Development Neuropsychobiology

Developmental NeuroPsychobiology reviews a variety of topics related to developmental neuropsychobiology, a discipline that encompasses developmental neuroscience and developmental psychobiology. This book discusses embryonic mechanisms and embryogenesis as well as sexual differentiation of the brain, synaptic plasticity, and parent-offspring relationships. The development of olfactory control over behavior is also discussed.
This book is comprised of 16 chapters and begins with an analysis of intrinsic mechanisms, including those underlying expression of pattern information at the cellular level and pattern formation in the vertebrate visual system. The next chapters also deal with pattern, but at a higher order, focusing upon the implications of the establishment of systems and how the sequences whereby these systems become established are manifested in the development of behavior. The morphogenetic role of neurotransmitters in embryonic development is also considered, along with structural and functional sexual dimorphisms in the brain and how steroid hormones alter brain organization. The final chapter evaluates previous models of the forces driving parent-offspring relations and offers an alternative view in which both infant-infant interactions and offspring-parent interactions result in mutually beneficial outcomes.
This monograph is intended for advanced workers in the biological and/or psychological sciences.

Contenu

Contributors

Preface

1. Embryonic Mechanisms

   I. Pattern Formation

   II. The Limb as a Model System

   III. Peripheral Innervation

   References

2. Regulation of Nerve Fiber Elongation during Embryogenesis

   I. Introduction

   II. Neurite Formation In Vitro

   III. Regulation of the Route of Neurite Growth In Vitro

   IV. Regulation of the Route of Nerve Fiber Elongation In Vivo

   V. Is Regulation of Nerve Fiber Growth Related to Synaptogenesis

   VI. Summary

   References

3. Pathways and Changing Connections in the Developing Insect Nervous System

   I. Introduction

   II. Embryogenesis: Foundations for Neurogenesis

   III. Postembryonic Development: Remodeling en Route

   IV. Ectopic Sensilla: An Experimental Approach to Path-finding in the Nervous System

   V. Conclusions

   References

4. The Normal and Abnormal Development of the Mammalian Visual System

   I. Introduction

   II. Patterns of Organization

   III. Normal Development

   IV. Variants of Normal Development

   V. Discussion

   VI. Conclusions

   References

5. Do Neurotransmitters, Neurohumors, and Hormones Specify Critical Periods

   I. An Hierarchical Model for the Specification of Critical Periods

   II. Neurotransmitters and Neurohumors as Develomental Signals

   III. Hormones as Temporal Regulators of Postnatal Neurogenesis

   IV. Hormonal-Humoral Interactions

   V. Drugs, Stress, and Other Environmental Influences on the Humoral and Hormonal Milieu of the Developing Nervous System: Implications for Their Teratogenic Effects

   VI. Summary and Conclusions

   References

6. Sexual Differentiation of the Brain

   I. Introduction

   II. Possible Mechanisms of Steroid Action

   III. Sexual Dimorphism of Brain Structure

   IV. The Possible Role of a-Fetoprotein

   V. The Possible Importance of Estrogen Per Se

   VI. An Experimental Approach to the Problem

   VII. How Might Hormones Change Growth Patterns and Neuronal Circuits

   VIII. Hormonal Effects: Direct or Indirect

   IX. In Vitro Veritas

   References

7. Behavioral Neuroembryology: Motor Perspectives

   I. Introduction

   II. History

   III. Embryology of Behavior and Its Neural Correlates

   IV. Development of Specific Motor Patterns

   V. Tissue Culture Approaches to Neurobehavioral Problems

   VI.Conclusions and Future Priorities

   References

8. Ontogeny of the Encephalization Process

   I. Behavioral Development

   II. Encephalization of the Spinal Motor System

   III. The Encephalization Process

   IV. Interference with Encephalization

   References

9. Neuronal Activity as a Shaping Factor in Postnatal Development of Visual Cortex

   I. Introduction

   II. Experience Effects on Binocularity

   III. Evidence for a Central Control of Experience-Dependent Modifications

   IV. A Voltage-Dependent Threshold for Hebbian Modifications

   V. The Chemical Nature of Permissive Gating Signals

   VI. Implications for Normal Development

   VII. Concluding Remarks

   References

10 Experience and Development in the Visual System: Anatomical Studies

I. Introduction

II. Normal Development

III. Effects of Visual Deprivation on Development

IV. Binocularly Competitive and Noncompetitive Mechanisms

V. Summary and Conclusions

References

11. Experience and Visual Development: Behavioral Evidence

    I. Introduction: General Perspectives and Methodology

    II. Specific Visual Capacities and Sensory Experience

    III. Concluding Observations

    References

12. Neural Correlates of Development and Plasticity in the Auditory, Somatosensory, and Olfactory Systems

    I. Introduction

    II. The Auditory System

    III. The Somatosensory System

    IV. The Olfactory System

    V. Dimensions of Plasticity

    VI. Implications for Behavior

    References

13. What's Special about Development? Thoughts on the Bases of Experience-Sensitive Synaptic Plasticity

    I. Introduction

    II. Overproduction of Synapses and Expected Information

    III. Synaptogenesis and Unexpected Information

    IV. Mechanisms of Synapse Pattern Change in Later Development and Adulthood

    V. Conclusions

    References

14. Sex Differences in Developmental Plasticity of Behavior and the Brain

    I. Introduction: Human Development

    II. Sex Differences in Animals in Response to the Environment

    III. Implications for Human Sex Differences

    References

15. The Development of Olfactory Control over Behavior

    I. Introduction

    II. Orientation

    III. Contact Behavior (Huddling)

    IV. Suckling

    V. Olfactory Conditioning outside the Nest

    VI. Neural Development of the Olfactory System

    VII. A Model for Olfactory Modification of Behavior during Ontogeny

    VIII. Conclusions and Future Directions

    References

16. New Views of Parent-Offspring Relationships

    I. Introduction

    II. Some Seminal Concepts: Antecedents to New Views

    III. Concepts of Infancy and Development

    IV. Models of Parent-Offspring Relationships

    V. Form and Functions of Parent-Offspring Relationships

    References

Index