The Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

by Jerry W. Rudy

To understand how the brain learns and remembers requires an integration of psychological concepts and behavioral methods with mechanisms of synaptic plasticity systems and systems neuroscience. The Neurobiology of Learning and Memory is a new undergraduate textbook that provides a synthesis of this interdisciplinary field. Each chapter makes the key concepts transparent and accessible to a reader with a minimal background in either neurobiology or psychology and is extensively illustrated with full-color photographs and line art depicting important concepts and experimental data.

Genres: Textbooks

500 pages, Hardcover

First published May 28, 2008

Reviews

[Terry Freedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book differs from many of the books and articles I’ve read about memory because it delves into the physical changes that occur in different situations. For example, the molecular trace required for short-term memory retrieval is different from that of long-term memory retrieval.

Interestingly, despite the fact that the phrase seemingly on everybody’s lips these days is ‘working memory’, neither this nor so-called ‘cognitive load theory’ is to be found in the pages of this book. (Although the description of one short-term memory experiment is almost certainly a description of ‘working memory’.

The book is both comprehensive and, to my surprise, highly readable. The physical quality is outstanding.

My only caveats are are as follows.

Firstly, the book I’ve been reading for this review was published in 2008. No doubt there have been advances in our understanding since then.

Secondly, the price of the latest (3rd) edition is eye-wateringly high. But if you can persuade your university library or, if you’re feeling ambitious, your local library to stock it then it will provide you with much evidence-based food for thought.