An Introduction to Nervous Systems

An Introduction to Nervous Systems presents the principles of neurobiology from an evolutionary perspectivefrom singlecelled organisms to complex invertebrates such as fliesand is ideal for use as a supplemental textbook. Greenspan describes the mechanisms that allow behavior to become ever more sophisticatedfrom simple avoidance behavior of Paramecium through to the complex cognitive behaviors of the honeybeeand shows how these mechanisms produce the increasing neural complexity found in these organisms. The book ends with a discussion of what is universal about nervous systems and what may be required, neurobiologically, to be human. This novel and highly readable presentation of fundamental principles of neurobiology is designed to be accessible to undergraduate and graduate students not already steeped in the subject.