels of dopamine, the most widely studied neurotransmitter, account for all major aspects of modern human behavior. He further emphasizes the role of epigenetic rather than genetic factors in the rise of dopamine. Previc contrasts the great achievements of the dopaminergic mind with the harmful effects of rising dopamine levels in modern societies and concludes with a critical examination of whether the dopaminergic mind that has evolved in humans is still adaptive to the health of humans and to the planet in general.

1. What makes humans special?
2. Dopamine in the brain
3. Dopamine and behaviour
4. Dopamine and mental health
5. Evolution of the dopaminergic mind
6. The dopaminergic mind in history
7. Relinquishing the dopaminergic imperative.

Subject Areas: Neurosciences [PSAN], Cognition & cognitive psychology [JMR]