Handbook Of Mammalian Vacalization Vol 19: An Integrative Neuroscience Approach (Hb 2010) Hardcover

The Handbook of Mammalian Vocalization is a comprehensive and well-structured reference that approaches vocal communication in mammals through a broad neuroscience lens. It is richly illustrated and carefully organized, with each chapter building on the previous to form a coherent narrative, while still maintaining the complexity of the subject. Though it covers a variety of species, the focus is mainly on rodents, as most neural studies have been conducted on them. The central theme of the book is that vocalizations are evolutionarily developed, highly adaptive signals that are specifically processed by the brain. The brain functions not only as a receiver but also as an amplifier of behavioral responses. The handbook explores brain systems that allow vocal signals to induce rapid and significant changes in an organism's state, often resulting in the production of additional vocalizations. It delves into the integrative brain processes that produce vocal outputs, as well as the neural generators and motor systems that control the larynx and other related structures. Later sections examine the bioacoustic features of vocal sounds, how information is encoded in these signals, and the development of complex semantic and social meaning in mammalian vocalizations. Serving as a key resource across multiple disciplines, the handbook presents a unified and in-depth view of vocal communication—from molecular and cellular mechanisms to behavioral and cognitive dimensions. It is scientifically rigorous yet accessible, making it suitable not only for specialized researchers but also for educators, graduate students, and professionals in fields such as behavioral neuroscience, affective neuroscience, neuroethology, biopsychology, neurolinguistics, and speech pathology.