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Physiology of Behavior with MyPsychKit (10th Edition) by Neil R. Carlson

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An up-to-date, comprehensive, and accessible overview of behavioral neurosciencePhysiology of Behavior provides a scholarly yet accessible portrait of the dynamic interaction between biology and behavior. Lead author Neil Carlson and new co-author Melissa Birkett drew upon their experience teaching and working with students to create the new edition of this comprehensive and accessible guide for students of behavioral neuroscience. In addition to updated research, the Twelfth Edition offers an updated art and visual program and a more robust learning architecture that highlights key concepts, guiding students through the text.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

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881 people want to read

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Neil R. Carlson

88 books15 followers

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5 stars
195 (38%)
4 stars
178 (35%)
3 stars
95 (18%)
2 stars
29 (5%)
1 star
10 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Morgan Blackledge.
805 reviews2,630 followers
October 6, 2018
Yes it took me over a year to finish this book.

It also took me over a year to finish the course I was reading it for.

It was a blood letting.

But I have to say.

Worth every excruciating minute.

Real solid text book.

I liked Kylat’s Biological Psychology better.

But this is a really good solid textbook.
Profile Image for Octa.
64 reviews
December 17, 2020
No nonsense, dry like the Sahara, but manages a difficult exercise. In an era where social constructivism flies high, this book is a summary of the research, dry conclusion after dry conclusion, citation after citation, of how very biological factors such as hormones, physiology, prenatal exposure and such influence human behaviour. Animal studies are mentioned as well. Conclusions are sometimes contextualised which helps to understand what the stats say and don't say.

The book is however not essentialist, it leaves room where room needs to be left to consider the influence of culture, but also doesn't beat around the bush when the science is pretty clear on the influence of biology on behaviour (like gendered toy choices in children and even primates) - which is an equilibrium that's not easy to achieve.
Profile Image for Charles.
Author 41 books283 followers
August 9, 2008
I've used this book as the text in teaching my physiological psychology class ever since I started back in 1986. This is the latest edition. One of the clearest and most complete textbooks out there. Excellent work.
1 review
January 1, 2021
I used the 5th edition of this book when I studied Neuroscience in the 1990's. This year I bought the 12th edition and read it cover-to-cover. What a great overview of current Neuroscience research! Fantastic book! (I'm a programmer now, but I still love neuroscience. :-))
Profile Image for Ali.
121 reviews9 followers
Read
December 6, 2012
FINALLY. bleedin textbooks, why you take so long to read, huh?
Profile Image for August Rackham.
73 reviews
December 14, 2022
Perhaps because I purchased the 13th edition that was called the "global edition" there were more errors than if I had purchased the 12th edition. The publisher's may have tried to merge two iterations of this book because sometimes halfway through a passage the person's name would change.

Aside from the obvious editing errors, the book provides the information needed to excel in my physio psych course. Of course, it's dry so credit to my professor for lecturing well.
1 review
October 28, 2019
i wanna read this book' can anyone share it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
333 reviews1 follower
August 16, 2020
Informative but too many topics covered. Each chapter could have been its own book. I followed the information, but I don’t feel like I learned much.
Profile Image for Mihrdāt .
98 reviews21 followers
June 9, 2021
درسته که pdf خوندن این کتاب چشمام رو از کاسه درآورد ولی واقعاً تکست‌بوک فوق‌العاده‌ و جامعی بود.
Profile Image for faith.
44 reviews
December 8, 2022
course ended on chapter 15. lots of info but interesting.
Profile Image for Lee  Caterson.
108 reviews1 follower
July 13, 2023
Yes, its a textbook, but a pretty accessible one, but still a textbook.
Profile Image for Marstormhiccup.
1 review
June 14, 2024
It was complex yet quite manageable to read. It helped me immensely to pass my psychobiology course, I can not thank Neil R. Carlson enough.
Profile Image for Zara.
73 reviews
May 12, 2025
the relief to be done with this textbook is huge
Profile Image for cas.
5 reviews
May 19, 2025
i love the little quips the author makes but also this textbook is saving my ass rn so 5 stars
Profile Image for Andrew.
5 reviews
August 2, 2020
Very well organized and a good treatment of the various topics in behavioral neuroscience.

Didn't read the entire text, since it was condensed for a course, but I may go back and read some more selected topics that I'm interested in for my career progression.
Profile Image for Paul Easton.
2 reviews4 followers
May 18, 2015
If you want to learn about physiological psychology this seems like the place to start. It is long and dense but readable and well organized, and seeded with interesting anecdotal topics. It didn't say enough about anatomy for my purposes but anatomy is difficult and boring so I'm sure it will be enough for most people.
Profile Image for Nariyah Moonshadow.
32 reviews2 followers
December 15, 2010
M'he llegit la vuitena edició i m'ha encantat. Presenta una visió amplia del funcionament del Sistema Nerviós explicacions molt senzilles i fàcils d'entendre. Si us interessa endinsar-vos en el coneixement del funcionament del cervell aquest és el vostre manual.
Profile Image for Kerry.
3 reviews
October 25, 2011
Very informative text, invaluable to students studying any aspect of Biological Psychology. Probably a bit too indepth for those starting out - but presevere and reap the satisfaction of reading one of the better books for this branch of Psychology.
Profile Image for Jenna.
1 review4 followers
February 25, 2012
I found this text extremely elementary. Probably useful if you're just beginning to explore neuroscience and behaviour, however it will not take you very far. It does explain topics very clearly with good diagrams.
Profile Image for Krystal.
366 reviews8 followers
February 24, 2013
Amazingly fascinating! Loved this textbook and learned so much. Although some of it was incredibly scientific that made it hard to comprehend it had wonderful portions that made everything understandable. Loved this textbook.
Profile Image for Leigh.
13 reviews3 followers
May 5, 2014
Had to read this for my Psycho-pharmacology class, so I can't really say I liked it. However, it was very informative. It went into a lot of detail about neurotransmitters & specific disorders. I'll probably keep it around for quick reference.
Profile Image for Diazina.
7 reviews1 follower
August 2, 2014
This has been my favourite textbook of all time, and the first I read cover-to-cover. Well laid-out, comprehensive, and engagingly written to the point of boasting a few laugh-out-loud moments. Excellent introduction to the interface between Physiology, Neurology, and Psychology.
8 reviews2 followers
Currently reading
June 11, 2007
I'm reading this strictly for class, however, the mind is fascinating, you know? If you happen to pick up this book for some reason, do the blind spot exercise on Pg. 173. Amazing!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews

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