Neurobiology of exceptionality

Over the last decade there has been considerable progress in our understanding of the neurobiological basis of many psychologically related phenomena. Significant research endeavors have been mounting in both basic cellular and animal neuroscience. In terms of human behavioural research in neuroscience new and exciting research is now emerging in understanding the causes of the more common psychiatric traits. Certainly drug research in psychiatric disorders has grown exponentially over the last few years. In terms of psychiatry, more often than not, much of this research has focused on the most prevalent psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression. As a researcher involved in understanding the neurobiological basis of both psychological and psychiatric traits I am often asked to provide sources of information and references for integrated reviews and expert opinions that focus on the neurobiology of what I might call less frequently studied but important psychological traits and psychiatric disorders. Such traits are often but not exclusively related to childhood behaviours and disorders and invariably involve an understanding of important psychological processes. Unfortunately there is much less research on the neurobiology of constructs such intelligence, personality and creativity and disorders such as ADHD, autism, mental retardation and antisociality. Moreover the research in this field is not easily accessed. Although there are active research groups studying these phenomena, there is not the same sort of resources allocated for research into the large adult disorders such as depression and schizophrenia as understanding human intelligence. This is a shame in many ways, because clearly there is a need for research on the biological basis of important traits such as intelligence and creativity and childhood disorders such as autism. One of the main aims of this book is to provide some coverage of the neurobiology of lesser researched and profiled psychological and psychiatric traits