| Course Description: |
An introduction to behavioural and systems neuroscience and the brain mechanisms underlying behaviour. Topics will include: general organisation, evolution and development of the nervous system; sensory systems (vision, hearing, somaesthesis and proprioception; balance; and the chemical senses); control of movement; the autonomic nervous system; the hypothalamus and hormonal control; structure and function of the cerebral cortex; and higher order functions such as learning, memory and cognitive processes. Laboratory classes will cover microscopic and macroscopic anatomy of the nervous system, investigations of higher order processing, and experimental approaches to brain and behaviour. At least one of the laboratory classes will be a Problem Based Learning laboratory, where students will research a given topic, working in a group, and present their findings to the rest of the class. |