Biology and Human Behavior: The Neurological Origins of Individuality by Robert M. Sapolsky

Biology and Human Behavior: The Neurological Origins of Individuality Reviews

• 
  Morgan Blackledge

  Sopolsky is the Jimmi Hendrix of lecturers. He's likable, humane, funny, and just plain brilliant. His writing is good, but his real talent is clearly teaching. I bow down to his godlike talent because I'm not worthy of his greatness. All hail the hairy, hippy platinum tongued endocrinologist.
• 
  Irena Pasvinter

  Informative, thought-provoking and entertaining. Robert Sapolsky is such an outstanding lecturer that even if he were discussing a laundry list, it would still be a sheer pleasure to listen to.
• 
  Bob Nichols

  This is a set of lectures on the neurological basis for behavior. Sapolsky walks his audience through the operation of the nerve cell, the synaptic relationship between cells, the networks of cells that provide various functions, and the transformation of cells through learning.
  
  Sapolsky states that there are numerous places within the operation of the brain that account for our individuality and what makes us, "us." Neurotransmitters and receptors, sex hormones, limbic systems, memory networks, and the autonomic nervous system all vary in operation. Drugs help to illustrate the biochemical basis for how we operate. Some drugs fake out receptors; others block their operation. Some drugs amplify signals sent out and received and other drugs tranquilize them. Some drugs destroy the chemical vesicles that convey messages between cells. Sapolsky also notes the various pscychological disorders such as obsessive-compulsive (anxiety), depression (bi-polar and unipolar) and temporal lobe disorder (??) that all have a strong biochemical basis.
  
  Sapolsky's lectures are informative and well-presented. There are three take home points. First, there's a strong material/chemical basis for who we are and our individuality. Sapolsky emphasizes the more obvious chemical basis for behavior and psychological disorders. While this could suggest variation from a norm of behavior where all are the same, Sapolsky's theme supports the notion that the norm (well-adjusted) is statistical, and that we all vary from each other to some degree in our essential biochemical makeup. This point is counter to Buddhist claims that there is no self. It is also counter to the point that character is formed only by experience and is not inborn.
  
  Second, Sapolsky is clear that the communication between body and mind is a two way process. The body influences thought and the mind directs the body. This point avoids the dichotomous mind versus body debate. If our body's job is to survive and do well, the mind's job is to help the body. The mind picks up stimuli from the environment and modifies the body's reaction as a result. Through meditation and habit, Sapolski argues, the mind can even influence the ANS (autonomic nervous system).
  
  Third, Sapolsky avoids another dichotomous argument, determination versus free will, by his commentary on learning. While there's a lot of "mechanistic stuff going on" that is the basis for our individuality, he argues that we also fundamentally modify ourselves based on our interaction with the environment. Here too, "learning" has a biochemical basis. We do not, as commonly thought, create new synapses (although, interestingly, he says with abstract thought we do grow more dentrites and this capacity continues well into old age). Rather, when we learn, we strengthen our neural pathways when something is interesting or highly relevant (but, notably, Sapolsky says that if the outside event is too traumatic, the body chemicals will prevent memory formation). Our capacity to modify behavior via free will is built into our evolutionary design and if survival and well-being is our determined, fixed End, learning offers us flexible ways (choice) to achieve that End.
  
  This is an excellent set of lectures.
  
  
• 
  Mark

  One of my new focus areas has been brain science, and this was yet another excellent way to advance my understanding.
  
  Robert Sapolsky is a brilliant cognitive scientist at Stanford who has done important work on primates and aggression. In this series of audio lectures, which takes up about 12 hours (I listened to them exclusively during car commutes), he covers everything from the basics of how neurons work to how the brain develops, what evolution has to teach us about the way our brains function, and perhaps his biggest theme of all: that there is almost no way to separate the influences of genes and the environment (nature and nurture) for most mental conditions or functions.
  
  Particularly fascinating were his lectures on epigenetics -- or how environmental conditions in the womb can influence genes in such a way that certain traits, like a propensity to be hypersensitive to stress -- can be passed on from generation to generation.
  
  And of course, his long-term work on a baboon tribe and his research into aggression made that part of the series, which comes near the end, particularly strong.
  
  In a philosophical postscript, he addresses the fear that some people have that science is simply turning us into a mechanistic bundle of cells and chemicals and physical processes, and somehow is obliterating the essential "us" that is inside. But he looks at it another way: The more we see how everyone is shaped by these biological forces, the more open and tolerant we can become. Studies have shown that many of us have an unconscious fear reaction to faces of people from another race -- until we are given information that allows us to know something about them. When that happens, the ancient evolutionary fear pattern diminishes. It's the lesson I think Sapolsky was trying to get across in this fascinating series.
• 
  Kayson Fakhar

  Since it was an audio book, I can't say if you'll really going to have fun reading it or not but Robert Sapolsky has interesting ways to describe things so listeners will learn stuff and enjoy it.
• 
  Eman Khalid

  I LOVED this course and Robert Sapolsky SO MUCH!
• 
  Scott

  This was an audiobook lecture series of around 12 hours.
  
