Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology, 6th Edition

Kolb and Whishaw's Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology is an excellent textbook for use in upper division behavioral neuroscience or neuropsychology courses. It begins by providing an excellent history of neuropsychology and continues to explain the neural mechanisms that underlie simple and complex behaviors. The book is divided into five parts that each address a different aspect of brain functioning. Part I describes the history and development of neuropsychology, anatomy of the neuron and brain, how communication occurs in the neuron, the influence of drugs on behavior, and imaging methods. Part II focuses on the organization of the cortex, the sensory systems, and the motor system. Part III examines each lobe of the brain and disconnection syndromes. Part IV describes higher functions, such as learning and memory, emotion, and spatial behavior. Part V is a wonderful exploration of plasticity and disorders of the brain. By the end of the book, students will have learned everything from the basics of neuronal function to the complex neural processes that contribute to attention and consciousness. I was amazed at how much I learned after reading the text. The new edition of Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology is an excellent upgrade from the 5 th edition. The most notable change in the new edition is the addition of color photographs and diagrams that explain complex topics. Additional changes include discussion and explanation of up-to-date neuroscience research, reorganization of text for streamlined reading, and more coverage of the fields of cognitive neuroscience and social cognitive neuroscience. One of the things that I appreciate most about the book is the organization of the text. It is easy to follow and clearly explains topics. Each chapter begins with a " Portrait " that describes case studies of individuals who have sustained brain damage or who have some type of behavioral deficits that will be discussed in the chapter. The " Portraits " are very well written and entice the reader to continue on. On occasion, the case is presented without a detailed description of the brain disorder that the individual is afflicted with. This has both positive and negative consequences. Often, suspense is created that encourages the reader to continue on with the rest of the chapter. However, there are times when the reader may be frustrated at the lack of a clear explanation. After, the " Portrait " the content of the chapters begins by describing anatomy and …