Behavioural embryology

Behavioural embryology

Journal o f the neurological Sciences, 1975, 25:529-531 ~© Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam 529 Printed in The Netherlands B o o k ...

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Journal o f the neurological Sciences, 1975, 25:529-531 ~© Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam

529 Printed in The Netherlands

B o o k Reviews

Behavioural Embryology (Studies on the Development of the Behaviour and the Nervous System, Vol. 1), by G. GOTrLIEB,xxi + 369 pages, 124 illustrations, Academic Press, New York, N.Y., 1973, £10.55, US$22.50. At first impression for the non-cognoscenti, "behavioural embryology" might be considered to be a non-starter. The embryo might be considered to be incapable of behaviour, incapable of responding significantly to outside stimuli, and incapable of learning or adapting its behaviour to such stimuli. Nevertheless all parents who have observed the Moro reflex in their own child before birth, and all who have seen films of the relationship between birds and their as yet unhatched chicks, will realize that from an extremely early age in development the embryo is capable of responding to outside stimuli. The stage at which the fetus responds, and the significance of this interrelationship between the environment and the fetus clearly depends on the stage of development of the fetus when it becomes released into the external environment. In the calf or fowl, which is capable of relatively independent life within a very short time of birth, intrauterine interactions with the fetus may clearly be important. Conversely in the marsupials, where the fetus at birth is extremely poorly developed, such intrauterine effects are clearly of lesser importance. It is not surprising that the major portion of this

book therefore deals with birds and their prehatching physiology and behaviour. This is the first volume of what is planned to be a coherent treatise dealing with developmental relationships between neurophysiology and neuroanatomy and behaviour. It is planned that the first two volumes will offer a detailed explanation of the major behavioural and neural developments during pre-natal life. Its concentration upon the avian situation, with very little space being devoted to the mammal, highlights the lack of knowledge which exists about the latter. It offers an intriguing insight into the bird and its pre-hatching behaviour, and perhaps it points the way to a similar elucidation of the relationship in the mammal. The latter, however, is clearly much more difficult to investigate. It will remain to be seen whether the future volumes prove to be of rather specialised interest, or whether they offer more for the neurologist, neuroanatomist and behavioural psychologist. As groundwork to point the way this is a worthwhile volume. Whether the way will prove to be welltrodden remains to be seen.

Progress in Neurobiology (Editors: G. A. KERKUTAND J. Press, Headington Hill Hall, Oxford.

W. G. BRADLEY

W . PHILLIPS),

Pergamon

Vol. 1, Part I (R. Porter: Functions of the mammalian cerebral cortex in movement G . J . Mogenson and Y. H. Huang: The neurobiology of motivated behavior), pp. 1-84, 1973, £2.00. Vol. I, Part 2 (K. Kristensson and Y. Olsson: Diffusion pathways and retrograde axonal transport of protein tracers in peripheral nerves V.T. Wynn: Absolute pitch in humans. Its variations and possible connections with other known rhythmic phenomena J. M. Sneddon: Blood platelets as a model for monoamine-containing neurones), pp. 85-198, 1973. £2.95. Vol. 1. Part 3 (G. G. Somjen : Electrogenesis of sustained potentials--D. M. Guthrie, J. R. Banks and E. Sommerville: Studies on the neural control of the skating reflex and the origin of its variations in field population of the hemipterous insect Gerris), pp. 199-254, 1973, £2.95. Vol. 1, Part 4 (H. Laborit: Gamma-hydroxybutyrate, succinic semialdehyde and sleel~-J. S. De Belleroche and H. F. Bradford : The synaptosome: an isolated, working, neuronalcompartment--N. N. Osborne : The analysis of amines and amino acids in micro-quantities of tissue), pp. 255 332, 1973, £2.95. Vol. 2, Part ! (J. Bloedel: Cerebellar afferent systems. A review--P. L. McGeer and E. G. McGeer: Neurotransmitter synthetic enzymes), pp. 1-117, 1973, £2.95.