Why do we sleep? And how can the sleeping brain be measured and manipulated? In this course, we will investigate the influence of sleep and its neural properties across multiple domains (e.g., physical and mental health, cognition, dreams). We will explore these topics through the lens of contemporary neuroscientific work, so the majority of class time will be dedicated to student-led presentations and discussions of primary research articles, with some lecture-based instruction to provide broader context. In the lab portion of the course, we will use behavioral and cognitive neuroscience methods to monitor our own sleep patterns. In doing so, we will generate multiple datasets that we can analyze (using computer programming) and interpret, allowing us to connect personal habits to broader course themes.
Prerequisite: Psychology 150 or Neuroscience 270