Philosophy Faculty Publications

Document Type

Book Review

Publication Date

6-2016

Publication Source

Quarterly Review of Biology

Abstract

The focus of this volume is on how nervous systems work and why they work as they do in the context of “the problems that brains help organisms solve” (p. xix). Accordingly, throughout this 16-chapter publication, the focus of the author is more on neural architecture and functioning at the circuitry and systems levels of analysis than on cellular and genetic factors. Actually, I found a nicely balanced and constantly interwoven discussion of all of these levels of analysis. The opening chapter is an overview of neuroanatomy and organization, neural circuitry, and functional architecture.

In order, the following chapters cover neural computation and neural plasticity; embryonic development; the brain’s responses to physical trauma, toxins, and pathogens; distal and proximal sensory systems and processing, and cognitive maps; muscles, glands, and vital bodily functions; posture and locomotion; spatial orientation and processing; stimulus identification; memory and memory dysfunctions; goal-directed actions; and species and gender brain differences. Although earlier chapters do provide a foundation for later material, I found that after the first three or four chapters, the remaining chapters by and large stand alone.

Inclusive pages

219

ISBN/ISSN

0033-5770

Document Version

Published Version

Comments

This document is provided for download in compliance with the publisher's policy on self-archiving. Permission documentation is on file.

Publisher

University of Chicago Press

Volume

91

Issue

2

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