| Course Title: Topics in Neuroscience and Behavior: 'Neuroscience of Visual Aesthetics' |
| Start Date: 09/09/2026 End Date: 12/22/2026 |
| Term: Fall Semester 2026 |
| Description: What is the brain's role in appreciating art and beauty? This course covers major cognitive neuroscience methods, including behavioral paradigms, eye-tracking, EEG, MEG, fMRI, and statistical analysis, through primary literature in empirical aesthetics - the study of art and the brain. We focus on what these methods can and cannot achieve, rather than technical analytical details. The course primarily explores vision, while also touching upon other cognitive domains such as audition. Through reading, presenting, and constructively critiquing scientific papers, students develop the skills to independently evaluate cognitive neuroscience research. |
| Distribution(s): II - Math & Sciences , SI - Speaking-Intensive , TP - Topics Course |
| Academic Level Of Course: Undergraduate | Credits:4.00 |
| Faculty | Phone | Email address |
| Instructor To Be Announced |
| Katherine Binder (email: kbinder@mtholyoke.edu, phone: 413-538-2105) may also be contacted for registration permissions and registration questions. |
| Meeting Dates | Method | Meeting days | Meeting times | Building name | Room | Frequency |
| 09/09/2026 - 12/22/2026 | Seminar | Wednesday | 01:30PM - 04:20PM | TBA | TBA | Weekly |
| Requisite Courses | ||
| Prereq: 8 credits in Neuroscience and Behavior or Psychology. | Take previously | Required |
| Comments |
| Additional Comments |
| Course Tags | ||
| NEURO0001 | NEURO: Neuroscience & Behavior Major | This course has been approved to count towards the Neuroscience and Behavior major. |
| Cross-listed Sections |
| None |
| Course Availability | ||||
| Section status: Waitlisted | Capacity: 18 | Enrollment: 17 | Available: 0 | Waitlist: 2 |
BOOK INFORMATION
| Book List | Required | Publisher Full Price |
| To be determined. |
| Additional Book Comments |
| This is NOT the complete book list for this class. |