Functional Neuroanatomy

Full course description

Human beings mostly go through their lives without paying much attention to their actions such as breathing, eating and even learning. Our brain seems to take care of us in an almost effortless way by planning, initiating and executing our actions and by regulating our somatic homeostasis. The course Brain and Action is concerned with exactly how the nervous system does so. The course deals with the scientific study of the central and peripheral nervous system as well as with some of the latest developments in neuroscience. Via problem based learning tasks, both the anatomy and functions of important neurological structures like the spinal cord and the brain are examined.

Questions that will be raised continually during the course are, e.g.: What is the hippocampus? What function does the corpus callosum have? How does the brain develop both pre- and postnatally? How does neurotransmission take place? Etc.

Course objectives

To make students familiar with the basic division, anatomy and functions of the central and peripheral nervous system.
To gain knowledge of the workings and anatomy of the brain's most important structures.
To gain basic practical knowledge of brain dissection.

Prerequisites

Secondary school biology (for an indication of the relevant topics, see SCI-B, p. vi-viii) and/or a genuine(!) interest in the anatomy of the nervous system.

Functional Neuroanatomy