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Social neuroscience: new and promising
Media Watch
Paediatric disorders: our understanding evolves
Neurobehavioral Disorders of Childhood: An Evolutionary Perspective Robert Melillo and Gerry Leisman Plenum Publishers, 2004 €80, 447 pages ISBN 0 306 47814 5
The recent history of diagnostic systems in paediatric neurology is one of increasing differentiation between the signs and symptoms of disorders such as autism, learning disability, and attention deficit disorder. It is refreshing, therefore, to read an account that challenges established practice and emphasises the common evolutionary and neural bases of these problems. This book amasses an impressive array of biochemical, neural, behavioural, and clinical evidence to argue that the development of the human motor system is closely linked with that of ”higherorder” systems regulating cognition, language, and social behaviour, and that some form of abnormal motor functioning is implicated in most developmental disorders. The implication is that treatments for neurobehavioural disorders should develop strategies to enhance comorbid motor difficulties. The first section of the book describes the evolution of the brain with an emphasis on links between the development of motor and cognitive systems. In the next section there are five chapters that provide an in-depth review of the neuroanatomy and physiology of each of the major brain systems. Although the aim of these chapters is to provide a platform for the authors’ general thesis, they also function as excellent tutorials in contemporary neurology and should be very useful to clinicians and educators. The final section reviews evidence for the involvement of motor dysfunction in childhood disorders and explores
treatment implications. It is here that the authors face their most formidable challenge and where the arguments are less convincing. The range of disorders thought to have some motor component is surprisingly broad and includes many familiar to the paediatric neurologist. Interesting evidence about links between motor and psychological functioning is presented—eg, a decrease in dopamine concentrations after periods of inactivity is seen as a possible cause of cognitive and emotional problems in children. Overall, however, the argument that motor dysfunction has a primary role in most child neurobehavioural disorders is not persuasive. Part of the problem is that “hard” data from neuroimaging, physiological, and epidemiological studies is mixed with that from case reports and uncontrolled studies. This is particularly problematic in the treatment chapter, where equal weight is given to empirically supported treatments (eg, pharmacology, cognitive-behavioural approaches) and those for which there are few controlled trials (eg, sensory integration). Even if you are not convinced by the arguments presented in this book, it is a novel and provocative attempt to draw together the common evolutionary and neural elements of child disorders. It should provoke discussion among researchers and clinicians, and stimulate further study.
Brett Hayes [email protected]
Social neuroscience: new and promising
Essays in Social Neuroscience Edited by John T Cacioppo and Gary Berntson MIT Press, 2004 £20·95, 168 pages ISBN 0 262 03323 2
218
This is a wonderful collection of 14 short chapters, written and edited by eminent scientists who have various backgrounds. Social neuroscience is an emerging multidisciplinary and collaborative discipline that studies every aspect of behaviour. Although the name of the discipline suggests that it merely bridges neuroscience and social psychology, its coverage is much broader. Social neuroscience merges the hitherto relatively independent biological and social perspectives on cognition, affect, and behaviour for understanding the workings of the mind. Strong elements of this field are the multiplicity of methods used and the realisation that social factors affect neural processes and vice versa. In order to completely understand social behaviour, social, psychological, physiological, and neurological information should be gathered. As such, converging evidence from several independent sources provides insights that could not be obtained when behaviour was studied only within the traditional perspectives. Social neuroscience strongly builds on the slightly older field of cognitive neuroscience and is related to the
developing field of neuroeconomics. Importantly, in order for these perspectives to be successful, researchers from the different traditional fields should collaborate, and ideally, new teaching programs have to be developed. This book may help. All chapters are well written and stimulating; they will prove to be not only a nice introduction for many, but they may also help those interested in becoming social neuroscientists themselves. An array of topics are covered in this book: maternal effects and chromatin modeling, pheromones, social odors, the unconscious, and memory. One of my favorite chapters deals with the role of the hormone oxytocin in social bonding and love, and reveals some intriguing aspects of the neurobiology of love. In addition, the editors provide a compelling argument for why both social psychologists and neuroscientists should be interested in these developments. I highly recommend you to read this book and be persuaded by them.
