An Introduction To Behavioral Endocrinology

The Third Edition of An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology retains all of the features of the bestselling prior editions, and provides an updated, integrated presentation of the study of hormone–behavior interactions. Continuing to emphasize a comparative approach, the text explores the endocrine mechanisms that have evolved in both human and nonhuman animals to solve common problems in survival and reproduction.

The text describes hormone–behavior interactions from a historical perspective, emphasizing connections among key theories and tracing the emergence of important hypotheses. The book is organized around the conceptual theme that hormones may affect behavior by influencing one or more of three "components" of behaving animals: input mechanisms, such as sensory or perceptual processes; the central processing mechanisms of the nervous system (either directly, or by affecting its development or structure); and output mechanisms, such as effectors or peripheral structures. Despite increased coverage of molecular and cellular approaches, the book retains its accessibility for non-biological science students.

The introductory chapter describes the history of behavioral endocrinology, as well as common methods, techniques, and levels of analysis used in this rapidly expanding field. The anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry of the endocrine system is described in Chapter 2. Chapters 3 and 4 discuss sex determination, sex differentiation, and what is known about sex differences in behavior from both animal models and studies of humans. The relationships between hormones and male and female reproductive behaviors are presented in Chapters 5 and 6, respectively; effects of hormones on parental behaviors are described in Chapter 7. Chapter 8 describes the effects of hormones on social behaviors, such as affiliation and aggression. Endocrine mediation of homeostatic processes, such as feeding and drinking behaviors, is presented in Chapter 9. Chapter 10 discusses hormones and biological rhythms. The effect of stressors on hormone–behavior interactions is presented in Chapter 11. The role of hormones on learning and memory is described in Chapter 12. The final chapter explores the effects of hormones on mood and other psychosocial processes in humans.

An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology is appropriate for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology, biology, anthropology, or zoology. It contains several important pedagogical features. The text is richly illustrated with photographs and drawings. Key terms are identified and defined in the text, and summaries at the end of each chapter restate important points. Discussion questions and suggested further readings are also included in each chapter. The text contains over 2,000 references to the literature in behavioral endocrinology. Accompanying this edition is a new CD that contains animations, video, sound files, and graphics to aid in understanding the material in the text.

RANDY J. NELSON is Distinguished Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Ohio State University, USA.