Translation of Neuro-Ethologie.

Includes index.

Bibliography: p. [311]-326.

1 What is Neuroethology?.- 1.1 Principal Scope.- 1.2 History.- 1.3 Problems.- 2 How Does a Stimulus Elicit Muscle Contraction?.- 2.1 Neural Building Blocks.- 2.2 A Behavioral Experiment.- 2.3 The "Language" of the Nervous System.- 2.4 Communication in the Nervous System.- 2.5 The Three Fundamental Arithmetic Methods.- 2.6 Complexity.- 2.7 Nerve Impulses Induce Muscle Contractions.- 3 Key-Stimuli and Releasing Mechanisms: Some Fundamental Concepts in Ethology.- 3.1 Environmental Stimuli and Information Reduction.- 3.2 Innate and Acquired Releasing Mechanisms.- 3.3 Releasing Stimuli.- 3.4 Principles of Stimulus Selection.- 3.5 Motivation and Change of Meaning.- 4 Neurobiological Basis for the Recognition and Localization of Environmental Signals: How Does a Toad Brain Recognize Prey and Enemy?.- 4.1 The Key-Stimuli "Prey" and "Enemy".- 4.2 Prey-Catching and Avoidance "Areas" in the Toad Brain.- 4.3 Are There "Prey" and "Enemy Neurons" in the Toad Brain?.- 4.4 A Working Hypothesis on Neuronal Decision-Making.- 4.5 Relevance of the Supposed Gestalt Recognition System.- 5 Functional Areas in the Visual System of Vertebrates: Comparative Aspects.- 5.1 Substrates for Stimulus Localization.- 5.2 Space Constancy and Optokinetic Nystagmus.- 5.3 Brain Structures for Stimulus Identification.- 5.4 Formation and Deterioration of the Visual System: Environmental Effects.- 6 Examples for Release and Control of Behavior Patterns by Other Sensory Systems.- 6.1 Olfactory Sense: Scent Coding in Insects.- 6.2 Vibration Sense: Prey-Catching of the Back Swimmer.- 6.3 Acoustic Communication in Crickets and Frogs.- 6.4 Active Exploration of the Environment: Echo-and Electrolocation.- 6.5 Attenuation of Self-Stimulation.- 7 Neuronal Circuits for Fixed Motor Behavior Programs.- 7.1 Example of a Neuronal Program Circuitry.- 7.2 Command Neurons.- 7.3 Command Functions in the Primate Brain.- 8 Central Representation of Behavior Motivation.- 8.1 Food Intake: Hunger and Thirst.- 8.2 Sexual Behavior.- 8.3 Aggression: Attack and Defense.- 8.4 Learning: Storing, Recalling, Reinforcing.- 8.5 Social Stress.- 9 Methodological Append.- 9.1 Prerequisites for Behavior Analysis.- 9.2 Investigation of Behaviorally Relevant Brain Areas.- 9.3 Methods for Recording and Measuring Neuronal Activity.- 9.4 Investigation of Anatomical Connections in the Brain.- 9.5 Statistical and Systems Theoretical Analysis.- Special References.- Suggested Reading.