  The study of biology, anatomy, genetics, and behavior is by no means new to me, in fact, most of this was review, but Sapolsky expresses it with a fascinating twist, often adding newly understood jewels that subtly change the entire spectrum. Rather than point mutations constantly causing tiny genetic shifts, entire gene activating sequences may be mismatched with other genes, turning them on and off again depending on environmental factors, creating wildly new behaviors to be tested in the wild. He stresses how much environmental impact has on genetic predispositions, which is why studies of twins are so valuable, but also shows data that the months before birth can be some of the most formative environmental factors, giving new insight into some of the "twins separated at birth" behavioral studies. Environmental factors become not just additive with genetic factors (like 2+3=5) but exponential in many cases (2+3=15 for example, perhaps a bad example but hard to explain in a single sentence). He talks about ethology, the study of behavior within its natural environment as opposed to in "the lab" setting.
  
  A particular fascinating contradiction of genetic dogma was how environmental changes in genes can be passed on. For instance, how the environment of the mom on the growing fetus can actually change genetic expression in her child, which then become passed onto the grandchildren.
  
  He also makes an effort to disregard the notion that a gene dictates a behavior. It's simply never so simple.
  
  A lot of the latter half focused on the biology that drives aggression, which is why I chose this in the first place. From the frontal cortex holding you back, to the amygdala letting you loose, it becomes a very interesting discussion. He shows studies where aggression is not activated or created by varying levels of testosterone (within the normal range as opposed to 'roid rage) but it is increased in intensity by aggression. He describes it as testosterone will turn up the volume on a given song, but won't start the song in the first place. While this is the most fascinating part of the lectures, I felt he made slight assumptions or leaps between examples that may have been guided by personal preferences more than pure science. Regardless, he is a wonderful teacher and I found these lectures edge-of-my-seat fascinating to listen to and will most likely listen to them again.
• 
  Charlene

  In my opinion, no one does a better job of explaining neuroscience with such passion and thoroughness. Sapolsky doesn't shy away from providing the nitty gritty, but you cannot help but be completely engrossed and entertained as you learn complex neuroscience.
• 
  Yaaresse

  "In the end, basically, the purpose of science is not to cure us of our sense of mystery and wonder, but to constantly reinvent it and reinvigorate it."
  
  Excellent course, but Dr. Sapolsky's books and courses are always excellent and fascinating. I envy his students. He sets a very brisk pace, but frequently refers back to previous material as he builds on it. This entire series was interesting and enjoyable, and I especially appreciate how he concluded on a positive note. (I also think he's far more optimistic about society than we deserve, but that's OK.)
  
  This particular Great Course is an older one, so a little dated in the specifics and research described, but the general points imparted -- and, more importantly, the questions Dr. Sapolsky asks and processes he outlines -- are solid. I sort of miss these old format GCs where the lecturer has an actual audience in front of him/her. They may be low on snazzy graphics and polish sometimes, but the presenter's often looked and sounded more natural and animated.
  
  It was by accident I listened to this GC immediately after Jason Bivens' GC "Thinking about Religion and Violence," but the two compliment each other in an unexpected way as Dr. Bivens discusses the "othering" we use to justify violence in religion and culture while Dr. Sapolsky in this GC describes what's going on in the brain and limbic system during this "othering" response.
• 
  Amber Sema

  I could listen to Dr. Sapolsky lecture for hours. It’s clear to me why he’s one of the leaders in his field. Over 20+ lectures, he teaches you how to think critically like a scientist. He takes you from an introduction to the biology of behavior to the ability to understand the nuanced biological and environmental factors that play a role in aggression. Basically, aggression is not as simple and straightforward as many make it seem. He introduces you to neurons, parts of the brain like the limbic system, hormones, the evolution of behavior, genetics, game theory, and ethology, and then uses information from those topics to explain how to understand aggression.
• 
  Sina Jafarzadeh

  Informative and engaging at the same time. I listened to this book in large binges and could grasp it without getting tired or bored. Sometimes it felt like the author drew big generalizations out of what scientific findings suggested and therefore felt a little bit like pop science-y--especially near the end of the book when he discussed behaviours-- but the overall teaching followed the scientific findings and possible explanations and I very much enjoyed it.
• 
  Teo 2050

  2018.02.04–2018.02.06
  
  Contents
  
  Sapolsky RM (2005) (12:00) Biology and Human Behavior - The Neurological Origins of Individuality, 2nd Edition
  
  01. Biology and Behavior—An Introduction
  02. The Basic Cells of the Nervous System
  03. How Two Neurons Communicate
  04. Learning and Synaptic Plasticity
  05. The Dynamics of Interacting Neurons
  06. The Limbic System
  07. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
  08. The Regulation of Hormones by the Brain
  09. The Regulation of the Brain by Hormones
  10. The Evolution of Behavior
  11. The Evolution of Behavior—Some Examples
  12. Cooperation, Competition, and Neuroeconomics
  13. What Do Genes Do? Microevolution of Genes
  14. What Do Genes Do? Macroevolution of Genes
  15. Behavior Genetics
  16. Behavior Genetics and Prenatal Environment
  17. An Introduction to Ethology
  18. Neuroethology
  19. The Neurobiology of Aggression I
  20. The Neurobiology of Aggression II
  21. Hormones and Aggression
  22. Early Experience and Aggression
  23. Evolution, Aggression, and Cooperation
  24. A Summary
• 
  Emma

  Sapolsky is the most amazing lecturer I've ever listened to, and his lectures are mandatory for those who want to be informed, and not just opiniated.
  
