Comparative Vertebrate Neuroanatomy

Comparative Vertebrate Neuroanatomy
Evolution and Adaptation
Second Edition
Ann B. Butler and William Hodos
The Second Edition of this landmark text presents a broad survey ofcomparative vertebrate neuroanatomy at the introductory level,representing a unique contribution to the field of evolutionaryneurobiology. It has been extensively revised and updated, withsubstantially improved figures and diagrams that are usedgenerously throughout the text. Through analysis of the variationin brain structure and function between major groups ofvertebrates, readers can gain insight into the evolutionary historyof the nervous system. The text is divided into threesections:
* Introduction to evolution and variation, including a survey ofcell structure, embryological development, and anatomicalorganization of the central nervous system; phylogeny and diversityof brain structures; and an overview of various theories of brainevolution
* Systematic, comprehensive survey of comparative neuroanatomyacross all major groups of vertebrates
* Overview of vertebrate brain evolution, which integrates thecomplete text, highlights diversity and common themes, broadensperspective by a comparison with brain structure and evolution ofinvertebrate brains, and considers recent data and theories of theevolutionary origin of the brain in the earliest vertebrates,including a recently proposed model of the origin of the brain inthe earliest vertebrates that has received strong support fromnewly discovered fossil evidence
Ample material drawn from the latest research has been integratedinto the text and highlighted in special feature boxes, includingrecent views on homology, cranial nerve organization and evolution,the relatively large and elaborate brains of birds in correlationwith their complex cognitive abilities, and the current debate onforebrain evolution across reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Comparative Vertebrate Neuroanatomy is geared to upper-levelundergraduate and graduate students in neuroanatomy, but anyoneinterested in the anatomy of the nervous system and how itcorresponds to the way that animals function in the world will findthis text fascinating.