EESP Youth Programs - College Quest PSY 197: Behavioral Neuroscience

PSY 194: Experience in Behavioral Neuroscience

THIS COURSE IS FULL

Is it true that we use only about 10 percent of our brain? Why should we only believe part of what we see – and what is a phantom limb? Participants will:

Explore the discipline of Behavioral Neuroscience in Western's new, state-of-the-art neuroscience research and teaching facility.
Investigate the role the nervous system plays in normal and abnormal behavior, thought and emotion.
Learn about brain structure and function during brain dissections and observe brain-activity monitoring techniques in action.

A field trip to Cascade Brain and Spine to observe an MRI in action will allow participants to experience real-world medical imagining technology.

Course Objectives

Explore normal brain structure through hands-on dissection and state-of-the-art models and software.
Investigate how neurons in the nervous system communicate using a combination of chemical and electrical signals.
Learn about the tools behavioral neuroscientists use to study brain activity in laboratories and clinics.
Learn about brain structure and function in psychiatric or neurological illnesses.

Class is held Monday through Friday; various hours.

Enrollment is limited to a maximum of 12 students.

Instructors: Dr. Janet Finlay is the director of Western Washington University's
behavioral neuroscience program. She is also an associate professor in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences psychology department. Dr. Finlay’s research lab web site: http://www.wwu.edu/neuroscience/finlay/index.html.

Dr. Michael Mana is an associate professor in Western Washington University's behavioral neuroscience program and vice chair of its psychology department in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.