We will do an introduction to neuroscience at the high-school level, and examine action potentials and all the chemicals constantly featured in the news: dopamine, seratonin, and endocannabinoids- you name it! Most importantly, we will learn that the brain is not a "big bag of chemicals" to quote David Anderson of Caltech by examining the work of legendary eccentric scientists of neuroscience!

Biology is often harped on for not having too much intense math but neuroscience is out to change that image- computational neuroscience is gaining hold. A famous textbook titled "Theoretical Neuroscience" was published by one of Columbia's own faculty, Larry Abbott, alongside Peter Dayan. We will look at basic concepts in this textbook by studying mathematical models of the brain!

Epilepsy is a brain disorder characterized by multiple seizures that typically occurs in children between the ages of 7 to 19. When multiple neurons in the brain misfire, there is a sudden electrical discharge in the brain, leading to a seizure. In this class, we will discuss different types of seizures and epilepsy. And we will talk about how children today deal with epilepsy in the classroom and outside of it.

Understanding how the brain works is one of the most difficult challenges of our time. This issue has come into the spotlight with President Obama's 2013 State of the Union Address in which he has agreed to give $3Billion to fund the Brain Activity Map (BAM) Project. As part of BAM, the world's leading scientists will attempt to map the entire circuitry of the brain! Since neuroscience is such a great and vast field, we will focus on a very specific topic within it: dendritic spines. These are tiny protrusions that arise from dendrites and are thought to be necessary for proper brain function. Some even hypothesize about their role in intelligence... What role do these spines play in brain function and what are the implications of the BAM project? Take this class to learn more

Did you know that there is only one color in history to ever be patented by a company? That would be Tiffany & Co. blue. Most recently, shoe designer Christian Louboutin attempted to patent the famous red color he uses amidst a battle with Yves Saint Laurent. This class will explore color and all the great battles it has caused throughout history. Believe it or not- simple color truly has sparked debates among painters and now fashion designers.In this class, we will be able to understand how color used in art is dependent on what technology offers. Long it may last!