Psychophysiology: The Mind-Body Perspective

By Kenneth Hugdahl

Book Overview

In our high-speed culture, terms like stressed-out, Type-A personality, biofeedback, and relaxation response have become commonplaces. More than ever before, we are aware of the relationship between our mental and emotional states and our physical well-being. Findings from the field of psychophysiology, which investigates the reflexive interaction between psychology and physiology, have revised our approach to illness and its prevention and treatment. We know, for example, that stress, combined with other factors, increases vulnerability to heart attack and stroke. Successful treatment must include lifestyle changes to reduce the effects of stress on the body.

In this important text, Kenneth Hugdahl presents a comprehensive introduction to the history, methods, and applications of psychophysiology and explores other areas concerned with the mind-body interface, such as psychosomatic medicine, behavioral medicine, clinical psychology, psychiatry, neuropsychology, and cognitive neuroscience. By showing how social, behavioral, cognitive, and emotional events are mirrored in physiological processes, he gives us a clearer understanding of complex cognitive processes.

This book illustrates psychophysiology's importance as a research and clinical tool and highlights its many contributions to the assessment and diagnosis of physical disorders. It also provides a framework for extending psychophysiological insights to other areas of psychology and neuroscience.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0674005619
• ISBN13: 9780674005617
• Release Date: March 2001
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Psychophysiology: The mind-body Perspective

This is a very readable book that give an excellent introduction to the systems of the body and how they interact with psychology. It is ideal for undergraduates, a graduate course with multi-disaplinary students, and those who want to extend their knowledge into this area (perhaps from psychology or physiology). However, if you are already familiar with many psychophysiological interactions, this book will probably not have the depth you require.