Physiology of Behavior

I pursued my undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois. I had planned to study nuclear physics, but when I discovered in an introductory psychology course that psychology was really a science, I decided that was what I wanted to do. Before changing my major, I talked with several professors and visited their laboratories, and when I saw what physiological psychologists do, I knew that I had found my niche. I stayed on at Illinois and received my Ph.D. Then, after a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Iowa, I came to the University of Massachusetts, where I’ve been ever since.

When I arrived at UMass I established a laboratory where I investigated the role of the limbic system in species-typical and learned behaviors, continuing work I had done at the University of Illinois. I received several Biomedical Research Support Grants and a research grant from NICHD. As I became more involved in textbook writing, I began to focus my attention more and more on this activity and on my teaching.

I took the opportunity afforded by my first sabbatical leave to write the first edition of Physiology of Behavior. I very much enjoyed the experience, and this endeavor taught me much more about behavioral neuroscience. I was gratified with the positive response of my students and of the colleagues who adopted the book. The pleasure provided by this response and by the enjoyment of keeping up with the literature and writing about it has kept me going for 11 editions. (I have no plans to stop writing.)

I retired from UMass in the fall of 2004 but continue to keep up with developments in the field of behavioral neuroscience and revise my book. The Psychology Department has kindly let me keep an office at the university, which makes it easier for me to continue interacting with my former colleagues.

My interests outside of writing include spending time with our family, traveling, fly fishing, skiing, and flying our small airplane."

--Neil Carlson

In this Section:

1. Brief Table of Contents

2. Full Table of Contents

1. BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1         Introduction 

Chapter 2         Structure and Functions of Cells of the Nervous System     

Chapter 3         Structure of the Nervous System 

Chapter 4         Psychopharmacology

Chapter 5         Methods and Strategies of Research 

Chapter 6         Vision 

Chapter 7         Audition, the Body Senses, and the Chemical Sense 

Chapter 8         Control of Movement 

Chapter 9         Sleep and Biological Rhythms 

Chapter 10       Reproductive Behavior 

Chapter 11       Emotion 

Chapter 12       Ingestive Behavior 

Chapter 13       Learning and Memory 

Chapter 14       Human Communication 

Chapter 15       Neurological Disorders 

Chapter 16       Schizophrenia and the Affective Disorders 

Chapter 17       Anxiety Disorders, Autistic Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity

                           Disorder, and Stress Disorders 

Chapter 18       Drug Abuse 

2. FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1        Introduction 

Understanding Human Consciousness: A Physiological Approach

The Nature of Physiological Psychology 

Natural Selection and Evolution 

Ethical Issues In Research With Animals 

Careers in Neuroscience 

Strategies for Learning 

Chapter 2        Structure and Functions of Cells of The Nervous System     

Cells of the Nervous System 

Communication within a Neuron 

Communication between Neurons 

Chapter 3        Structure of the Nervous System 

Basic Features of the Nervous System 

The Central Nervous System 

The Peripheral Nervous System 

Chapter 4        Psychopharmacology

Principles Of Psychopharmacology 

Sites Of Drug Action 

Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators 

Chapter 5        Methods and Strategies of Research 

Experimental Ablation 

Recording And Stimulating Neural Activity 

Neurochemical Methods 

Genetic Methods 

Chapter 6        Vision 

The Stimulus 

Anatomy of the Visual System 

Coding Of Visual Information in the Retina 

Analysis of Visual Information: Role of The Striate Cortex 

Analysis of Visual Information: Role of The Visual Association Cortex 

Chapter 7        Audition, the Body Senses, and the Chemical Sense 

Audition 

Vestibular System 

Somatosenses 

Gustation 

Olfaction 

Chapter 8        Control of Movement 

Muscles 

Reflexive Control of Movement 

Control of Movement by the Brain 

Chapter 9        Sleep and Biological Rhythms 

A Physiological and Behavioral Description Of Sleep 

Disorders of Sleep 

Why Do We Sleep? 

Physiological Mechanisms of Sleep And Waking 

Biological Clocks 

Chapter 10      Reproductive Behavior 

Sexual Development 

Hormonal Control of Sexual Behavior 

Neural Control of Sexual Behavior 

Parental Behavior 

Chapter 11      Emotion 

Emotions as Response Patterns 

Communication of Emotions 

Feelings of Emotions 

Chapter 12      Ingestive Behavior 

Physiological Regulatory Mechanisms 

Drinking 

Eating: Some Facts about Metabolism 

What Starts A Meal? 

What Stops A Meal? 

Brain Mechanisms 

Obesity 

Anorexia Nervosa/Bulimia Nervosa 

Chapter 13      Learning and Memory 

The Nature of Learning 

Synaptic Plasticity: Long-Term Potentiation and Long-Term Depression 

Perceptual Learning 

Classical Conditioning 

Instrumental Conditioning 

Relational Learning 

Chapter 14      Human Communication 

Speech Production and Comprehension: Brain Mechanisms 

Disorders of Reading and Writing 

Chapter 15      Neurological Disorders 

Tumors 

Seizure Disorders 

Cerebrovascular Accidents 

Disorders of Development 

Degenerative Disorders 

Disorders Caused By Infectious Diseases 

Chapter 16      Schizophrenia and the Affective Disorders 

Schizophrenia 

Major Affective Disorders 

Chapter 17 Anxiety Disorders, Autistic Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Stress Disorders 

Anxiety Disorders 

Autistic Disorder 

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder 

Stress Disorders 

Chapter 18      Drug Abuse 

Common Features of Addiction

Commonly Abused Drugs

Heredity and Drug Abuse

Therapy for Drug Abuse

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