Rodrigo Pedroza Llinas

The process by which we make decisions, from everyday trivial choices to life-changing decisions, is as complex and fascinating as it is important. Accordingly, at the biological level, it offers an exceptional opportunity to analyze how the brain integrates external cues and our own internal drives when choosing. From the many factors involved, this course focuses on the contribution of three particular dimensions of decision-making: the influence of what we learn and remember, the weight and influence of our feelings whenever we face a choice, and our brain’s evaluation of the information the world offers to us. We learn how these cognitive and neural systems (learning and memory, emotion and motivation, and cognitive control) interact with one another with the ultimate goal of better understanding our own decisions. First-year students only. No prerequisite.

This course begins with a definition of neuroscience as an interdisciplinary field, in the context of the philosophy of science. After covering the basics of cellular neurophysiology, the course examines the development and organization of the human nervous system in terms of sensory, motor, motivational, emotional and cognitive processes. The neurological and biochemical bases of various brain and behavioral disorders also are examined. This course paired with any neuroscience course counts toward the natural science diversification requirement. This course is required for the major. Prerequisite or corequisite: BIOL 115, BIOL 116 or equivalent. Offered every year.

This course introduces students to the basic experimental design and data analysis approaches used when conducting research in neuroscience. It will provide you with an understanding of the ways in which neuroscientists design studies, analyze data and communicate the results of their investigations of the brain and its relationship to behavior. You will be exposed to the style and language of scientific writing through reading and critiquing primary sources of scientific information. We will also discuss ethical considerations in using human and non-human research subjects, the appropriate use of common parametric and non-parametric statistical tests, effective graphical representation of data, and factors that affect the analysis and interpretation of data such as small sample size, reliability, statistical rigor and chance. This course paired with any neuroscience course counts toward the natural science diversification requirement. This course is required for the major. Prerequisite: NEUR 212.

Emotions are physiological and subjective states that give us a better chance for adaptation. In this course, we explore in depth the physiological aspect of emotions. Starting from the quintessential theories of the physiology of emotion (such as the James-Lange and the Cannon-Bard theories), we cover the basics of how the brain generates and regulates emotions, from the amygdala to the prefrontal cortex, and in relation to common emotional experiences (such as reward and fear). We understand the contribution of specific neurochemical systems to normal and altered emotional states. We review the variability of emotion across different factors (such as age or even species). Finally, we analyze the importance of the physiology of emotion in fascinating topics such as consumer behavior, the enjoyment of art, and addiction. This course counts as an elective for the major. Prerequisite: PSYC100, 110, or NEUR 212.

This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of the physiological phenomena responsible for psychological experiences. The main focus of the course is a detailed study of the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system. This is followed by a study of the sensory and self-regulatory systems, a study of higher cognitive processing. With each new topic, the relevant anatomical and physiological systems will be discussed as they relate to the behavior under scrutiny. Thus the biological underpinnings of sleep, mood, learning and memory, motivation and other topics will be studied. This course paired with any neuroscience course counts toward the natural science diversification requirement. This counts toward the elective requirement for the major. Prerequisite: PSYC 100, 110 or NEUR 212. Generally offered every year.

In this course, students will study how people make decisions, from simple everyday choices to big life decisions. We’ll look at how our brains work when we decide things, starting with how we judge the things that happen around us and even our own feelings. Instead of diving into every possible aspect of decision-making, we’ll focus on three main areas: how we learn and remember things, how our emotions affect our choices, and how our brains process information. By studying these aspects we aim to better understand why we make the choices we do. This course is for high school students through the Camp 4 program. No credit is awarded.