Biological Sciences

This course offers a study of the nervous system and its functions. The course explores the scientific study of the central and peripheral nervous systems as well as some of the latest developments in neuroscience. The course focuses on the nervous system's regulation of our somatic homeostasis by discussing topics such as the anatomy and functions of important neurological structures, the hippocampus, the corpus callosum, the pre- and postnatal development of the brain, and neurotransmission. This course consists of tutorial group meetings, lectures, and labs.

This course focuses on several of the ecological environments on the island of Barbados. Topics include: geology and climate, terrestrial and aquatic environments and their flora, and vertebrates and invertebrates of the Caribbean. In addition to lectures, this course includes six fields trips throughout the term. Assessment is based on a midterm, final, and field notebook.

The course is designed to prepare students for leadership in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse workforce. Throughout the course, students are challenged to question, think, and respond thoughtfully to the issues they observe and encounter in the internship setting, and the designated city in general. Students have the opportunity to cultivate the leadership skills as defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), such as critical thinking, teamwork, and diversity. Assignments focus on building a portfolio that highlights those competencies and their application to workplace skills. The hybrid nature of the course allows students to develop their skills in a self-paced environment with face-to-face meetings and check-ins to frame their intercultural internship experience. Students complete 45 hours of in-person and asynchronous online learning activities and 225-300 hours at their internship placement.

This course gives a broad overview of biological foundations of behavior. The role of certain brain areas, neurotransmitters, and hormones on brain function are discussed. The course consists of nine topics; the first is an introductory topic regarding the link between brain and behavior. The following topics involve several types of specific behaviors ant their links to the brain anatomy. The topics are: gender development, emotion, memory, sleep, mental illnesses, addiction, hunger and thirst, and language. 

Full course description

Cognitive neuroscience is an entirely new research field that originally emerged from a combination of traditional sciences such as philosophy, psychology, medicine and biology that all investigate the principles of perception, behaviour and cognition from different perspectives.

As technical developments of different methods and tools in the field of cognitive neuroscience came forth, and as theoretical application of different mathematical and computer science-based models were used to explain neuronal functioning, additional disciplines, such as physics, mathematics, bioengineering and computer science materialized as an important part of this research field.

Subsequently, an effective research project in cognitive neuroscience requires an interdisciplinary cooperation, in which each scientific discipline contributes its respective genuine theories, models, techniques and tools for the mutual investigation of the neuronal principles of perception, attention, and cognition.

But can we really watch the brain at work? Are there ways to identify where exactly, and when exactly activation in the brain is necessary to perform a specific mental process? This course will help to give some answers on the basic principles of brain research and it will show relevant applications of these techniques in different areas of cognitive psychology.

Course objectives

• To give an introduction into the new field of cognitive neuroscience.
• To learn which methods a brain researcher can use to investigate the neuronal bases of different mental processes.

Prerequisites

SCI2034 Brain and Action and elementary knowledge of electricity and magnetism as stated under SCI-P(p. vi-viii). 

Recommended 
SCI1009 Introduction to Biology or SCI2038 Physics (or SCI1030 Physics I) or SSC1005 Introduction to Psychology or SSC2025 Memory. 

The six-week summer lab research program at National Taiwan University places students in various science, engineering and social science research labs and/or projects under the supervision of faculty. Students spend approximately 30 hours per week in lab activities.

This course examines the natural history of Australia from the Cretaceous to the present and the influence of Australia's First Peoples and Europeans on Australia’s environments. It explores the major biomes and climatic zones that have existed across the continent in the past, and the influence of climate change on their present and future distributions. It covers the incredible diversity of Australian flora and fauna both on land and in aquatic environments, and considers the biological challenges, adaptations and evolutionary journeys that have led to our current species diversity. This will include Australia's familiar and our more elusive inhabitants - from eucalypts and kangaroos to velvet worms and orchids.