At the time of original publication psychobiology was one of the most rapidly developing areas of psychology. Its growth owed much to recent advances both in techniques for studying the physiological bases of behaviour and in major conceptual advances in the way people thought about the brain. First published in 1989, this textbook introduction to the field looks at the state of psychobiology in the light of these advances. The issues covered include: the factors that have shaped the current state of the field; the value of animal subjects in the study of psychological processes; the problems of studying the brain, including the theoretical assumptions underlying the most widely used methods; the current status of influential theories, like Stellar's 2-center theory of motivation and Papez's theory of emotion; the relationship between psychological theory and physiological data, such as recent accounts of the visual system; the problems presented by 'emergent properties' like consciousness.

The EBBS Publications Series is designed to provide researchers and students with authoritative, topical reviews of major areas in the brain and behaviour sciences. Each volume includes specially commissioned and edited chapters by leading researchers, presented in a lively and accessible style ideal for the non-specialist. The study of appetite is of major interest to psychologists and neuroscientists, and is understood to involve components relating to both disciplines. Psychological research looks at the cues which guide appetitive behaviour, and the cognitive mechanisms used to interpret cues and influence choice of action. Neuroscience research looks at the neural substrates for these behavioural processes. This is the first volume to bring the two perspectives together covering the areas of eating, drinking, sexual behaviour, drug addiction, and gambling. It will be of interest to behavioural researchers in general, and to clinicians interested in abnormal forms of appetite.

At the time of original publication psychobiology was one of the most rapidly developing areas of psychology. Its growth owed much to recent advances both in techniques for studying the physiological bases of behaviour and in major conceptual advances in the way people thought about the brain. First published in 1989, this textbook introduction to the field looks at the state of psychobiology in the light of these advances. The issues covered include: the factors that have shaped the current state of the field; the value of animal subjects in the study of psychological processes; the problems of studying the brain, including the theoretical assumptions underlying the most widely used methods; the current status of influential theories, like Stellar's 2-center theory of motivation and Papez's theory of emotion; the relationship between psychological theory and physiological data, such as recent accounts of the visual system; the problems presented by 'emergent properties' like consciousness.