How the Brain Works and What Can Go Wrong

About

The brain is an amazing object which controls human lives – it is a complex inter- connection of neurons which store our memories and knowledge and has a complex brain chemistry. However, our brains can sometimes go wrong- either because there is something wrong with our genetics or brain chemistry or due to some injury to the brain and central nervous system at some at some point in our life. Brain dysfunction can have a major impact upon an individual’s ability to live and interact within their environment, depending on where the injury or dysfunction occurs. The brain is also affected by the environment and many genetic vulnerabilities in individuals do not necessarily result in dysfunction unless there is a maladaptive or threatening environment e.g. such as in schizophrenia.This module will look at what we know about healthy brains - how the brain is structured, the different types of brain cells, localisation of function and neurochemistry of different brain areas, communication within the brain and how we investigate the brain in week 1. In weeks 2 and 3 the module will look at dysfunction in relation to vison, hearing, movement, memory, thinking, emotion and behaviour. UCL is ranked as second in the world for neuroscience and students will get to hear about the amazing world class research that takes place within the Faculty of Brain Sciences and its constituent parts: the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, the Division of Psychiatry, the Institutes of Ophthalmology and Neurology and the Ear Institute.

Course leader

Dr Julie Evans

Target group

This is a level one module (equivalent to first year undergraduate). Students must have completed one year of undergraduate study. No prior subject knowledge is required for this module, but students are expected to have a keen interest in the area.

Course aim

Upon successful completion of this module, students will:

Have knowledge of the brain structure and function in humans
Have knowledge of methodologies uses to study the brain
Have developed understanding of the theories and evidence for causality of acquired and developmental brain disorders
Have an overview of main treatment interventions and evaluation of their efficacy
Have understanding of the complex interaction of genes and environment

Fee info