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Understanding the Brain

The Neurobiology of Everyday Life

Peggy Mason

Learn how the nervous system produces behavior, how we use our brain every day, and how neuroscience can explain the common problems afflicting people today. We will study functional human neuroanatomy and neuronal communication, and then use this information to understand how we perceive the outside world, move our bodies voluntarily, stay alive, and play well with others.

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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.

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Introduces beginners the fundamental principles of neuroscience, including neurobiology, neural communication, and neuroanatomy

Covers vital topics such as perception, hearing, and voluntary movements, providing a well-rounded understanding of neuroscience

Uses the comparison of the structure of the brain with a patient's symptoms to identify the location of certain disorders

Provides insights into the functioning of the nervous system, including homeostasis and abstract functions

Develops an understanding of how the nervous system produces behavior, making it applicable in real-world scenarios

Taught by Peggy Mason, an experienced instructor in the field

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Reviews summary

Neurobiology basics for everyday life

Learners say this course provides a strong foundation in neurobiology, making complex topics accessible and engaging. Many highlight the excellent instructor, Dr. Tracy, praising her clear explanations and passion. Students particularly appreciated the course's focus on connecting neurobiology concepts to everyday life, finding this approach highly relevant. While the initial modules covering fundamentals like neural communication and neuroanatomy are widely seen as well-structured and detailed, some learners noted that later sections on more abstract functions or motor control felt less in-depth or somewhat rushed, potentially making it better suited for beginners rather than those seeking advanced study. Overall, it is considered a largely positive and informative introduction to the brain's functions.

Ideal starting point for those new to neurobiology.

"It's good for beginners, but if you have some background in biology or psychology, you might find parts too basic."

"Good as a starting point, but not comprehensive."

"Provides a solid introduction."

"Highly recommend for anyone wanting to understand the basics of neurobiology and how it applies to daily life."

Provides a solid base in core neurobiology.

"Good foundational course on neurobiology."

"The foundational modules were stronger."

"Provides a solid introduction."

"The flow from basic concepts to more complex ones worked well."

Connects brain science to daily experiences.

"really connecting the science to everyday experiences."

"The way they related neurobiology to everyday life was brilliant."

"The connection to 'everyday life' is constantly reinforced, making it highly relevant."

"Highly relevant to 'everyday life' as promised."

Concepts are explained in an understandable way.

"explains complex topics... in a clear, understandable way."

"Clear explanations, well-structured content. The lectures were easy to follow."

"The explanations are clear and the connection to 'everyday life' is constantly reinforced, making it highly relevant."

"The lectures are clear and the instructor is knowledgeable."

Dr. Tracy makes complex topics understandable.

"The instructor, Dr. Tracy, is incredibly engaging and explains complex topics like neural communication and neuroanatomy in a clear, understandable way."

"This course is a gem. Dr. Tracy makes learning about the brain accessible and fun."

"Excellent course! Highly recommend... Dr. Tracy is a fantastic lecturer, clearly passionate about the subject."

"Best course I've taken on this platform. Dr. Tracy is engaging and explains complex ideas simply."

Some advanced topics covered too quickly.

"Sometimes the pace felt a bit rushed, especially in the later modules covering complex areas like motor control and abstract functions."

"felt it lacked depth in certain areas. Topics like homeostasis and abstract functions were covered quite quickly."

"The later modules felt a bit less detailed, almost like an overview of overviews."

"The later ones on more abstract functions didn't go into enough detail for my liking."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life with these activities:

Review the Human Nervous System

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Reviewing key concepts and terminology related to the human nervous system will strengthen your foundation before diving into this course's more advanced topics.

Browse courses on Nervous System

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Read the assigned textbook chapters on the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system.
Create a labeled diagram of the major components of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
Define key terms such as neurons, neurotransmitters, and synapses.

Read "Principles of Neural Science"

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This comprehensive textbook provides an in-depth exploration of the principles and mechanisms underlying neuroscience, complementing the course material with a broader perspective.

View Principles of Neural Science, Fifth Edition... on Amazon

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Read assigned chapters corresponding to the topics covered in the course.
Take notes and highlight important concepts.
Review the material regularly to reinforce your understanding.

Explore Interactive Brain Simulations

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Interactively exploring the brain through simulations can enhance your spatial understanding of its structures and connections.

Browse courses on Neuroanatomy

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Visit websites like BrainMaps or NeuroMorpho.Org that offer 3D models and interactive simulations of the brain.
Navigate through different brain regions and examine their anatomical relationships.
Use the simulations to visualize how neurons communicate and form neural pathways.

Four other activities

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Engage in Peer Discussion Forums

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Participating in discussion forums provides opportunities to share your insights, learn from others' perspectives, and clarify your understanding of course concepts.

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Join and actively participate in the discussion forums associated with the course.
Post thoughtful questions and responses that engage with the course material.
Read and respond to the posts of other students, providing constructive feedback and support.

Solve Neuroscience Problem Sets

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Regular practice through problem sets helps solidify your understanding of neuroscience concepts and improves your problem-solving skills.

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Complete the problem sets provided in the course materials or find additional practice questions online.
Work through the problems step-by-step, applying the concepts learned in class.
Review your answers and identify areas where you need further clarification.

Create a Neuroscience Infographic

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Creating an infographic allows you to synthesize and visually represent complex neuroscience concepts, enhancing your understanding and ability to communicate them to others.

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Choose a specific neuroscience topic to focus on.
Gather data and information from reliable sources.
Design an infographic that effectively conveys the key concepts in a visually appealing manner.
Share your infographic with others to disseminate knowledge and promote understanding of the topic.