  "Fixing a clock and fixing a cloud is not the same." :)
• 
  Kharisma Citra

  Such a great great book (and courses). Well done Mr.Sapolsky!
  The only writer's agenda I can identify is that he's just trying to contribute to making a better world for the human species. He clearly wrote in the summary "What happens when this science stops being about the biology of “them and their diseases” and becomes the biology of “us and our individuality”?" Also, he encouraged everybody to study this subject because all of us, de facto, are behavioral biologists.
  
  Sapolsky is one of a kind because he studies science without forgetting the aesthetical aspect of human distinctive, by saying that "such scientific explanations and progress should not be feared.
  To explain something is not to destroy the capacity to be moved by it."
  
  Not to mention that I am a huge fan of his writing skill. He made me understand what neuroscientists do without literally majoring in that field of study. I will undoubtedly be reading some of his other stuff soon.
  
• 
  Hebz

  Picked this book up as an offering on audible plus catalogue (it’s rotating out of the catalogue in Feb). It is an audible format of one of the courses from the great courses plus or now Wondrium.
  I listened to another Wondrium course on audible and it was fine, unfortunately this one did not lend itself to this format, as the lecturer was explaining a lot of things visually that obviously cannot be shown on the app.
  As a Wondrium course I would highly recommend this book, but as an audible I do not recommend it at all.
  It was still a good collection of lectures, and I probably got 20% from it and the rest went over my head, but that’s more than I knew before the book.
• 
  Thomas Beard

  I'll start with this: Sapolsky is the best lecturer I've heard from this company. The presentations are fantastic, mixed with wonder, pathos, and a dry wit that continually surprised me.
  
  As for the content, people have this annoying habit of thinking of other people simplistically. Wisdom and maturity lie in imagining people complexly, and this series and its content are essential to do that. Neuroscience, genetics, zoology, anthropology: it's all brought together here. I cannot recommend this highly enough.
• 
  Clarke Bolt

  Very informative and refreshing to hear from a popular/intelligent/influential scientist/neuroscientist who recognizes its limits. Need to go through it again.
  
  "Life is not only stranger than we imagine, life is stranger than we can imagine. That's why there is no fear of science inadvertently explaining everything. It will never be able to do that. It will just generate more things to be interested in. In the end, basically the purpose of science is not to cure us of our sense of mystery and wonder, but to constantly reinvent it and reinvigorate it."
• 
  DR

  Sapolsky is an unbelievable teacher, and this brought so many neuroscience ideas that I have puzzled about to resolution, from the way memory works, the function of different parts of the brain, what aggression looks like, to nature vs. nurture when it comes to genetics and behavior (spoiler it's almost always both). Honestly feels like a basic user manual for the human mind anyone would benefit from. Going to reading a lot more from this guy.
• 
  Yael

  As always Sapolsky, one of the greatest scientists of our time, presented a mind stimulating and dogma breaking series of lectures that no matter how many times Iv'e heard them, it rekindles my inspiration and drive as a scientist. Of course because he's a master lecturer, anyone can understand the complex issues with his simple, funny explanations. If you see Robert M. Sapolsky on the cover, you must read it!!
• 
  Mateusz Stępniak

  Sheer random luck of biology is more than you think. How easily we clould have been them - under the same circumstances and environmental influences? How emotions and hormones shape our behaviour?
  
  Prof Roberk M. Sapolsky tries to explain complexities of human biology providing us up to date, reliable and vivid source of knowledge. This the way how you teach biology.
  
  
• 
  David

  Whether it's a book or lecture series, Robert Sapolsky's material is always fascinating and never even slightly boring! This is a great look at a great variety of human behavior, disorders, elements of genius and more. He busts some myths, and frequently looks how few aspects of how we behave are solely due to genetics or environment, but almost always some recipe that combines the two.
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  Tato

  I had read Sapolsky's Behave, so many of the concepts he touches on here are outlined in Behave (I think these lectures were precursors to Behave though). I love how Sapolsky makes science so accessible and understandable for his non-scientific audience. Every chapter is a new revelation and it so much fun to learn from him.
• 
  WhatIsItLike.to

  Best one on the topic yet. Listened with 1.75x speed during walks, comprehension drifted after the first 10 or so lectures, but may be worth a relisten. The first few were the best and most interesting about neurons, synapses, neurotransmitters, hormones, LTP, SNS/PNS. But when it came to origins of aggression I didn't care much it was too specific at that point.