Neuroscience of Maladaptation

In this book, readers will learn about the neuromechanisms that give rise to maladaptive behaviors, that is, actions that are counterproductive, even to the point that they can be detrimental to ourselves and/or to others. The first two chapters of this book define maladaptation and provide an overview of key neuroscience concepts. The rest of the book details maladaptive cognitive-affective and behavioral processes. Specifically, individuals will learn about perceptual disturbances, attentional deficits, memory impairments, maladaptive decision making, movement-related disorders, compulsive behavior, and disturbances related to biological functions (e.g., eating, sleep, and reproduction). Not to be overly pessimistic, the final chapter highlights how we have been able to use neuroscience techniques to treat conditions characterized by maladaptation.