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The Neuroscience of Sleep and Dreams

Understanding the social and evolutionary aspects of sleep

Patrick McNamara author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:28th Feb '19

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The Neuroscience of Sleep and Dreams cover

This informative text explores sleep and dreams through a neuroscience lens, emphasizing their social and evolutionary significance in The Neuroscience of Sleep and Dreams.

In The Neuroscience of Sleep and Dreams, Patrick McNamara delves into the intricate world of sleep and dreams, offering a comprehensive exploration tailored for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students. This text stands out from other introductory resources by emphasizing the social dimensions of sleep and dreams, while also connecting recent discoveries to established evolutionary theories. McNamara provides a clear and accessible introduction to complex concepts, making it suitable for those new to the field as well as seasoned researchers.

The book covers a wide range of topics, including significant advancements in sleep medicine, the relationship between sleep and memory, and the analysis of dream content. Additionally, it investigates the brain correlates of various sleep stages and the developmental aspects of sleep throughout the lifespan. By framing these discussions within an evolutionary context, The Neuroscience of Sleep and Dreams enriches the reader's understanding of why sleep and dreams are not only biological phenomena but also social and evolutionary adaptations.

While primarily aimed at students, this book is also a valuable resource for general readers and scientists from other disciplines. The accessible language and thorough explanations invite a broader audience to engage with the material. Ultimately, The Neuroscience of Sleep and Dreams serves as a vital reference for anyone interested in the science behind these fascinating aspects of human experience.

'This is an accessible and much-needed resource for students, teachers, and the general public. Sleep and dream sciences are rapidly expanding, but are underrepresented in psychology and neuroscience textbooks. This book fills the gap perfectly! Patrick McNamara's fascinating incorporation of social and evolutionary neuroscience is certain to engage readers from many backgrounds.' Edward F. Pace-Schott, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts
'Patrick McNamara gives all the answers that science has found so far; covering the psychology, neuroscience, evolution, and social aspects of sleep and dreams in a balanced and integrated manner that is a joy to read. Anyone who wants to know what science really knows about sleep and dreams should read this book.' Antti Revonsuo, University of Skövde, Sweden, and University of Turku, Finland
'The text is an introduction, as indicated by the title, but it could serve easily as a university textbook, containing clear learning objectives, review questions, and further reading sections. It is an absorbing read, an informative reference, and will appeal to students and researchers at every level of training.' Tore Nielsen, Director, Dream and Nightmare Laboratory, Université de Montréal
'This book offers an authoritative and clearly written overview of neuroscience's answers to questions about sleep and dreams. Patrick McNamara explains research findings suitable for the beginner, but also with enough depth for the experienced. I recommend it enthusiastically to all who want a solid scientific perspective on sleep and dreams.' Deirdre Barrett, author of The Committee of Sleep
'I found the chapter on dream varieties the most interesting, it is the longest chapter too and includes the characteristics of the wide variety of dream types reported by people.' Carol Singleton, Nursing Times
'The well-organized format of the chapters includes learning objectives at the beginning, as well as review questions and further reading at the end, making the text suitable for classroom use. Highly recommended for collections in sleep, dream, and consciousness studies.' J. Bailey, Choice
'The Neuroscience of Sleep and Dreams does a great job of summarizing contemporary research and theories in a fashion that facilities accessibility for readers, and should be of great interest to anyone seeking a general state-of-the-art of sleep and dream research.' Jean-Baptiste Eichenlaub, International Journal of Dream Research

ISBN: 9781107171107

Dimensions: 235mm x 157mm x 19mm

Weight: 520g

276 pages