Applied Neuroscience

Applied Neuroscience

Neuroscience, as a field of study, emerged much later than conventional scientific disciplines, such as chemistry and biology. In recent years, a new area of specialization has come into focus: environmental neuroscience. This topic focuses on the many ways the brain is tightly linked to the environment, the most direct example being our diurnal rhythms that synchronize with the sun. Unlike nocturnal animals, humans are awake when the sun is out and for the most part, sleep when the sun is no longer visible. The suprachiasmatic nucleus, a subcortical brain region that is positioned above the optic chiasm, is instrumental in this intricate coordination. Other examples of the brain’s interdependence on the environment are observed in diseased states. When pollutants infiltrate the water supply, devastating neurological impairments are observed. Space travel opens up exciting new insights into how the brain interacts with the environment. Astronauts often report spatial disorientation after returning from space. This highlights the role of the hippocampus in navigating space. This course explores this exciting new frontier and highlights that being environmentally conscious is about more than saving the planet, it is about healthy brains and minds for future generations.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the foundational principles of environmental neuroscience and how brain function is influenced by natural and built environments.
2. Identify and describe key brain structures (e.g., suprachiasmatic nucleus, hippocampus) and their role in environmental adaptation and health.
3. Evaluate scientific research on environmental impacts on cognition, mood, and neurological disease.
4. Apply neuroscience concepts to real-world environmental challenges, considering both individual well-being and societal health.
5. Design and conduct observational or experiential exercises using natural settings to investigate relationships between environment and mental states

Hands-on Activities

• Field Observations: Exploring diurnal rhythms by tracking sleep/wake cycles in relation to sunlight exposure.
• Nature as a Lab Activities: Outdoor exercises such as mindfulness walks, forest bathing, or environmental soundscapes, followed by reflection on neurological and psychological responses.
• Case Study Workshops: Examining links between pollution and neurological disorders and review of primary scientific literature.
• Data Collection Projects: Students measure environmental variables and connect them to self-reported or observed cognitive/behavioral outcomes.
• Simulation Experiences: Using VR or thought experiments to simulate space travel and disorientation, followed by discussions.
• Interdisciplinary Discussions: Conversations that bridge neuroscience with sustainability, urban planning, and public health.

Information subject to change.