Eco-Neurobiology, and How the Environment Shapes Our Brains

Eco-Neurobiology, and How the Environment Shapes Our Brains PDF Author: Andreas M. Grabrucker
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
ISBN: 1527542068
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 156

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Book Description
Eco-neurobiology is a field of neuroscience that investigates how environmental factors impact the brain through development and aging. This book takes the reader on a journey through the most recent findings in this field, covering how non-genetic factors influence our brain and may contribute to the development of disorders, as well as the everyday function of our minds. The things we eat, the stressfulness of our lives, and traumatic events all have effects on our brains that we are just beginning to understand.

Eco-Neurobiology, and How the Environment Shapes Our Brains

Eco-Neurobiology, and How the Environment Shapes Our Brains PDF Author: Andreas M. Grabrucker
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
ISBN: 1527542068
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 156

Get Book Here

Book Description
Eco-neurobiology is a field of neuroscience that investigates how environmental factors impact the brain through development and aging. This book takes the reader on a journey through the most recent findings in this field, covering how non-genetic factors influence our brain and may contribute to the development of disorders, as well as the everyday function of our minds. The things we eat, the stressfulness of our lives, and traumatic events all have effects on our brains that we are just beginning to understand.

The Ecological Brain

The Ecological Brain PDF Author: Luis H. H. Favela
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1003830404
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 262

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Book Description
The Ecological Brain is the first book of its kind, using complexity science to integrate the seemingly disparate fields of ecological psychology and neuroscience. The book develops a unique framework for unifying investigations and explanations of mind that span brain, body, and environment: the NeuroEcological Nexus Theory (NExT). Beginning with an introduction to the history of the fields, the author provides an assessment of why ecological psychology and neuroscience are commonly viewed as irreconcilable methods for investigating and explaining cognition, intelligent behavior, and the systems that realize them. The book then progresses to its central aim: presenting a unified investigative and explanatory framework offering concepts, methods, and theories applicable across neural and ecological scales of investigation. By combining the core principles of ecological psychology, neural population dynamics, and synergetics under a unified complexity science approach, NExT offers a compressive investigative framework to explain and understand neural, bodily, and environmental contributions to perception-action and other forms of intelligent behavior and thought. The book progresses the conversation around the role of brains in ecological psychology, as well as bodies and environments in neuroscience. It is essential reading for all students of ecological psychology, perception, cognitive sciences, and neuroscience, as well as anyone interested in the history and philosophy of the brain/mind sciences and their state-of-the-art methods and theories.

Brain and Culture

Brain and Culture PDF Author: Bruce E. Wexler
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262265141
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 313

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Book Description
Research shows that between birth and early adulthood the brain requires sensory stimulation to develop physically. The nature of the stimulation shapes the connections among neurons that create the neuronal networks necessary for thought and behavior. By changing the cultural environment, each generation shapes the brains of the next. By early adulthood, the neuroplasticity of the brain is greatly reduced, and this leads to a fundamental shift in the relationship between the individual and the environment: during the first part of life, the brain and mind shape themselves to the major recurring features of their environment; by early adulthood, the individual attempts to make the environment conform to the established internal structures of the brain and mind. In Brain and Culture, Bruce Wexler explores the social implications of the close and changing neurobiological relationship between the individual and the environment, with particular attention to the difficulties individuals face in adulthood when the environment changes beyond their ability to maintain the fit between existing internal structure and external reality. These difficulties are evident in bereavement, the meeting of different cultures, the experience of immigrants (in which children of immigrant families are more successful than their parents at the necessary internal transformations), and the phenomenon of interethnic violence. Integrating recent neurobiological research with major experimental findings in cognitive and developmental psychology—with illuminating references to psychoanalysis, literature, anthropology, history, and politics—Wexler presents a wealth of detail to support his arguments. The groundbreaking connections he makes allow for reconceptualization of the effect of cultural change on the brain and provide a new biological base from which to consider such social issues as "culture wars" and ethnic violence.

