The Brain and Cognitive Sciences Course

Lesson 1 • Overview of the Central Nervous System

Introduces the brain and spinal cord as an integrated system. Provides the anatomical vocabulary needed throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Subcortical Structures and Their Roles

Examines structures beneath the cortex that regulate emotion, memory, and movement. Links subcortical anatomy to higher cognitive processes.

Lesson 3 • Lobes and Cortical Regions

Maps the four cortical lobes and their primary functions. Connects regional anatomy to sensory, motor, and cognitive roles.

Lesson 1 • The Action Potential

Explains how neurons generate electrical impulses through ion channel dynamics. Connects membrane biophysics to information transmission.

Lesson 2 • Synaptic Plasticity and Learning

Introduces long-term potentiation and depression as cellular learning mechanisms. Bridges cellular neuroscience to cognitive learning theory.

Lesson 3 • Synaptic Transmission

Details chemical signaling across the synaptic cleft. Links neurotransmitter release and receptor binding to behavioral outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Neuron Anatomy and Classification

Describes neuron components and major cell types. Grounds later discussions of signal processing in cellular structure.

Lesson 1 • Visual Processing Pathways

Traces visual information from the retina through cortical processing streams. Illustrates how the brain constructs visual scenes from raw input.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Sensory Transduction

Covers how sensory receptors convert environmental energy into neural signals. Establishes the shared logic across all sensory modalities.

Lesson 3 • Auditory and Somatosensory Systems

Describes sound localization, speech perception, and touch processing pathways. Connects these systems to language and body awareness.

Lesson 1 • Models of Selective Attention

Compares early and late selection theories of attentional filtering. Grounds theoretical models in neural evidence.

Lesson 2 • Sustained and Divided Attention

Examines vigilance, dual-task performance, and attentional resources. Connects findings to productivity and multitasking limitations.

Lesson 3 • Neural Bases of Attention

Identifies frontoparietal networks and subcortical modulators of attention. Links network activity to behavioral attentional control.

Lesson 4 • Theories and Neural Correlates of Consciousness

Surveys global workspace, integrated information, and higher-order theories of consciousness. Evaluates empirical evidence for each framework.

Lesson 1 • Forgetting, Interference, and False Memory

Explains decay, interference, and reconstructive errors in memory. Prepares students to evaluate eyewitness reliability and memory distortion.

Lesson 2 • Neural Substrates of Memory

Identifies hippocampal, prefrontal, and cerebellar contributions to memory. Connects lesion studies and neuroimaging to memory system models.

Lesson 3 • Memory Disorders and Clinical Implications

Surveys amnesia, dementia, and post-traumatic memory disruption. Links clinical profiles to specific memory system failures.

Lesson 4 • Encoding Processes and Strategies

Analyzes depth of processing, elaborative encoding, and spacing effects. Translates laboratory findings into practical learning strategies.

Lesson 1 • Reasoning, Problem-Solving, and Decision-Making

Contrasts deductive, inductive, and analogical reasoning with heuristic-based decisions. Applies dual-process theory to real-world judgment errors.

Lesson 2 • Neural Bases of Language

Maps Broca's and Wernicke's areas and their connectivity in language processing. Grounds language disorders in specific neural circuit failures.

Lesson 3 • Executive Function and Cognitive Control

Covers working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility as core executive functions. Connects prefrontal circuits to goal-directed behavior.

Lesson 4 • Concepts, Categories, and Mental Representation

Analyzes how the brain organizes knowledge into concepts and categories. Links representational formats to reasoning and decision-making.

Lesson 1 • Motivation and Reward Systems

Analyzes dopaminergic reward prediction and intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation. Applies reward circuit knowledge to behavior change and addiction.

Lesson 2 • Emotion Regulation Strategies

Covers reappraisal, suppression, mindfulness, and expressive writing as regulation tools. Evaluates neural and behavioral outcomes of each strategy.

Lesson 3 • Neural Circuits of Emotion and Stress

Identifies amygdala, prefrontal, and hypothalamic roles in emotional regulation and stress. Links chronic stress to cognitive impairment.

Lesson 4 • Social Brain and Theory of Mind

Examines mirror neuron systems, mentalizing networks, and empathy circuits. Connects social neuroscience to communication and leadership.

Lesson 1 • Mechanisms of Experience-Dependent Plasticity

Explains how experience reshapes synaptic strength, cortical maps, and neural connectivity. Grounds applied enhancement strategies in cellular mechanisms.

Lesson 2 • Designing Evidence-Based Enhancement Programs

Integrates plasticity, lifestyle, and training evidence into structured intervention design. Students produce a personalized cognitive enhancement plan.

Lesson 3 • Neurostimulation and Pharmacological Enhancement

Surveys transcranial stimulation, neurofeedback, and cognitive-enhancing compounds. Critically evaluates efficacy, safety, and ethical considerations.

Lesson 4 • Cognitive Training and Skill Acquisition

Evaluates working memory training, video game effects, and deliberate practice. Distinguishes near transfer from far transfer in training outcomes.