NSCI 104 - Running from Bears: The Neuroscience of Survival

FC NSMA

4 credits
How has humanity lasted this long? In a world full of dangers, humanity has had to adapt to its environment to survive. Our nervous system lies at the center of our ability to do this. In this course we will explore the neurological underpinnings of survival. First, we will look internally at the level of the fetus to identify how a nervous system develops and what structures are important for responding to stressors. We will then examine how the developed adult nervous system responds to stress events (emotional trauma, food storages). In the second part of the semester, we will identify how various neurotoxic plants and materials can overwhelm our bodies and impact our survival. No prior content knowledge is necessary for taking this course.

This course is appropriate for new students.