Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience

Neuroscience is a multidisciplinary branch of biology that is concerned with the scientific study of the nervous system. It integrates principles of molecular biology, anatomy, developmental biology, cytology, physiology, etc. to develop an understanding of neurons and neural circuits. At the cognitive level, the understanding of psychological functions and their production by neural circuitry is addressed from the branch of cognitive neuroscience. Neuroimaging techniques like PET, SPECT, fMRI scans etc., human genetic analysis and electrophysiology are combined with advanced sophisticated experimental techniques to provide insights into human cognition and emotion. The complex questions pertaining to the interactions of the brain with its environment are dealt through an integration with social and behavioral sciences. The developmental, physiological and genetic mechanisms of behavior are studied in behavioral neuroscience. Research in behavioral neuroscience investigates changes relative to increase or decrease of neural function and enhanced neural activity. This can be measured using electroencephalography, fMRI, PET, various optical techniques, etc. This book covers in detail some existing theories and innovative concepts revolving around behavioral and cognitive neuroscience. It presents these complex subjects in the most comprehensible language. Researchers and students in these fields will be assisted by this book.