Introduction to Neuroscience (I) | Schoolhouse

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Introduction to Neuroscience (I)

SAT Score Range

•

20 sessions

•

HM

ND

Home

About

About

This series will be in TWO PARTS. These sessions comprise the first part.
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Each week, we will go over an interesting topic in neuroscience. These topics will progress from the basic mechanisms of neurotransmission, thinking, and learning, to understanding different states of the brain such as sleep and attention. Each session will have a fun interactive component :)

Tutored by

BL

EG

Edith G 🇺🇸

Certified in 1 topic

Hey! I'm Edith from China/the Netherlands, currently going to school in New York. I love playing the piano, reading YA novels, doing yoga and Pilates, and listening to Taylor Swift. Feel free to reach out with any question related to SSAT, math (pre-algebra to algebra 2) and especially PSYCHOLOGY! (I'm running an AP Psychology series right now) -- I'll try my best to help :)

Schedule

✋ ATTENDANCE POLICY

I understand that everyone has busy schedules, so the attendance policy for this session will be as flexible and respectful as possible without disrupting the learning environment. The only thing you HAVE to do is to let me know in advance if you will not be at a session.

SESSION 1

29

May

SESSION 1

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTCMay 29, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTC

A comprehensive approach to introducing the fascinating world of neuroscience is to first get familiar with 8 Core Concepts. In this session, we will introduce what the discipline of neuroscience studies and the first 4 Core Concepts:
- Your brain is complex
- Neurons communicate with each other to relay information
- How the brain processes incoming information
- Your experiences shape your brain 

SESSION 2

5

Jun

SESSION 2

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTCJun 5, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTC

We will cover the other 4 Core Concepts:
- The brain is good at reasoning, planning, and solving problems
- Language is powerful and can rewire your brain
- Your brain is what makes you so curious
- Neuroscience research benefits human health 

SESSION 3

12

Jun

SESSION 3

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTCJun 12, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTC

This session will introduce some foundational concepts and facts about the brain, including:
- Major divisions, lobes, and structures of the brain
- The brain's evolution
- The organization of neural networks
- Brain waves
- Neural circuits 

SESSION 4

19

Jun

SESSION 4

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTCJun 19, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTC

This session will continue our introductory exploration of the brain, zooming in our focus on neurons. We will talk about:
- Excitatory vs. inhibitory neurotransmitters
- Types of glial cells
- Ion channels and action potentials 
- Neurotransmission and synapses
- Receptors and molecular signaling
- How neurons affect gene expression 

SESSION 5

26

Jun

SESSION 5

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTCJun 26, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTC

In this session, we will start exploring the mechanisms behind our senses. 
We will talk about:
- Vision: the 3-layered retina, how visual information is processed, the visual cortex (layers, angles, and streams), binocular vision, treatments for visual disorders
- Hearing: how hearing works, how pressure waves get converted to electrical signals, how we make sense of sound, and treating hearing loss 

SESSION 6

3

Jul

SESSION 6

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTCJul 3, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTC

We will continue to explore how other intriguing human senses work. 
We will talk about:
- Taste and smell: the mechanisms of taste and smell individually and how they combine in our perceptive processes
- Touch: cortical maps, sensitivity to touch, pain and itch signals, how tactile messages are sent and received, and pain management

SESSION 7

10

Jul

SESSION 7

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTCJul 10, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTC

We will start exploring how our brain helps us move. 
In this session, we will mainly talk about what voluntary and involuntary movements are and comparing their similarities and differences.

SESSION 8

17

Jul

SESSION 8

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTCJul 17, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTC

We will progress to talk about more complex voluntary movements and dive into the brain regions that modulate these movements. 

