The Design of Experiments in Neuroscience

Using engaging prose, Mary E. Harrington introduces neuroscience students to the principles of scientific research including selecting a topic, designing an experiment, analyzing data, and presenting research. This new third edition updates and clarifies the book's wealth of examples while maintaining the clear and effective practical advice of the previous editions. New and expanded topics in this edition include techniques such as optogenetics and conditional transgenes as well as a discussion of rigor and reproducibility in neuroscience research. Extended coverage of descriptive and inferential statistics arms readers with the analytical tools needed to interpret data. Throughout, practical guidelines are provided on avoiding experimental design problems, presenting research including creating posters and giving talks, and using a '12-step guide' to reading scientific journal articles.

Mary E. Harrington is the Tippit Professor in Life Sciences at Smith College, Massachusetts. She received her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University, conducting visual perception research in the laboratories of Dr Paul Cornwell and Herschel Leibowitz. Her Ph.D. research was in the laboratory of Dr Benjamin Rusak, a scientist of great stature in the fields of biological rhythms and sleep. She has been teaching experimental research methods at Smith College since 1987. Her students have conducted research, presented posters, and published papers on a wide range of topics in neurobiology and biological rhythms. Dr Harrington's research has been supported through grants from multiple sources, including the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.