Discovering Behavioral Neuroscience: An Introduction to Biological Psychology

Description

With its comprehensive, authoritative coverage and student-centered pedagogy, DISCOVERING BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE: AN INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY, 3rd Edition, is ideal for a broad range of students taking a beginning undergraduate course in biological or physiological psychology. Retitled in this edition to reflect the increasing interest in, and importance of, neuroscience, the book provides a foundational understanding of the structure and function of the nervous system and its relationship to both typical and disordered human behavior. Written by an author with more than 30 years of teaching experience at schools ranging from community colleges to the Ivy League, this text presents classic concepts, current topics, and cutting-edge research in a style that is both accessible to beginning and less-prepared students and appealing to students with stronger backgrounds. As a result, the book allows instructors to teach a rigorous course that does not oversimplify the material, while keeping students excited and engaged. Reviewers have praised the text's clear narrative, high-interest examples, pedagogy, and purposeful art program. Updated with hundreds of new citations and to reflect changes in the DSM-5, this edition also includes new boxed features on ethics, careers, research, and health to engage students in the material, promote critical thinking, and prepare students for their future professions.

Laura A. Freberg is professor of psychology at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she teaches Introductory Psychology and Biological Psychology courses, both online and face-to-face. She also enjoys experimenting with technology and social media in the classroom. Dr. Freberg's teaching career began when she taught her first college course at Pasadena City College at the age of 23. She has received Faculty Member of the Year recognition from Cal Poly Disabilities Resource Center three times (1991, 1994 and 2009) for her work with students with disabilities. A past president of the Western Psychological Association (WPA), Dr. Freberg is the current psychology consultant for The New York Times InEducation program. She has authored four editions of DISCOVERING BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE: AN INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY (Cengage), and with John Cacioppo, she co-authored three editions of DISCOVERING PSYCHOLOGY: THE SCIENCE OF MIND (Cengage). In addition, she is lead author of RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE (TopHat Monocle). She received her Ph.D. from UCLA.

"The greatest strengths of this text are its masterful conversational style and clarity of expression at the level of the sentence. This makes for a good read." "The use of modern examples and interesting anecdotes [are strengths]. For instance, the chapter opening discussing blowfish poison [Ch 3] was a good ice-breaker. The example about NeuroAIDS made the material timely/relevant."