Review author: Dana Bevan, PhD
Summary: The strength of this book lies in its precise and succinct definitions of structures and clinical neuroscience phenomena. This book is of value to psychologists seeking understanding of the etiology of behavior. Its precise definitions and references allow the reader to move quickly to more detailed reference literature and to relevant research literature. The index is well constructed and useful.
Citation: Uysal, S. (2023). Functional Neuroanatomy and Clinical Neuroscience: Foundations for Understanding Disorders of Cognition and Behavior. New York: Oxford University Press (410 pages).
The book is of value to psychologists seeking understanding of the etiology of behavior. Its precise definitions and references allow the reader to move quickly to more detailed reference literature and to relevant research literature. The index is well constructed and useful.
This book does not set out to encompass the vast research on psychopharmacology but does provide some basic information on neuronal physiology. That is fine because in many cases we do not really know how and where many drugs act to influence pathologies and behavior. The recent discovery that SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) drugs designed to reduce depression by increasing synaptic serotonin levels do not actually work this way is a case in point.
In later chapters, the book does provide information for several clinical disorders that cannot currently be precisely localized to anatomical structures such as impairment of language, amnesia and learning disabilities. Finally, it also provides useful information on brain imaging and neurological examination.
In general, this is a useful book because of its clarity and capture of current thinking about neuroanatomy and neuroscience correlates of pathological conditions.