Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Control of Behavior examines the internal (neurophysiological) and external factors which influence behavioral control. The book describes behavioral mechanisms such as the factors underlying the situation when an animal changes from being active to being asleep, switches from performing one type of activity to performing another, or changes its responsiveness to a constant stimulus.
Synopsis
This book takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the control of behaviour, drawing on the work of psychologists, neurophysiologists and ethologists. It describes those factors, both internal and external, that have been shown to control behaviour. Some behaviours are rhythmic, involving cyclic changes in the amount of hormone secreted. Other behaviours, such as aggression, are a response to external factors. Animals and humans may respond to identifiable stimuli in their environment in a particular way, but at other times the response to a stimulus may be difficult to predict. In this book, both rhythms and motivation are explored and the links between them emphasized, leading to explanations of the control of behaviour at both the behavioural and neurophysiological levels.