Neuroscience
Science behind the nervous system that is responsible for learning, memory, perception & behavior
Curriculum : Course Code - AT015
The course provides a comprehensive overview of cellular and molecular Neuroscience. We introduce core concepts and advances in the field of cognitive, behavioral, computational, and quantitative neuroscience. Recent developments in the field have provided new dimensions to study various aspects of neuroscience. Computational skills are increasingly required to understand the complex biology that can explain vast amounts of data generated via neural signals. We further focus on various neurological and neurodegenerative disorders that affect the brain, nerves, and spinal cord.
Highlights
- Cellular & Molecular Memory
- Learning, Encoding, Retrieval and Discrimination of memories
- Perception, decision-making and cognitive development
- The Mysteries of Sleep
- Toward the Molecular Substrate for "Sleepiness"
- Introduction to systems and computational neuroscience
- Neuronal Mechanisms of Value-Based Decision-Making
- A Brain-Machine Interface Approach
- Neurological/psychiatric disease mechanisms.
Introduce topics & technologies like
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Behavioral studies.
- Pain
- Neuromodulators
- Neuroscience of psychedelics
- Aging
Career counseling about an increasingly wide range of available careers, including research (academic & Pharmaceutical company based), teaching, Medical practitioners, to name a few.
We will further discuss new career profiles in the field of neurology and neurosciences with industry professionals.
Activities & Credits
Students learn to make high quality science posters & hone their presentation skills.
Learn to draft scientific write-ups with clear and convincing narratives.
Outstanding students also get opportunities for long-term projects with mentors.
Recent Student Projects in Neuroscience
Genetics of Epilepsy
https://elioacademy.org/student/23/adina-almakhambetova
Adina Almakhambetova
(NIS PhM Almaty)
Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable brain condition that affects approximately 50 million people worldwide. Its main symptom is recurrent seizures, which can be brief bursts of involuntary movement impacting a specific part of the body (partial) or the entire body (generalized). Seizure episodes occur due to excessive electrical discharges in clusters of brain cells. These discharges can originate from various brain areas.
Parkinson’s Disease: Challenges & Progress
https://elioacademy.org/student/23/annika-thakur
Annika Thakur
(Oak Park High School)
Parkinson's Disease is the second most common neurological disorder after Alzheimers. It is estimated to affect one million people in just the United States, and $14 billion is spent annually treating it. Also , ten million people are estimated to suffer from Parkinson's Worldwide. Parkinson's is a chronic and progressive disease that persists and worsens over time.
Parkinson’s Disease
https://elioacademy.org/student/23/isabella-zarzar
Isabella Zarzar
(Carlmont High School)
Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects various regions of the brain, notably the substantia nigra, a region responsible for controlling balance and movement. The development of this disease is a result of a complex interplay of environmental and genetic factors, possibly involving multiple components that contribute to its onset.
Concussions
https://elioacademy.org/student/24/lauren-yang
Lauren Yang
(Bridgewater-Raritan High School)
This study is an in-depth overview of concussions, focusing on their causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Concussions are mild traumatic brain injuries resulting from direct head trauma, such as sports injuries, falls, or automobile accidents. These injuries cause the brain to collide with the skull, leading to neurological changes that manifest as physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms.
Impact of APOE-e4 on Developing Alzheimer’s Disease
https://elioacademy.org/student/23/nunnaphat-gemmi-haripottawekul
Nunnaphat Haripottawekul
(International School Bangkok)
The APOE-e4 gene variant is one of three forms of the APOE gene, with the others being APOE-e2 and APOE-e3. It constitutes a significant genetic risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease. Research on APOE-e4 has shown that individuals inheriting one copy of this variant from a parent face a notably higher risk of Alzheimer's compared to those without it.
Puberty's Hidden Impacts on the brain
https://elioacademy.org/student/24/yaanaa-garg
Yaanaa Garg
(Navrachana International School)
Puberty triggers significant hormonal changes, particularly with estrogen and testosterone, leading to the maturation of the prefrontal cortex and increased activity in the limbic system. This results in heightened emotions, impulsivity, and shifts in decision-making processes. The research delves into how neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin influence emotions such as happiness, anger, and sadness.
