Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life

Instructor: Peggy Mason

Duration: 28

This course provides an overview of the neurobiology of everyday life, exploring how the nervous system produces behavior and how neuroscience can explain common issues. Students will gain an understanding of functional human neuroanatomy and neuronal communication, and how these concepts relate to our perception of the world, voluntary movement, survival, and social interaction. ▼▲

Course Feature Course Overview Pros & Cons Course Provider Discussion and Reviews

Go to class

Course Feature

Cost:

Free

Provider:

Coursera

Certificate:

Paid Certification

Language:

English

Start Date:

31st Jul, 2023

Course Overview

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Updated in [March 06th, 2023]

This course, Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life, provides an introduction to the field of neuroscience and its relevance to everyday life. Students will gain an understanding of the structure and function of the nervous system, and how it produces behavior. They will learn how the brain works to enable us to perceive the outside world, move our bodies voluntarily, stay alive, and interact with others.

The course will begin with an overview of the structure and function of the nervous system, including the anatomy of the brain and the physiology of neuronal communication. Students will then explore how the nervous system enables us to perceive the outside world, move our bodies voluntarily, and interact with others. We will also discuss how neuroscience can explain common problems afflicting people today, such as addiction, depression, and anxiety.

Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to think critically about the implications of neuroscience for everyday life. We will discuss the ethical implications of neuroscience research, and how it can be used to improve our lives. We will also explore the potential of neuroscience to inform public policy and health care decisions.

By the end of the course, students will have a better understanding of the structure and function of the nervous system, and how it produces behavior. They will be able to explain how neuroscience can explain common problems afflicting people today, and how it can be used to improve our lives. They will also have a better appreciation of the ethical implications of neuroscience research, and how it can inform public policy and health care decisions.

[Applications]
After completing this course, students can apply their newfound knowledge of the brain and neurobiology to everyday life. They can use their understanding of the nervous system to better understand how their own behavior is affected by their environment, and how to better manage their own emotions and reactions. Additionally, they can use their knowledge to better understand the behavior of others, and how to better interact with them. Finally, they can use their knowledge to better understand the neurological basis of common problems such as depression, anxiety, and addiction, and how to better manage them.

[Career Paths]
1. Neuropsychologist: Neuropsychologists specialize in the study of the brain and behavior, and use their knowledge to diagnose and treat mental health issues. They often work with patients to assess cognitive functioning, develop treatment plans, and provide psychotherapy. As the understanding of the brain and its functions continues to grow, the demand for neuropsychologists is expected to increase.

2. Neuroscientist: Neuroscientists study the structure and function of the nervous system, and use their knowledge to develop treatments for neurological disorders. They often conduct research in laboratories, analyze data, and develop new theories about the brain. With the increasing prevalence of neurological disorders, the demand for neuroscientists is expected to grow.

3. Neurologist: Neurologists specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases of the nervous system. They often work with patients to diagnose and treat conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s disease. As the population ages and the prevalence of neurological disorders increases, the demand for neurologists is expected to grow.

4. Neurosurgeon: Neurosurgeons specialize in performing surgery on the brain and nervous system. They often work with patients to diagnose and treat conditions such as brain tumors, spinal cord injuries, and stroke. With the increasing prevalence of neurological disorders, the demand for neurosurgeons is expected to grow.

[Education Paths]
1. Neuroscience: Neuroscience is a field of study that focuses on the structure and function of the nervous system. It is a rapidly growing field that is becoming increasingly important in understanding the brain and its role in behavior. Neuroscience degree programs typically include courses in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and psychology. Students can also expect to learn about the development of the nervous system, the effects of drugs and other substances on the brain, and the role of the nervous system in diseases and disorders.

2. Cognitive Science: Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary field that studies the mental processes involved in learning, problem solving, and decision making. Cognitive science degree programs typically include courses in psychology, computer science, linguistics, philosophy, and neuroscience. Students can expect to learn about the structure and function of the brain, the development of cognitive abilities, and the application of cognitive science to real-world problems.