Enriched and Impoverished Environments

Enriched and Impoverished Environments PDF Author: Michael J. Renner
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461247667
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 143

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Book Description
Enriched and Impoverished Environments: Effects on Brain and Behaviour is the most recent review of the active area of neuronal plasticity. The question of how experience is recorded is fundamental to psychology; speculations and investigations concerning the role of the brain in this process have entered a particularly exciting phase as of the late 1980's. Manipulations of environmental complexity is one of the earliest methods utilized in the study of neural plasticity. This monograph organizes the evidence to date concerning the responsiveness of neural and behavioural systems to external manipulation of the environment. Further consideration is given to the issues of causation of the general effects of environment on brain and behaviour.

Neurobiology of "Umwelt"

Neurobiology of Author: Alain Berthoz
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3540858970
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 161

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Book Description
At the beginning of the 20th century, German biologist Jakob von Uexküll created the concept of "Umwelt" to denote the environment as experienced by a subject. This concept of environment differs from the idea of passive surroundings and is defined not just by physical surroundings, but is rather a "subjective universe", a space weighted with meaning. Today, neuroscience provides a new way to look at the brain’s capability to create a representation of the world. At the same time behavioural specialists are demonstrating that animals have a richer mental universe than previously known. Philosophical reflection thus finds itself with more experimental and objective data as well. Nearly a century after the publication of von Uexküll’s founding work ("Umwelt und Innenwelt der Tiere" was published in 1909), neurobiologists, psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, ethologists, and philosophers revisit his mail concept at the light of modern science

Beyond the Brain

Beyond the Brain PDF Author: Louise Barrett
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691165564
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 282

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Book Description
When a chimpanzee stockpiles rocks as weapons or when a frog sends out mating calls, we might easily assume these animals know their own motivations--that they use the same psychological mechanisms that we do. But as Beyond the Brain indicates, this is a dangerous assumption because animals have different evolutionary trajectories, ecological niches, and physical attributes. How do these differences influence animal thinking and behavior? Removing our human-centered spectacles, Louise Barrett investigates the mind and brain and offers an alternative approach for understanding animal and human cognition. Drawing on examples from animal behavior, comparative psychology, robotics, artificial life, developmental psychology, and cognitive science, Barrett provides remarkable new insights into how animals and humans depend on their bodies and environment--not just their brains--to behave intelligently. Barrett begins with an overview of human cognitive adaptations and how these color our views of other species, brains, and minds. Considering when it is worth having a big brain--or indeed having a brain at all--she investigates exactly what brains are good at. Showing that the brain's evolutionary function guides action in the world, she looks at how physical structure contributes to cognitive processes, and she demonstrates how these processes employ materials and resources in specific environments. Arguing that thinking and behavior constitute a property of the whole organism, not just the brain, Beyond the Brain illustrates how the body, brain, and cognition are tied to the wider world.

How Our Brain Became Human

How Our Brain Became Human PDF Author: Yanko A. Yankov
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
ISBN: 9781698713106
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The human brain growth and evolution have been subjects of many genetic, environmental or social studies separately. Additionally, there are very few available sources on the complex role of our microbiome and the recently discovered hormones VIP and PACAP. The book author also describes some of his cases seen during his long clinical experience to illustrate different points of his extensive literature review. The book is divided into seven chapters, condensing the author's scientific opinion on the growth and evolution of the human brain, the organ that differentiates us from all other species. He does not dismiss any other opinions or beliefs. The author challenges scientists and clinicians to continue researching the brain without prejudice. At the end he gives his opinion on how our BIG brains can help us live better together.

The Psychology and Neuroscience of the Climate Crisis

The Psychology and Neuroscience of the Climate Crisis PDF Author: Dorothea Metzen
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9783662692875
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This Springer essential addresses the impacts of the climate crisis by integrating various branches of research from psychology and neuroscience. Climate change has massive effects on both the physical and mental health of individuals. The essential describes changes in brain function and structure due to environmental influences and explains the influence of ecological niches on brain evolution. The core part of the book focuses on the effects of the climate crisis on mental health, presents strategies for action in healthcare, and finally provides an outlook into the future of climate neuroscience.

Mind, Brain, and the Environment

Mind, Brain, and the Environment PDF Author: Sir Bryan Cartledge
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 208

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Book Description
Eight experts, including Anthony Clare and Colin Blakemore, present a short and easily comprehensible introduction to the relationships between the human mind or brain and the physical and social environments in which it operates.

Towards an Ecology of Brain

Towards an Ecology of Brain PDF Author: Roger N. Walsh
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Brain
Languages : en
Pages : 216

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Book Description