Biology of Sensory Systems

Since publication of the first edition, huge developments have taken place in sensory biology research and new insights have been provided in particular by molecular biology. These show the similarities in the molecular architecture and in the physiology of sensory cells across species and across sensory modality and often indicate a common ancestry dating back over half a billion years. Biology of Sensory Systems has thus been completely revised and takes a molecular, evolutionary and comparative approach, providing an overview of sensory systems in vertebrates, invertebrates and prokaryotes, with a strong focus on human senses. Written by a renowned author with extensive teaching experience, the book covers, in six parts, the general features of sensory systems, the mechanosenses, the chemosenses, the senses which detect electromagnetic radiation, other sensory systems including pain, thermosensitivity and some of the minority senses and, finally, provides an outline and discussion of philosophical implications. New in this edition: Greater emphasis on molecular biology and intracellular mechanisms New chapter on genomics and sensory systems Sections on TRP channels, synaptic transmission, evolution of nervous systems, arachnid mechanosensitive sensilla and photoreceptors, electroreception in the Monotremata, language and the FOXP2 gene, mirror neurons and the molecular biology of pain Updated passages on human olfaction and gustation. Over four hundred illustrations, boxes containing supplementary material and self-assessment questions and a full bibliography at the end of each part make Biology of Sensory Systems essential reading for undergraduate students of biology, zoology, animal physiology, neuroscience, anatomy and physiological psychology. The book is also suitable for postgraduate students in more specialised courses such as vision sciences, optometry, neurophysiology, neuropathology, developmental biology. Praise from the reviews of the first edition: "e;An excellent advanced undergraduate/postgraduate textbook."e; ASLIB BOOK GUIDE "e;The emphasis on comparative biology and evolution is one of the distinguishing features of this self-contained book. .... this is an informative and thought-provoking text..."e; TIMES HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT

Since publication of the first edition, huge developments havetaken place in sensory biology research and new insights have beenprovided in particular by molecular biology. These show thesimilarities in the molecular architecture and in the physiology ofsensory cells across species and across sensory modality and oftenindicate a common ancestry dating back over half a billionyears.Biology of Sensory Systems has thus been completelyrevised and takes a molecular, evolutionary and comparativeapproach, providing an overview of sensory systems in vertebratesinvertebrates and prokaryotes, with a strong focus on humansenses.Written by a renowned author with extensive teaching experiencethe book covers, in six parts, the general features of sensorysystems, the mechanosenses, the chemosenses, the senses whichdetect electromagnetic radiation, other sensory systems includingpain, thermosensitivity and some of the minority senses andfinally, provides an outline and discussion of philosophicalimplications.New in this edition:* Greater emphasis on molecular biology and intracellularmechanisms* New chapter on genomics and sensory systems* Sections on TRP channels, synaptic transmission, evolution ofnervous systems, arachnid mechanosensitive sensilla andphotoreceptors, electroreception in the Monotremata, language andthe FOXP2 gene, mirror neurons and the molecular biology ofpain* Updated passages on human olfaction and gustation.Over four hundred illustrations, boxes containing supplementarymaterial and self-assessment questions and a full bibliography atthe end of each part make Biology of Sensory Systemsessential reading for undergraduate students of biology, zoologyanimal physiology, neuroscience, anatomy and physiologicalpsychology. The book is also suitable for postgraduate students inmore specialised courses such as vision sciences, optometryneurophysiology, neuropathology, developmental biology.Praise from the reviews of the first edition:"An excellent advanced undergraduate/postgraduate textbook."ASLIB BOOK GUIDE"The emphasis on comparative biology and evolution is one of thedistinguishing features of this self-contained book. .... this isan informative and thought-provoking text..." TIMES HIGHEREDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT