Brain and Cognition

Full course description

Some people claim that we are our brains. This certainly is an exaggeration, but biological explanations of human behavior play a central role in psychology. This course provides an overview of how our brains work and highlights how cognition and behavior can be understood from a biological perspective.

You will learn about the structure and function of the central nervous system (functional neuroanatomy), and the various neuroscientific methods enabling us to measure and manipulate brain function with astonishing precision. From the pioneering steps in the 19th century that observed cognitive and behavioral changes resulting from brain damage to modern technology-driven approaches of neuroimaging and brain stimulation, you will unravel the mysteries of the brain. Equipped with this knowledge of brain organization, you will develop an understanding of how billions of neurons can underlie our rich repertoire of cognitive functions and behaviors.

You will learn about the brain processes that underlie our most important cognitive functions, including perception, attention, memory, motor control, emotion, cognitive control, and language. Using carefully crafted experiments, the study of the brain can answer an abundance of intriguing questions, such as: “How can we see the world around us?”, “Can we pay attention to more than one thing at a time?”, and “Why is it impossible to remember everything?” This course thus lays the foundation for developing a biological understanding of the mind and the neurocognitive methods that are used to study it.

There is no assessment for this module. You will only receive feedback on completed assignments.