The Lateralized Brain: The Neuroscience and Evolution of Hemispheric Asymmetries

The Lateralized Brain: The Neuroscience and Evolution of Hemispheric Asymmetries

The Lateralized Brain: The Neuroscience and Evolution of Hemispheric Asymmetries is an up-to-date teaching resource for neuroscience faculty members that teach courses concerning hemispheric asymmetries. The book provides students with all relevant information on the subject, while also giving aspiring researchers in the field an up-to-date overview of relevant, previous work. It is ideal for courses on hemispheric asymmetries, that is, the functional or structural differences between the left and the right hemispheres of the brain, and also highlights how the widespread use of modern neuroimaging techniques, such as fMRI and DTI has completely changed the way hemispheric asymmetries are currently investigated. According to the preface, the main aim of The Lateralized Brain is to provide "an up-to-date teaching resource on hemispheric asymmetries … [and] to introduce undergraduate students of all levels to the fascinating topics of hemispheric asymmetries" (p. xv)… (Sebastian Ocklenburg and Onur Güntürkün) have succeeded admirably in their stated aim and are to be congratulated on undertaking the mammoth task they set themselves. They can be proud of what they have accomplished. ~ Alan A. Beaton, Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, UK, in Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain and Cognition, July, 2018. Includes references to key articles, books, protocols and online resources for additional, detailed study - Presents classic studies that helped define the field - Covers key concepts and methods that are explained in separate call out boxes for quick overview - Provides introductory short stories (e.g. classic clinical cases) as a starting point for each chapter According to the preface, the main aim of The Lateralized Brain is to provide "an up-to-date teaching resource on hemispheric asymmetries … [and] to introduce undergraduate students of all levels to the fascinating topics of hemispheric asymmetries" (p. xv)… (Sebastian Ocklenburg and Onur Güntürkün) have succeeded admirably in their stated aim and are to be congratulated on undertaking the mammoth task they set themselves. They can be proud of what they have accomplished. --Alan A. Beaton, Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, UK, in Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain and Cognition, July, 2018 Comprehensive reference on hemispheric asymmetries in the brain, the evolution of the lateralized brain, and integral roles in language, handedness, emotion, and more Hemispheric asymmetries, that is, the functional or structural differences between the left and the right hemispheres of the brain, are one of the major organizational principles of the human nervous system. Many cognitive systems are asymmetrically organized, including among others, language, memory, social cognition, spatial attention and emotion. Interestingly, hemispheric asymmetries seem to be altered in a number of neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders, making a profound knowledge of the topic important for clinicians, too. The widespread use of modern neuroimaging techniques such as fMRI and DTI as well as modern molecular genetic techniques has completely changed the way hemispheric asymmetries are currently investigated. Authored by world-renowned researchers in the field, this book is a comprehensive up-to-date teaching resource for neuroscience faculty members that teach courses concerning hemispheric asymmetries, providing students with all relevant information on the subject in a single book. This resource also provides aspiring researchers in the field an up-to-date overview of relevant previous work in the field, meeting the needs of two distinct audiences. Hemispheric Asymmetries in the Brain is a valuable, up-to-date learning resource for students attending courses on hemispheric asymmetries, and a comprehensive introduction into the topic for all researchers interested in starting scientific project in this exciting field of study. Sebastian Ocklenburg is a post-doc in the biopsychology lab at Ruhr-University Bochum in Germany. Born in Duisburg, Germany, he knew since primary school that he wanted to become a scientist. After obtaining his bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology, Sebastian conducted his PhD thesis on the genetics and neurophysiology of hemispheric asymmetries. For this work, he was awarded the prestigious Heinz-Heckhausen award by the German Society for Psychology. Subsequently, he worked as a post-doc in the Bergen fMRI group in Norway, before returning to Germany. Since the very beginning of his career, Sebastian holds a deep fascination with understanding how hemispheric asymmetries develop. His work focuses on answering this question using an integrative multi-method approach including techniques from neuroimaging, electrophysiology and molecular genetics. Sebastian is member of the Global Young Faculty (GYF) and the International Society for Behavioral Neuroscience (ISBN). He authored more than 60