Material Type
Textbook
Description
Understanding Biological Behavior, 2nd Edition, compiled by Emily Marler in collaboration with UMSL Libraries, is a Open Educational Resource (OER) that offers free access to an engaging exploration of where biology and psychology intersect. As an openly licensed textbook, it removes financial barriers to quality education while helping students understand how our biological systems directly influence our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
The web version of this text can be found at https://umsystem.pressbooks.pub/ubb2e/
This resource systematically progresses through twelve carefully structured units that build upon each other to create a complete understanding of biological psychology. Beginning with fundamental concepts of nerve cells and neural communication, students journey through the complexities of the nervous system, brain development, and neuroplasticity. The text then explores sensory systems and perception, examining how we process visual information and other sensory inputs, while also addressing attention mechanisms that filter our experiences.
Movement and consciousness are thoroughly examined, followed by detailed discussions of reproductive behaviors and the biological basis of emotions. The textbook dedicates significant attention to learning and memory processes, revealing how our brains encode, store, and retrieve information. Finally, it addresses psychological disorders from a biological perspective, helping students understand mental health through the lens of neuroscience.
Key features of this OER include coverage of neuroanatomy and brain function, sensory systems, exploration of consciousness and cognitive processes, investigation of emotional and behavioral biology, and evidence-based discussions of psychological disorders. Each unit integrates knowledge from neuroscience, psychology, and related disciplines, making complex concepts accessible to students at various levels while maintaining the academic rigor expected in higher education.
As an Open Educational Resource, instructors can freely adapt, modify, and customize the content to meet their specific course needs, making it an invaluable tool for educators seeking flexible, high-quality materials. This is the second edition of this work, and the first edition is available on noba at http://noba.to/sqrgad5e.
Media Format
eBook
Accessibility
Textual
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Sponsoring Institution / Retrieved from Organization
University of Missouri-St. Louis
OER Category
UMSL OER Adapted
Publication Date
Fall 8-7-2025
This OER at UMSL
Used by Prof. Emily Marler
Recommended Citation
Marler, Emily, "Understanding Biological Behavior 2nd Edition" (2025). Open Educational Resources Collection. 37.
Available at:
https://irl.umsl.edu/oer/37