SESSION 9

24

Jul

SESSION 9

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTCJul 24, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTC

By studying psychology and neuroscience, most are interested to understand how we learn, remember, and feel emotions. In this session, we will dive into the neural mechanisms behind learning and memory. 
We will talk about:
- Brain regions involved in learning and memory
- Declarative memory
- Nondeclarative memory

SESSION 10

31

Jul

SESSION 10

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTCJul 31, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTC

We will continue to explore the neuroscience behind memory and emotions.
We will talk about:
- How memories are stored in the synapses
- Basic emotions
- The neural anatomy of emotion
- Motivation and affective decision-making
- The dopamine reward pathways regulating motivation 

SESSION 11

7

Aug

SESSION 11

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTCAug 7, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTC

We will discover what makes humans unique: executive functioning. In particular, we will focus on the process of thinking, planning, and language-learning.
We will talk about:
- How our brains construct representations
- The brain's regional specialization and organization
- How language is processed

SESSION 12

14

Aug

SESSION 12

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTCAug 14, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UTC

We will continue our exploration in executive functioning by shifting to a social psychology perspective.
We will talk about:
- New insights in language research
- Key executive functions
- Decision-making 
- Social neuroscience 

SESSION 13

21

Aug

SESSION 13

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 11:00 PM - Fri, 12:00 AM UTCAug 21, 11:00 PM - Aug 22, 12:00 AM UTC

We will explore a fascinating question: how did our brain develop its complexities and functions right now?
We will talk about the processes of neuron:
- Formation and induction
- Proliferation
- Migration

SESSION 14

28

Aug

SESSION 14

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 11:00 PM - Fri, 12:00 AM UTCAug 28, 11:00 PM - Aug 29, 12:00 AM UTC

We will pick up where we left off last session and continue our journey through time in the developing brain.
We will talk about:
- How neurons make connections
- Synapse formation
- Myelination
- Paring back 

SESSION 15

4

Sep

SESSION 15

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 11:00 PM - Fri, 12:00 AM UTCSep 4, 11:00 PM - Sep 5, 12:00 AM UTC

After the brain's neurons finish their initial development, we will focus on a wider timeframe: more general brain developments during childhood.
We will mainly focus on how the brain rapidly changes during the first years of our lives.

SESSION 16

11

Sep

SESSION 16

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 11:00 PM - Fri, 12:00 AM UTCSep 11, 11:00 PM - Sep 12, 12:00 AM UTC

After childhood, we will move on to explore adolescence, a time of rapid growth filled with complex conflicts and changes.
We will talk about:
- How experiences shape the brain
- How the brain changes during adolescence
- Plasticity 

SESSION 17

18

Sep

SESSION 17

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 11:00 PM - Fri, 12:00 AM UTCSep 18, 11:00 PM - Sep 19, 12:00 AM UTC

After adolescence, our brain matures and eventually ages. 
We will talk about:
- The adult brain
- Normal vs. pathological aging
- How the brain changes when aging
    - Cognitive changes
    - Structural changes
    - Neuronal changes

SESSION 18

25

Sep

SESSION 18

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 11:00 PM - Fri, 12:00 AM UTCSep 25, 11:00 PM - Sep 26, 12:00 AM UTC

We will explore the brain's aging process in more depth.
We will talk about:
- Chemical changes when aging
- Why does the brain age?
- Oxidative stress and DNA damage
- Immune dysfunction when aging
- Impaired protein recycling
- Healthy aging
- How diet and exercise can help
- The benefits of mental stimulation and social networks

SESSION 19

2

Oct

SESSION 19

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 11:00 PM - Fri, 12:00 AM UTCOct 2, 11:00 PM - Oct 3, 12:00 AM UTC

The brain's chemicals regulate its cycling through different states.
We will talk about:
- Sleep
- Brain activity during sleep
- Sleep regulation
- The sleep-wake cycle
- Sleep disorders

SESSION 20

9

Oct

SESSION 20

Other Topics

Other Topics

Thu 11:00 PM - Fri, 12:00 AM UTCOct 9, 11:00 PM - Oct 10, 12:00 AM UTC

We will continue to learn about the mechanisms behind sleep, rest, and attention.
We will talk about:
- Narcolepsy research
- Arousal
- The neurotransmitters involved in attention
- How the brain processes sensory inputs
- The autonomic nervous system
- Sexual arousal
- Attention
- Focus 
- Attention disorders 
- Rest and the default mode network 

Public Discussion

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May 29 - Oct 10

20 weeks

60 mins

/ session

Next session on May 29, 2025

SCHEDULE

Thursdays

5:00PM