Neurocognitive Foundations of Behavior

3.0 credits

In this course, we will explore the final frontier of the human body: the brain. From mere pulses of electrical activity and chemical transmissions comes an unfathomably complex system producing a vast array of cognitive processes and behaviors ranging from the conspicuously simple (reflexes) to the profoundly complex (language). All this from a 1.3 kilogram mass of tissue. Our goal this semester is to explore this complexity towards understanding how the brain gives rise to cognition and behavior in the case of normal functioning and impairment. Along the way, we will cover historical and philosophical issues in the study of the mind, brain, and behavior, the organization and structure of the nervous system from the cell up, how the nervous system gives rise to cognition and behavior and how it goes awry in the case of disease and disorder, and the ethical, legal, and societal impact of neuroscience. Though the goal of the course is to provide a foundation in basic neurobiological and cognitive concepts, particular attention will be given to related topics in clinical science.