* A new book in the Basic Concepts series * Explains the fundamental principles of neuroscience and helps students organize and condense the material they need to study * Level of the material progressively builds from simple to complex, enabling mastery of concepts * Content is presented in simple, jargon-free language * Critical need-to-know information is highlights in boxes * Numerous tables and charts help compare and contrast key information
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Fundamental Statistical Principles for Neurobiologists introduces readers to basic experimental design and statistical thinking in a comprehensive, relevant manner. This book is an introductory statistics book that covers fundamental principles written by a neuroscientist who understands the plight of the neuroscience graduate student and the senior investigator. It summarizes the fundamental concepts associated with statistical analysis that are useful for the neuroscientist, and provides understanding of a particular test in language that is more understandable to this specific audience, with the overall purpose of explaining which statistical technique should be used in which situation. Different types of data are discussed such as how to formulate a research hypothesis, the primary types of statistical errors and statistical power, followed by how to actually graph data and what kinds of mistakes to avoid. Chapters discuss variance, standard deviation, standard error, mean, confidence intervals, correlation, regression, parametric vs. nonparametric statistical tests, ANOVA, and post hoc analyses. Finally, there is a discussion on how to deal with data points that appear to be "outliers" and what to do when there is missing data, an issue that has not sufficiently been covered in literature. - An introductory guide to statistics aimed specifically at the neuroscience audience - Contains numerous examples with actual data that is used in the analysis - Gives the investigators a starting pointing for evaluating data in easy-to-understand language - Explains in detail many different statistical tests commonly used by neuroscientists
A New York Times Bestseller Renowned neurologist Dr. Frances E. Jensen offers a revolutionary look at the brains of teenagers, dispelling myths and offering practical advice for teens, parents and teachers. Dr. Frances E. Jensen is chair of the department of neurology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. As a mother, teacher, researcher, clinician, and frequent lecturer to parents and teens, she is in a unique position to explain to readers the workings of the teen brain. In The Teenage Brain, Dr. Jensen brings to readers the astonishing findings that previously remained buried in academic journals. The root myth scientists believed for years was that the adolescent brain was essentially an adult one, only with fewer miles on it. Over the last decade, however, the scientific community has learned that the teen years encompass vitally important stages of brain development. Samples of some of the most recent findings include: Teens are better learners than adults because their brain cells more readily "build" memories. But this heightened adaptability can be hijacked by addiction, and the adolescent brain can become addicted more strongly and for a longer duration than the adult brain. Studies show that girls' brains are a full two years more mature than boys' brains in the mid-teens, possibly explaining differences seen in the classroom and in social behavior. Adolescents may not be as resilient to the effects of drugs as we thought. Recent experimental and human studies show that the occasional use of marijuana, for instance, can cause lingering memory problems even days after smoking, and that long-term use of pot impacts later adulthood IQ. Multi-tasking causes divided attention and has been shown to reduce learning ability in the teenage brain. Multi-tasking also has some addictive qualities, which may result in habitual short attention in teenagers. Emotionally stressful situations may impact the adolescent more than it would affect the adult: stress can have permanent effects on mental health and can to lead to higher risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression. Dr. Jensen gathers what we’ve discovered about adolescent brain function, wiring, and capacity and explains the science in the contexts of everyday learning and multitasking, stress and memory, sleep, addiction, and decision-making. In this groundbreaking yet accessible book, these findings also yield practical suggestions that will help adults and teenagers negotiate the mysterious world of adolescent development.
The Psychological Dieter explores a variety of research topics in psychology to explain how diet is acquired and why it is so difficult to change. While many healthier diets on the market will work, few (if any) will provide long-term solutions to healthier dieting. This is a key challenge for research psychologists who study diet and health. Based on scientific research and thinking, this book is one of the first to explore how psychology can help explain why shifting diet is so difficult and provides practical suggestions for what can be done to stop this trend. Professor Privitera integrates research from the biological to the behavioral to provide an easy to follow and broad review of these topics. The Psychological Dieter explores how factors such as metabolism, the brain, sensation, perception, learning, society, and culture all influence weight gain, food choice, meal size, and consumption. Organized into three sections, this book describes how the body regulates hunger and fullness, why diet change is so difficult long-term, and how learning can affect almost any sensation and behavior associated with diet. Rooted in scientific research and clearly written, this book's engaging style makes topics in psychology accessible to scientists, health professionals, and everyday dieters alike.
