Comparative Vertebrate Neuroanatomy: Evolution and Adaptation 
asked by advisor on November 13, 2006 3:58 PM
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 of comparative vertebrate neuroanatomy at the introductory level, representing a unique contribution to the field of evolutionary neurobiology. It has been extensively revised and updated, with substantially improved figures and diagrams that are used generously throughout the text. Through analysis of the variation in brain structure and function between major groups of vertebrates, readers can gain insight into the evolutionary history of the nervous system. The text is divided into three sections:
* Introduction to evolution and variation, including a survey of cell structure, embryological development, and anatomical organization of the central nervous system; phylogeny and diversity of brain structures; and an overview of various theories of brain evolution
* Systematic, comprehensive survey of comparative neuroanatomy across all major groups of vertebrates
* Overview of vertebrate brain evolution, which integrates the complete text, highlights diversity and common themes, broadens perspective by a comparison with brain structure and evolution of invertebrate brains, and considers recent data and theories of the evolutionary origin of the brain in the earliest vertebrates, including a recently proposed model of the origin of the brain in the earliest vertebrates that has received strong support from newly discovered fossil evidence
Ample material drawn from the latest research has been integrated into the text and highlighted in special feature boxes, including recent views on homology, cranial nerve organization and evolution, the relatively large and elaborate brains of birds in correlation with their complex cognitive abilities, and the current debate on forebrain evolution across reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Comparative Vertebrate Neuroanatomy is geared to upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in neuroanatomy, but anyone interested in the anatomy of the nervous system and how it corresponds to the way that animals function in the world will find this text fascinating.
Evolution and Adaptation
Second Edition
Ann B. Butler and William Hodos
The Second Edition of this landmark text presents a broad survey of comparative vertebrate neuroanatomy at the introductory level, representing a unique contribution to the field of evolutionary neurobiology. It has been extensively revised and updated, with substantially improved figures and diagrams that are used generously throughout the text. Through analysis of the variation in brain structure and function between major groups of vertebrates, readers can gain insight into the evolutionary history of the nervous system. The text is divided into three sections:
* Introduction to evolution and variation, including a survey of cell structure, embryological development, and anatomical organization of the central nervous system; phylogeny and diversity of brain structures; and an overview of various theories of brain evolution
* Systematic, comprehensive survey of comparative neuroanatomy across all major groups of vertebrates
* Overview of vertebrate brain evolution, which integrates the complete text, highlights diversity and common themes, broadens perspective by a comparison with brain structure and evolution of invertebrate brains, and considers recent data and theories of the evolutionary origin of the brain in the earliest vertebrates, including a recently proposed model of the origin of the brain in the earliest vertebrates that has received strong support from newly discovered fossil evidence
Ample material drawn from the latest research has been integrated into the text and highlighted in special feature boxes, including recent views on homology, cranial nerve organization and evolution, the relatively large and elaborate brains of birds in correlation with their complex cognitive abilities, and the current debate on forebrain evolution across reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Comparative Vertebrate Neuroanatomy is geared to upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in neuroanatomy, but anyone interested in the anatomy of the nervous system and how it corresponds to the way that animals function in the world will find this text fascinating.
Reviews
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This is one of the best textbooks in neuroscience, although some neuroscience students may have never heard of it. It covers the nervous systems of all vertebrate classes and offers a systematic treatment of all of them, from cartilaginous fishes (sharks, rays) to various mammalian orders. The nervous systems are treated not as a progression from "primitive" to "advanced", but rather as evolutionary adaptions that determine a type of perception and behavior that are optimal for the species' ecological niche. Any nervous system, including the human nervous system, cannot be understood without comparative neuroanatomy, since any new nervous system is a modification of the previous plan and carries with it the load of neural structures that have been used in past environments. This book is truly unique and is likely to remain such for decades to come. The illustrations, although black-and-white, are superb in clarity. This book deserves future editions. (In contrast, "The Central Nervous System of Vertebrates" edited by R. Nieuwenhuys and others, is a marketing disaster and can be afforded only by lawyers dabbling in neuroscience.)
November 2005: While attending the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, I was more than thrilled to come across the Second Edition of this book. I bought it with no hesitation. It seems the second edition is even better than the first one. This is my first impression, anyway. I may add more comments later.
(By the way, if you wonder what is happening in the brains of all these creatures at the Georgia Aquarium, this book will give you answers.)
November 2005: While attending the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, I was more than thrilled to come across the Second Edition of this book. I bought it with no hesitation. It seems the second edition is even better than the first one. This is my first impression, anyway. I may add more comments later.
(By the way, if you wonder what is happening in the brains of all these creatures at the Georgia Aquarium, this book will give you answers.)
reviewed by 90210 on November 21, 2006 8:06 AM
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While the title of this reference may sound formidable, it is actually suitable for the motivated general reader, and is far clearer than typical neuroanatomy textbooks. Neuroanatomy across the vertebrate lines is considered, with explanations of underlying neuronal and neuroanatomical principles.
reviewed by advisor on November 26, 2006 1:03 AM
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This ambitious evolutionary approach to the vertebrate nervous system gives the student all the tools needed to proceed with the advanced (3-volume)works of Crosby, et al (paleo) and Niuwenhuys, et al(neo). The text is well organized and has only a slight amount of redundancy. Would hope the next edition would have improved and possibly colorful figures. This will become the only "one volume" classic of vertebrate comparative neuroanatomy.
reviewed by blueoasis on November 26, 2006 6:28 PM