Design a Research Proposal

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Crafting a research proposal will challenge you to synthesize your knowledge and develop a plan for investigating a specific aspect of neuroscience.

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Identify a research question related to a topic covered in the course.
Conduct a literature review to gather background information and identify existing research gaps.
Develop a hypothesis and design an experiment to test it.
Write a research proposal outlining your research question, methods, and expected outcomes.

Career center

Learners who complete Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Neuroscientist

Neuroscience is the field of understanding the nervous system and its interactions with the body. This course is an introduction to the field that can help budding neuroscientists with the foundational information they need. Neuroscience is a relatively new field with lots of career development opportunities. The concepts introduced in this course, including the basic structure of the nervous system and the common neurological disorders, can be built upon by continuing education and more specialized courses. Although this course does not touch on the topic of research, it helps students to understand the research that is being performed. This course may also be particularly useful for a neuroscientist who wants to work on improving and translating scientific research into usable interventions and improvements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Neuroscientist

Neurophysiologist

Neurophysiologists help to translate academic neuroscience into a useful format that can be applied to the real world. They are focused on understanding the structure and function of the nervous system and how neurological disorders affect body systems. This course can be a good foundation in this area, as it offers a broad overview of many different aspects of the nervous system and how it functions in everyday life.

See salaries and explore the career path for Neurophysiologist

Neurologist

Neurologists diagnose, manage, and treat various neurological conditions, working to optimize patient outcomes in the face of injury or illness. As this course touches on common neurological disorders, a neurologist may be able to leverage the information learned here in making decisions and developing approaches to care. It offers a detailed overview of the nervous system, how it functions, and how issues can arise. The information presented in this course can also be built upon to further a neurologist's understanding of the nervous system.

See salaries and explore the career path for Neurologist

Neuropathologist

A neuropathologist is focused on understanding the relationship between the nervous system and diseases. Students who are interested in learning about common neurological disorders, how the nervous system develops, and how the nervous system is organized may find this course useful as foundational knowledge. The course also includes information on the neuroanatomy of the brain.

See salaries and explore the career path for Neuropathologist

Neuropsychologist

Neuropsychologists work with individuals who have experienced neurological injury or trauma to help them improve their cognitive and behavioral function. This course may be useful for a neuropsychologist as it offers a good deal of information about the nervous system, how it functions, and common neurological issues. Understanding these aspects of the nervous system can help a neuropsychologist to better understand how an individual's neurological functioning is affected and how to help with rehabilitation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Neuropsychologist

Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical engineers work with the body's systems and nervous system to improve patient outcomes. Although this course is more focused on the understanding of the nervous system, rather than the external application of knowledge, it may be helpful to a biomedical engineer. A biomedical engineer would benefit from the foundational information on the nervous system to gain a better understanding of their work and how it impacts individuals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biomedical Engineer

Clinical Neuropsychologist

Clinical neuropsychologists are focused on evaluating and treating cognitive and emotional issues that are related to the nervous system. This course may be useful for a clinical neuropsychologist as it provides information about the nervous system and common neurological disorders. It can provide a good starting point for further study, helping a clinical neuropsychologist to understand the functioning of the nervous system and how this relates to cognitive and emotional issues.

See salaries and explore the career path for Clinical Neuropsychologist

Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech-language pathologists work with individuals to help them improve their communication skills. Since this course focuses on how the nervous system can affect perception and movement, it may be a helpful course for a speech-language pathologist who wants to specialize in neurological disorders affecting communication. It could provide foundational information about how the nervous system affects communication and how this relates to common neurological disorders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Speech-Language Pathologist

Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists help to improve a patient's daily living skills and help them regain independence. This course may be useful for an occupational therapist who wants to learn more about how the nervous system affects movement and perception. It could help an occupational therapist to understand how neurological disorders affect body systems and how this impacts a person's ability to perform daily tasks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Occupational Therapist

Physical Therapist

Physical therapists help to restore movement and function to individuals who have been injured or disabled. This course focuses on the nervous system and how it controls movement. It can provide a physical therapist with a good foundation in neuroanatomy and how the nervous system functions. It may also be useful for a physical therapist who wants to learn more about common neurological disorders.

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Neurological Nurse

Neurological nurses work with individuals who have neurological conditions to provide care and support. This course provides a great deal of information about the nervous system and how it functions. It also touches on common neurological disorders. This information can be very useful for a neurological nurse who is working with individuals who have neurological conditions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Neurological Nurse

Physician Assistant

Physician assistants diagnose and treat a variety of illnesses and injuries under the supervision of a physician. This course may be useful for a physician assistant who wants to learn more about the nervous system and how it functions. It offers a detailed overview of neuroanatomy and common neurological disorders. This information can be useful to a physician assistant when diagnosing and treating patients.

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Medical Writer

Medical writers translate complex medical information into formats that are useful to various audiences. This course provides a good foundation on the nervous system and how it functions. It also touches on common neurological disorders. This information can be useful to a medical writer who is writing about neurological topics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Writer

Science Writer

Science writers communicate complex scientific information to the public. This course offers a comprehensive overview of the nervous system and how it functions. It also touches on common neurological disorders. This information can be useful to a science writer who is writing about neurological topics for the general public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Writer

Science Teacher

Science teachers teach scientific concepts to students. This course offers a good overview of the nervous system and how it functions, which can be helpful to a science teacher who is teaching biology or anatomy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Teacher

Reading list

We've selected 30 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life.

The Rhesus Monkey Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the human nervous system. It covers the latest research on the structure and function of the brain and spinal cord.

Understanding the Brain

The Neurobiology of Everyday Life

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Neurobiology basics for everyday life

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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