3. Neuropsychology: Neuropsychology is a field of study that focuses on the relationship between the brain and behavior. Neuropsychology degree programs typically include courses in psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive science. Students can expect to learn about the structure and function of the brain, the effects of brain injury and disease on behavior, and the application of neuropsychology to clinical practice.

4. Neuroengineering: Neuroengineering is a field of study that focuses on the development of technologies to study and manipulate the nervous system. Neuroengineering degree programs typically include courses in engineering, neuroscience, and computer science. Students can expect to learn about the design and development of neural prostheses, the use of robotics and artificial intelligence in neuroscience, and the application of neuroengineering to medical and industrial applications.

Course Syllabus

The Nervous System

Neurobiology is a rapidly growing area of scientific research, and is becoming increasingly prevalent in the news and popular culture. In this course, we will study of the nervous system from a biological perspective by exploring the fundamental concepts in neurobiology, including how we sense the world, how we act in the world, and common neurological disorders.

Neural Communication + Embodied Emotion

Neurons are the cells of the nervous system responsible for communicating, relaying, and integrating information. Neurons "talk" to other neurons through a special type of language that involves electrical signaling within individual neurons, and the use of chemical compounds known as neurotransmitters to communicate between neurons. In this module, you will learn more about how a neuron functions at rest, how information is relayed within a neuron, and how neurons relay information to other neurons or target tissues.

Neuroanatomy

In the second half of this module, you will be learning about how the body and emotions work together to produce our everyday emotional experiences. We will look at the enteric nervous system and learn how to discern whether the sympathetic or parasympathetic system is impacting our current emotional state.

Perception and Vision

Neuroanatomy tells us how the nervous system is organized. Understanding the form of the brain is essential to understanding its function. By comparing the structure of the brain with a patient's symptoms, neurologists are able to identify the location of certain disorders. Studying how the human brain develops provides insight to why it is organized as it is. This module, you will learn about how the brain develops during gestation, some major pathways in the nervous system, and what can go wrong!

Hearing

Perception is how the brain interprets incoming stimuli. Not all stimuli that can be sensed are perceivable, and sometimes those that can be perceived play tricks on us. The systematic ways that stimuli are interpreted (or misinterpreted) show how well the brain can understand our surroundings, sometimes with limited information. This module we will explore perception and vision.This module contains a lot of material, so be sure to start early so that you have time to finish!

The Vestibular Sense & Gaze

The sound of birds chirping in the morning, a babbling brook or crashing waves on the beach, or warm conversation with the ones you love. The experience of all these things requires the ability to hear. Arguably the most important sense for human communication, it is also the most commonly impaired of our senses. In this module, you will learn how the human ear is artfully designed to enhance our ability to hear the human voice. You will follow sound waves as they travel from the external world, to the eardrum, through the bones of the middle ear, and to the cochlea that transduces sound information into neural impulses.

Voluntary Movements

The vestibular system and gaze control give us so much but are grossly under appreciated. They are so fundamental that we discount them, assuming that they will always be there. When the vestibular system fails us, its importance dominates our lives. Living with either a vestibular or an eye movement disorder is very disruptive to everyday life. In this module, you will learn how the inner ear is designed to detect and respond to head movements. You will learn about the circuit that connects the inner ear to the motoneurons that control the location of your eyes, allowing us to reflexively maintain our view of an object even as we move about in the world. Finally, we will talk about how you can modify this reflexive control of the eyes and how you can control where you are looking.

Motor Modulation

"Voluntary movements are how we interact with the world. The organization of the motor system has implications for how we move, and the types of movements we can make. This module we'll start to explore the organization of the motor system, from neurons to muscles.

Homeostasis

Abstract Function

This module contains a lot of material, so be sure to start early so that you have time to finish!"

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons

Teaching style keeps one focused and interested.
Provides empathy towards those suffering from debilitating disorders.
Passionate teaching draws one into the fascinating world of neurobiology.
Well organized with clear focus in each week.
Valuable examples and supplemental resources.
Provides explanations about body structure and management.

Material is very challenging.
Questions for assessment not generally over material emphasized in lectures.
Slightly challenging assessment.
Weeks on vestibular sense &
gaze and motor modulation are more challenging.

Course Provider

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