Our understanding of the human brain has come a long way since the days of our ancestors, but we still lack a complete knowledge of how the mind works. This thought-provoking text travels the paths taken in our quest to decipher the brain and its processes, a quest that continues today.
The alarm calls of birds make them difficult for predators to locate, while the howl of wolves and the croak of bullfrogs are designed to carry across long distances. From an engineer's perspective, how do such specialized adaptations among living things really work? And how does physics constrain evolution, channeling it in particular directions? Writing with wit and a richly informed sense of wonder, Denny and McFadzean offer an expert look at animals as works of engineering, each exquisitely adapted to a specific manner of survival, whether that means spinning webs or flying across continents or hunting in the dark-or writing books. This particular book, containing more than a hundred illustrations, conveys clearly, for engineers and nonengineers alike, the physical principles underlying animal structure and behavior. Pigeons, for instance-when understood as marvels of engineering-are flying remote sensors: they have wideband acoustical receivers, hi-res optics, magnetic sensing, and celestial navigation. Albatrosses expend little energy while traveling across vast southern oceans, by exploiting a technique known to glider pilots as dynamic soaring. Among insects, one species of fly can locate the source of a sound precisely, even though the fly itself is much smaller than the wavelength of the sound it hears. And that big-brained, upright Great Ape? Evolution has equipped us to figure out an important fact about the natural world: that there is more to life than engineering, but no life at all without it.
This book explains why scientists believe that life may be more common in the Universe than previously considered possible. It presents the tools and strategies astronomers and astrobiologists are using in their formal search for habitable exoplanets as well as more advanced forms of life in other parts of our galaxy. The author then summarizes what is currently known about how and where organic molecules critical to our form of carbon-based life are manufactured. The core of the book explains (and presents educated guesses) how nervous systems evolved on Earth, how they work, and how they might work on other worlds. Combining his knowledge of neuroscience, computers, and astrobiology the author jumps into the discussion whether biological nervous systems are just the first step in the rise of intelligence in the Universe. The book ends with a description from both the psychologist’s and the neuroscientist’s viewpoints, exactly what it is about the fields of astrobiology and astronomy that “boggles the minds” of many amateur astronomers and interested non-scientists. This book stands out from other popular science books on astrobiology by making the point that “astro-neurobiologists” need to begin thinking about how alien nervous systems might work.
Survival Guide for College Graduates provides readers with valuable advice to help them navigate their careers during ups and downs in the economy or during recessions. Readers learn how to prepare for challenges related to job scarcity, as well as how to compete successfully for professional positions that are available within their field. The book, written like a manual or guide, encourages readers to recognize their worth in the job market and identify the competitive skillsets they possess. It underscores the importance of self-awareness, valuing oneself, and how self-confidence can come across in an application or during a job interview. Readers learn how to research and better understand the condition of the economy and job market so they can make informed, confident decisions that align with their personal economic needs and situations. Dedicated chapters examine the personal issues and challenges they may encounter--including stress, anxiety, depression, interpersonal conflict, and substance use--and offer advice for cultivating positive habits to counteract these challenges. Each chapter features questions and prompts to inspire self-reflection and help readers consider how the material applies to their lives. The book answers common questions by undergraduate students and recent graduates, including: * How do I survive during a major recession or economic downturn when jobs are scarce? * How to I explain the value of my degree to others, including parents? * What can I do with my bachelor's degree? * Do I need to go to graduate school to get a well-paying, professional job? * Is my bachelor's degree the same as a high school diploma? * Do I have to move to better myself financially with my bachelor's? * Do I have to get a job right away after I graduate, or can I take a break? * What job skills do employers want me to have? * What job skills should employers need me to have? * How does graduate school differ from undergraduate school? * What kinds of universities are best to go to for a graduate degree? Are there differences between them? * How do I deal with stress, anxiety, and depression during an economic downturn or pandemic? * What types of resources are available to me locally in my area to help me with stress, anxiety, depression, or mental health issues as I prepare for my career? Survival Guide for College Graduates is an essential resource for graduating seniors across all disciplines, as well as past graduates who are transitioning into the workforce and seeking jobs.
This book explains the fundamental principles in physiology and focuse s on those concepts that students have identified as being most diffic ult to grasp. Beginning with an overview of homeostasis, the text pro ceeds to explore the functioning of major body systems. The level of the material progressively builds from the simple to complex so that s tudents can quickly learn the material and feel comfortable applying i t.
