Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life from Coursera

What's inside

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. 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.

Neuroanatomy

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!

Perception and Vision

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!

Hearing

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.

The Vestibular Sense & Gaze

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.

Voluntary Movements

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

Motor Modulation

You should now have an understanding of how muscles function to initiate movements. However, the brain requires more than just the cerebral cortex to determine what movements to perform and to make those movements smooth and guided. This module, we'll explore the cerebellum and the basal ganglia, fascinating structures that play a major role in movement. You'll also learn how these brain regions are involved in motor learning and disease.

Homeostasis

Although our bodies are very robust and we can live in a range of environments, our brain requires very specific conditions to function properly. Homeostasis is the active process by which our nervous system regulates internal conditions, such as blood pressure and temperature. This module we will explore what homeostasis does, and how it functions in everyday life.

Abstract Function

You've now learned an incredible amount about the way the brain functions to perceive and act upon the world we live in. You've gained an understanding of neurobiology on a cellular level, and how many diseases and disorders of the nervous system can affect our bodies and minds. In our final module, we will journey into the realms of emotion, attention, memory, and language. By the end of this module, you will have a greater understanding of the more abstract cognitive functions the brain.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

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

Reviews summary

Brain's neurobiology in everyday life

Learners say that Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life is a well-organized and fascinating course with outstanding lectures and an engaging instructor. Students say this course is enjoyable to take and contains valuable information for everyday life. Be aware that some material may be difficult to grasp, but many learners found the laboratory sessions, readings, and quizzes helpful.

Course is difficult, but worthwhile.

"Some of the material was challenging, but the course was always interesting."

"This course is definitely worth your while."

Course material is well-presented and engaging.

"Clear, interesting and motivating."

"Challenging! A great overview of the nervous system."

"Great teacher! Very engaging lectures."

Materials are organized and well-developed.

"This course is well organized, and developed."

"Excellent course, excellent teacher and excellent organization."

"The subject is really well developed and explained, with very interested additional resources."

Peggy Mason is an outstanding instructor.

"Dr Peggy Mason is amazing!"

"Professor Mason rocks."

"Dr. Mason is clear & concise."

Quizzes are poorly written.

"In addition, the quizzes (both in-video and for a grade) are badly written and very irritating."

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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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.

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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.

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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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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.

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