Marcel Zeelenberg [email protected]
http://neurology.thelancet.com Vol 4 April 2005
Paediatric disorders: our understanding evolves
Neurobehavioral Disorders of Childhood: An Evolutionary Perspective Robert Melillo and Gerry Leisman Plenum Publishers, 2004 €80, 447 pages ISBN 0 306 47814 5
The recent history of diagnostic systems in paediatric neurology is one of increasing differentiation between the signs and symptoms of disorders such as autism, learning disability, and attention deficit disorder. It is refreshing, therefore, to read an account that challenges established practice and emphasises the common evolutionary and neural bases of these problems. This book amasses an impressive array of biochemical, neural, behavioural, and clinical evidence to argue that the development of the human motor system is closely linked with that of ”higherorder” systems regulating cognition, language, and social behaviour, and that some form of abnormal motor functioning is implicated in most developmental disorders. The implication is that treatments for neurobehavioural disorders should develop strategies to enhance comorbid motor difficulties. The first section of the book describes the evolution of the brain with an emphasis on links between the development of motor and cognitive systems. In the next section there are five chapters that provide an in-depth review of the neuroanatomy and physiology of each of the major brain systems. Although the aim of these chapters is to provide a platform for the authors’ general thesis, they also function as excellent tutorials in contemporary neurology and should be very useful to clinicians and educators. The final section reviews evidence for the involvement of motor dysfunction in childhood disorders and explores
treatment implications. It is here that the authors face their most formidable challenge and where the arguments are less convincing. The range of disorders thought to have some motor component is surprisingly broad and includes many familiar to the paediatric neurologist. Interesting evidence about links between motor and psychological functioning is presented—eg, a decrease in dopamine concentrations after periods of inactivity is seen as a possible cause of cognitive and emotional problems in children. Overall, however, the argument that motor dysfunction has a primary role in most child neurobehavioural disorders is not persuasive. Part of the problem is that “hard” data from neuroimaging, physiological, and epidemiological studies is mixed with that from case reports and uncontrolled studies. This is particularly problematic in the treatment chapter, where equal weight is given to empirically supported treatments (eg, pharmacology, cognitive-behavioural approaches) and those for which there are few controlled trials (eg, sensory integration). Even if you are not convinced by the arguments presented in this book, it is a novel and provocative attempt to draw together the common evolutionary and neural elements of child disorders. It should provoke discussion among researchers and clinicians, and stimulate further study.
Brett Hayes [email protected]
Social neuroscience: new and promising
Essays in Social Neuroscience Edited by John T Cacioppo and Gary Berntson MIT Press, 2004 £20·95, 168 pages ISBN 0 262 03323 2
218
This is a wonderful collection of 14 short chapters, written and edited by eminent scientists who have various backgrounds. Social neuroscience is an emerging multidisciplinary and collaborative discipline that studies every aspect of behaviour. Although the name of the discipline suggests that it merely bridges neuroscience and social psychology, its coverage is much broader. Social neuroscience merges the hitherto relatively independent biological and social perspectives on cognition, affect, and behaviour for understanding the workings of the mind. Strong elements of this field are the multiplicity of methods used and the realisation that social factors affect neural processes and vice versa. In order to completely understand social behaviour, social, psychological, physiological, and neurological information should be gathered. As such, converging evidence from several independent sources provides insights that could not be obtained when behaviour was studied only within the traditional perspectives. Social neuroscience strongly builds on the slightly older field of cognitive neuroscience and is related to the
developing field of neuroeconomics. Importantly, in order for these perspectives to be successful, researchers from the different traditional fields should collaborate, and ideally, new teaching programs have to be developed. This book may help. All chapters are well written and stimulating; they will prove to be not only a nice introduction for many, but they may also help those interested in becoming social neuroscientists themselves. An array of topics are covered in this book: maternal effects and chromatin modeling, pheromones, social odors, the unconscious, and memory. One of my favorite chapters deals with the role of the hormone oxytocin in social bonding and love, and reveals some intriguing aspects of the neurobiology of love. In addition, the editors provide a compelling argument for why both social psychologists and neuroscientists should be interested in these developments. I highly recommend you to read this book and be persuaded by them.
Marcel Zeelenberg [email protected]
http://neurology.thelancet.com Vol 4 April 2005