Handbook of Behavior Genetics

Behavior Genetics is an interdisciplinary area combining behavioral sciences and genetics.  The study of behavior genetics has become increasingly important as we see growth spurts in finding genes involved in complex behaviors following on advances in molecular genetic techniques. This domain has now become a vast common ground for scientists from very diverse fields including psychology, psychiatry, neurology, endocrinology, biochemistry, neuroimaging, and genetics. However, there are not many textbooks or references to which students in behavior genetics can access for their research and class. The purpose of this handbook is to offer research guides to the studies of genetic and environmental influences on a variety of complex behaviors in humans and animals. Unlike previous behavior genetics textbooks, this handbook will discuss current research and topics of interest to psychologists, psychiatrists, and geneticists. Utilizing methodologies and theories commonly used in behavior genetics, each chapter will begin with an overview of the selected topic; current research and issues will be intensively reviewed; and we will direct future research on the topic at the end of the end of the chapter. So the handbook will integrate many of the basic issues of the Behavior Genetics and will enhance our understanding in many fields. Therefore, this handbook will provide future research endeavors for the next 10 years. Throughout this handbook the editor will collaborate with contributors who are internationally well known in the field. The Behavior Genetics Association members and the Behavior Genetics Editorial Advisory Board will be invited to review the manuscripts of this handbook.

List of contents

Introduction.- Historical Perspective of Behavior Genetics.- Part I: Quantitative Methods and Models.- Biometrical Models in Behavioral Genetics.- QTL methodology in Behavior Genetics.- Multivariate genetics analysis.- Part II: Genetics of Cognition.- Twin Studies of General Mental Ability.- Behavioral Genetic Investigations of Cognitive Aging.- Genotype-environment interaction in reading.- Learning disabilities and Language.- Cognitive disabilities in rodents.- Neurogenetic analysis and cognitive function in Down syndrome.- Evolution of complex acoustic signals in Drosophila species.- Development and Behavior in Drosophila.- Neurogenetic disorders in Drosophila: Alzheimer s disease.- Part III: Genetics of Personality.- Genotype-environment correlation and genetic and environmental influences on family relationships.- Personality.- Human Sexuality.- Adolescent Alcohol Use and Drug abuse.- Genetic Analysis of Conduct Disorder and Antisocial Behavior.- Selective breeding programs resulting in personality differences in rats.- The Genetics of Agonistic Behaviors in Mice.- Behavioral Laterality: Genetic and Evolutionary Approaches.- Genetics of exercise behavior and exercise ability.- Part IV: Genetics of Psychopathology.- Genetic and environmental influences on Attention Problems, Hyperactivity, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).- Anxiety and Depression in Childhood: Developmental Pathways, Genes and Environment.- Anxiety and Depression in Adulthood.- Psychoses: Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and their nonpsychotic spectra.-Genetic risk for schizophrenia: Findings from the longitudinal high-risk studies.- Dopamine D2-like receptor deficiencies as a model for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.- Genetics of autism.- Conclusion

About the author

Dr. Yong-Kyu Kim is currently an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Georgia. Dr. Kim has been an editorial board member of Behavior Genetics since 2002 (currently he is one of the Associate Editors) and is a very active member of the Behavior Genetics Association, which is the society affiliated with the journal.

Summary

Behavior Genetics is an interdisciplinary area combining behavioral sciences and genetics.  The study of behavior genetics has become increasingly important as we see growth spurts in finding genes involved in complex behaviors following on advances in molecular genetic techniques. This domain has now become a vast common ground for scientists from very diverse fields including psychology, psychiatry, neurology, endocrinology, biochemistry, neuroimaging, and genetics. However, there are not many textbooks or references to which students in behavior genetics can access for their research and class.

The purpose of this handbook is to offer research guides to the studies of genetic and environmental influences on a variety of complex behaviors in humans and animals. Unlike previous behavior genetics textbooks, this handbook will discuss current research and topics of interest to psychologists, psychiatrists, and geneticists. Utilizing methodologies and theories commonly used in behavior genetics, each chapter will begin with an overview of the selected topic; current research and issues will be intensively reviewed; and we will direct future research on the topic at the end of the end of the chapter. So the handbook will integrate many of the basic issues of the Behavior Genetics and will enhance our understanding in many fields. Therefore, this handbook will provide future research endeavors for the next 10 years. Throughout this handbook the editor will collaborate with contributors who are internationally well known in the field. The Behavior Genetics Association members and the Behavior Genetics Editorial Advisory Board will be invited to review the manuscripts of this handbook.

Additional text

From the reviews:
“To write the 34 chapters, Dr. Kim is to be congratulated on assembling a team of the leading behavior geneticists currently working in the field. … this is an important contribution to behavior genetics reference literature and is certainly useful for behavior geneticists wanting a readily accessible survey of any topic it covers. Among the striking features of this handbook are the quality of the historical introductions and the high level of scholarship in the chapters. We expect this handbook will be widely used.” (John K. Hewitt, Marty Hahn and Christina Hewitt, Behavior Genetics, Vol. 40, May, 2010)
“The handbook of behavior genetics (HBG) includes a diverse and fairly comprehensive compilation of chapters on topics ranging from human behavioral laterality to animal models of aggression. … HBG an excellent companion text for undergraduate and graduate courses on behavior genetics, recommended reading for scientists seeking an introduction to the research area and a fine reference for the seasoned behavior genetics investigator. … Overall, HBG is good reading for the novice and the aficionado … .” (Arpana Agrawal, Frontiers in Behavioral and Psychiatric Genetics, April, 2012)

Report

From the reviews:
"To write the 34 chapters, Dr. Kim is to be congratulated on assembling a team of the leading behavior geneticists currently working in the field. ... this is an important contribution to behavior genetics reference literature and is certainly useful for behavior geneticists wanting a readily accessible survey of any topic it covers. Among the striking features of this handbook are the quality of the historical introductions and the high level of scholarship in the chapters. We expect this handbook will be widely used." (John K. Hewitt, Marty Hahn and Christina Hewitt, Behavior Genetics, Vol. 40, May, 2010)
"The handbook of behavior genetics (HBG) includes a diverse and fairly comprehensive compilation of chapters on topics ranging from human behavioral laterality to animal models of aggression. ... HBG an excellent companion text for undergraduate and graduate courses on behavior genetics, recommended reading for scientists seeking an introduction to the research area and a fine reference for the seasoned behavior genetics investigator. ... Overall, HBG is good reading for the novice and the aficionado ... ." (Arpana Agrawal, Frontiers in Behavioral and Psychiatric Genetics, April, 2012)

Product details

• Assisted by: Yong-Ky Kim (Editor), Yong-Kyu Kim (Editor)
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 29.04.2009
• EAN: 9780387767260
• ISBN: 978-0-387-76726-0
• No. of pages: 564
• Dimensions: 216 mm x 287 mm x 38 mm
• Weight: 1681 g
• Illustrations: XXIV, 564 p. 97 illus.
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Psychology > Applied psychology; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Medicine > Clinical medicine; Psychiatrie, B, Biopsychologie, Physiologische Psychologie, Neuropsychologie, Neurology, genetics, Psychiatry, Physiological & neuro-psychology, biopsychology, Physiological and neuro-psychology, biopsychology, Hyperactivity, Human Genetics, Biomedical and Life Sciences, Medical Genetics, Biological Psychology, genes and complex behavior disorders, psychiatr