Description:  An examination of research investigating how physical activity influences the brain.  Emphasis is placed on developing strategies for identifying, reading, analyzing, & communicating a variety of literature on the topic including reviews, basic research, government documents, clinical cases, public health studies, popular press reports, etc.  Oral communications & writing skills are also emphasized as ways to communicate scientific research with audiences of scientists & non-scientists.  Class meetings feature a wide variety of student-centered activities (presentations, discussions, small group work, etc).

Prerequisites:  Bio 111 + at least one other Biology course (or Chem 115)

Textbooks: Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by Ratey & Hagerman
                        Many scientific articles (accessible on the course's Moodle site)

Restrictions:  This course is designed as first experience in reading & creating scientific literature.  Thus, enrollment is limited to sophomores & juniors who have completed no more than one upper level (200/300-level) biology course.

Syllabus