Neuroscience Offerings for Non-Neuroscience Majors
With the objective of opening up whole new fields of knowledge, the Princeton Neuroscience Institute offers different programs for non-neuroscientists. At the graduate level, a joint degree program with sister departments is offered. At the undergrauate level, we offer freshman seminars to pique the interest of the budding scientist. In addition, we also offer courses and research opportunities for engineering students.
- Freshman Seminar There are currently no Freshman Seminars offered in Neuroscience.
- Science and Technology course for non-majors:
NEU 101 Neuroscience and Everyday Life - Spring 2010
This lecture and laboratory course will acquaint non-science majors with the theory and practice of neuroscience. Topics will include neurons, synapses, neurochemistry, brain evolution,and the dynamics of brains in action. A major focus will be the neuroscience of everyday life,ranging from the general (love, memory, and personality) to the particular (jet lag, autism, and weight loss). Lectures will give a comprehensive overview at levels ranging from molecular signaling to cognitive science. The laboratory will give hands-on experience in recording signals from single neurons, examining neural structures, and analysis of whole-brain functional brain imaging data.
Rationale: People are often interested in the workings of their own brains. This interest takes multiple forms. Philosophically, we are interested in our existence as thinking, feeling beings. What is consciousness? What happens in our brains when we watch a sunset, or recognize a friend at a far distance? Psychologically, what leads us to form false beliefs about the world - and retain them in the face of contradictory evidence? How do we make decisions? Medically and biologically, what happens in our brains as we develop - and as we age? What is autism? Do animals dream? Blink , The Language Instinct, The Brain That Changes Itself ), popular articles, and entire magazines ( Scientific American Mind ) dedicated to the brain and mind.
- Neuroscience Offerings for Engineering students PNI also offers courses and research opportunities for engineering students.