Neurobiology

Neurobiology (NBIO) was a CAA Science that went into focus with both Biology and Psychology. This course was offered at Bethlehem, Chestertown, Frederick, Pasadena and Santa Cruz.

Course Description

From the CTY Course Catalog (1999):

This course provides students with an understanding of the basic principles of nervous system function. It spans the disciplines of biology and psychology.

Students begin by examining the structure, function, and properties of cells and cell membranes, then learn the anatomy of the brain and nervous system. An important part of this section of the course is comparative dissections, in which students are asked to examine the nervous systems of a variety of animals, including earthworms, crayfish, and small mammals. Students give particular attention to learning the organization of the nerve cells that are responsible for sensation and movement, studying such topics as sensory mapping and the gross anatomy of receptor cell clusters. Students learn how individual nerve cells communicate with one another, both chemically and electrically, to produce sensations and help determine behavior. In this unit, students consider disorders of the nervous system (such as Parkinson's disease) and mental illnesses known to have a biological basis. Finally, the class studies patterns of activity from human brain images, in an attempt to understand the relationships between brain activity and emotion, learning, memory, and attention. Throughout the course, lab work emphasizes developing skills in gathering and analyzing data; a field trip to a nearby lab or hospital to observe current research techniques supplements the students' inquiries.