Visceral Sensory Neuroscience: Interoception / Edition 1

by Oliver G. Cameron

Overview

It has been known for over a century that there is an afferent(body-to-brain), as well as an efferent(brain-to-body), component to the visceral-atonomic nervous system. Despite the fundamental importance of bodily afferent information- sometimes called interoception- to central nervous system control of visceral organ function, emotional-motivational processes, and dysfunction of these processes, including psychosomatic disorders, its role did not receive much attention until quite recently. This is the first comprehensive review of this topic and it covers both neurobiological and psychobiological aspects. The author first defines the issue and gives an historical background starting with the James-Lange theory of emotion, and addresses learning and motivation, roots in Pavlovian conditioning research, and operant conditioning of visceral function. In the second section he reviews recent scientific findings in the neural basis of visceral perception and studies in cardiovascular-respiratory and alimentary interoception. Finally, he discusses several related areas of research and theory including drug state issues, interoception and psychiatric disorders, and bodily consciousness, and suggests directions for future investigation.
The book will be of interest to scientists in neurobiology, psychology, and brain imaging, to indivuals in related clinical fields such as psychiatry, neurology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and clinical psychology, and to their students and trainees.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195136012
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/29/2001
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	276
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Cameron, Oliver G., MD, PhD

Table of Contents

Part I Definitions, History, and Background1. Definitions2. The James-Lange Theory of Emotion3. Conditioning and Learning, Attention and Arousal4. Motivation and Emotion5. Roots in Russian and Eastern European Studies6. Operant Conditioning of Visceral Function(Biofeedback)Part II The Essential Science7. The Neural Basis of Visceral Perception8. The Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems9. The Alimentary TractPart III Related Topics and Summary10. Pain, Proprioception, Phantom Limb, and Body Image11. State-dependent Learning and Drug Discrimination12. Psychiatric Disorders: Anxiety, Panic, Depression, and Somatization13. Neurophilosophy: Consciousness and Bodily Awareness14. Summary: Past and Future

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Michael Schrift, DO (University of Washington School of Medicine)
Description: This interesting and unique book covers the effects that afferent sensory impulses arising from one's internal milieu have on higher nervous system processes and the behavior of the organism. Written and edited by a researcher/academician, this book is a valuable contribution to psychiatry and will become a widely referenced book in the field.
Purpose: The purpose, according to the author, is to emphasize the importance of interoception in the study of brain function, especially in the study of emotion and consciousness, and to fill a gap due to a dearth of up-to-date reviews of this topic. The author has succeeded in his goal.
Audience: The intended audience, according to the author, is professionals including researchers and clinicians in fields related to psychobiology as well as in internal medicine.
Features: The book's 14 chapters are divided into three parts. Part 1 reviews definitions and historical background of the study of interoception including the James-Lange theory, Pavlovian and operant conditioning. Part 2 covers the neural basis of visceral perception, the cardiovascular and respiratory system, and the alimentary tract. Part 3 has extremely interesting chapters on such topics as neurophilosophy, state-dependent learning, and disorders of body image as well as pain. There is an up-to-date reference section and useful name and subject indexes at the end of the book.
Assessment: This is a valuable and outstanding new book on interoceptive neuroscience. The book would be of interest to clinicians and researchers of psychopathology and psychosomatic medicine.

Doody's Review Service

3 Stars from Doody