Comparative Vertebrate Neuroanatomy (PDF)

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.