GPLS 735 BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
Behavioral neuroscience is the study of behavior and of its biological underpinnings. In this course students learn how behavior is generated in response to events in the world around us. Students gain a significant understanding of the nervous system, how it is organized, and how it works in response to the environment. First, the course examines some of the techniques used currently in behavioral neuroscience. Next, it covers how organisms are built to receive information from the senses and how they turn that information into plans to move our bodies to react to those sensations. The course also covers how the endocrine system, which releases hormones, interacts with the nervous system and influences behavior. Further, it considers a biological basis for higher order function (e.g. learning and memory) as well as psychological disorders such as schizophrenia, mood disorders, and drug addiction. The course also expects students to gain an ability to understand and critique research literature as it applies to the formal study of behavior.