Overview

Historically the search for the neural bases of behavior goes back a long way. Neuroethology, which is concerned with the experimental analysis ofthe releasing and control mech­ anisms of behavior, is a young discipline. Results from this multidisciplinary branch of research, which uses physical, chemical, and mathematical methods, have not yet been extensively treated in textbooks of neurophysiology and ethology. This book is intended as a first attempt to pose major questions of neuroethology and to demonstrate, by means of selected research examples, some of the ways by which these questions are being approached. Inevitably this cannot be a complete and in depth detailed treatment of all of the neurobiology examples, and I realize that such a selection is of a subjective nature. The overall goal ofthe book is to present an introduction. After outlining some of the very basic neurophysiological and ethological concepts (Chaps. 2 and 3), neuroethological questions and methods are demonstrated extensively by means of a particular example (Chap. 4). There are two reasons to choose the visually guided prey-catching and avoidance behavior of the Common Toad: (1) it is a system which I have inves­ tigated for about fifteen years and therefore know best, (2) the toad story is one of the most comprehensive neuro­ ethological approaches so far. Thus, it is possible here to outline the major concepts of neuroethology and to pose the basic questions.

Full Product Details

Author:   J.-P. Ewert
Publisher:   Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG
Imprint:   Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. K
Edition:   Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1980
Dimensions:   Width: 15.50cm , Height: 1.90cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   0.545kg
ISBN:  

9783642675027

ISBN 10:   3642675026
Pages:   344
Publication Date:   21 December 2011
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

1 What is Neuroethology?.- 1.1 Principal Scope.- 1.2 History.- 1.3 Problems.- 2 How Does a Stimulus Elicit Muscle Contraction?.- 2.1 Neural Building Blocks.- 2.2 A Behavioral Experiment.- 2.3 The “Language” of the Nervous System.- 2.4 Communication in the Nervous System.- 2.5 The Three Fundamental Arithmetic Methods.- 2.6 Complexity.- 2.7 Nerve Impulses Induce Muscle Contractions.- 3 Key-Stimuli and Releasing Mechanisms: Some Fundamental Concepts in Ethology.- 3.1 Environmental Stimuli and Information Reduction.- 3.2 Innate and Acquired Releasing Mechanisms.- 3.3 Releasing Stimuli.- 3.4 Principles of Stimulus Selection.- 3.5 Motivation and Change of Meaning.- 4 Neurobiological Basis for the Recognition and Localization of Environmental Signals: How Does a Toad Brain Recognize Prey and Enemy?.- 4.1 The Key-Stimuli “Prey” and “Enemy”.- 4.2 Prey-Catching and Avoidance “Areas” in the Toad Brain.- 4.3 Are There “Prey” and “Enemy Neurons” in the Toad Brain?.- 4.4 A Working Hypothesis on Neuronal Decision-Making.- 4.5 Relevance of the Supposed Gestalt Recognition System.- 5 Functional Areas in the Visual System of Vertebrates: Comparative Aspects.- 5.1 Substrates for Stimulus Localization.- 5.2 Space Constancy and Optokinetic Nystagmus.- 5.3 Brain Structures for Stimulus Identification.- 5.4 Formation and Deterioration of the Visual System: Environmental Effects.- 6 Examples for Release and Control of Behavior Patterns by Other Sensory Systems.- 6.1 Olfactory Sense: Scent Coding in Insects.- 6.2 Vibration Sense: Prey-Catching of the Back Swimmer.- 6.3 Acoustic Communication in Crickets and Frogs.- 6.4 Active Exploration of the Environment: Echo-and Electrolocation.- 6.5 Attenuation of Self-Stimulation.- 7 Neuronal Circuits for Fixed Motor BehaviorPrograms.- 7.1 Example of a Neuronal Program Circuitry.- 7.2 Command Neurons.- 7.3 Command Functions in the Primate Brain.- 8 Central Representation of Behavior Motivation.- 8.1 Food Intake: Hunger and Thirst.- 8.2 Sexual Behavior.- 8.3 Aggression: Attack and Defense.- 8.4 Learning: Storing, Recalling, Reinforcing.- 8.5 Social Stress.- 9 Methodological Append.- 9.1 Prerequisites for Behavior Analysis.- 9.2 Investigation of Behaviorally Relevant Brain Areas.- 9.3 Methods for Recording and Measuring Neuronal Activity.- 9.4 Investigation of Anatomical Connections in the Brain.- 9.5 Statistical and Systems Theoretical Analysis.- Special References.- Suggested Reading.

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