The dopaminergic mind in human evolution and history / Fred H. Previc.
What does it mean to be human? There are many theories of the evolution of human behavior which seek to explain how our brains evolved to support our unique abilities and personalities. Most of these have focused on the role of brain size or specific genetic adaptations of the brain. In contrast, Fr...
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| Format: | Ebook |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge, UK ; New York :
Cambridge University Press,
2009.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Cambridge Books on Core |
| Summary: | What does it mean to be human? There are many theories of the evolution of human behavior which seek to explain how our brains evolved to support our unique abilities and personalities. Most of these have focused on the role of brain size or specific genetic adaptations of the brain. In contrast, Fred Previc presents a provocative theory that high levels of dopamine, the most widely studied neurotransmitter, account for all major aspects of modern human behavior. He further emphasizes the role of epigenetic rather than genetic factors in the rise of dopamine. Previc contrasts the great achievements of the dopaminergic mind with the harmful effects of rising dopamine levels in modern societies and concludes with a critical examination of whether the dopaminergic mind that has evolved in humans is still adaptive to the health of humans and to the planet in general. |
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| Physical Description: | 1 online resource (ix, 214 pages) : illustrations |
| Format: | Mode of access: World Wide Web. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| ISBN: | 0511539789 9780511539787 0511540388 9780511540387 0511540728 9780511540721 051158136X 9780511581366 1282155628 9781282155626 |
| DOI: | 10.1017/CBO9780511581366 |