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 nervous systems 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 Functional Neuroanatomy 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. Furthermore, the knowledge acquired during the course prepares the students for more adavnces neuroscience courses, e.g. Cognitive Neuroscience. Via problem based learning tasks, both the anatomy and functions of important neurological structures like the spinal cord and the brain are discussed. In addition, some of the effects our current life-styles (e.g. listening to relatively loud music by use of inner-ear headphones) have on the structure and function of the nervous system are examined by reading some research articles on this topic.

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.
To learn about the association between our modern lifestyle and nervous system and human health.

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