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Neuroscience

The goal of the Neuroscience Program is, through interdisciplinary approaches, to facilitate students' understanding of the nervous system and development of rigorous scientific research, analysis and communication skills.

About the Major

The brain is our most fascinating and complicated organ, and it governs the very nature of our conscious existence. Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system, and includes many disciplines, including biology, chemistry, and psychology. In addition, the study of neuroscience helps students to understand the interrelationships between the basic sciences and concepts in philosophy, mathematics, and computer science. 

Students Will Learn To:

  • Engage in scientific inquiries that are informed by ethical and/or socio-cultural perspectives
  • Communicate ideas effectively and concisely 
  • Integrate scientific literature to develop neuroscientific research questions
  • Apply appropriate scientific methods to address neuroscientific research questions 
  • Demonstrate an interdisciplinary understanding of the nervous system

A Sampling of Courses

neuroscience research

Sensation and Perception

An exploration of sensory systems and perceptual experiences. This course will address how we obtain information from our physical environment and use it to create the vibrant experience of our own bodies and the world around us. An emphasis on vision, but also covering audition, somatosensation, olfaction and gustation. Topics will include methodological approaches, sensory pathways and neurobiological mechanisms, disorders, illusions and multi-sensory interactions.

Explore these select courses:

Introduction to the field of neuroscience from a biological perspective. In-depth examination of fundamental concepts in neurobiology designed to introduce students to the electrophysiological, chemical and anatomical features of neurons, brain regions and brain circuits. Investigation of the neurobiological basis of behavior through exploration of topics such as neuronal communication, neuroanatomy, sensory and motor systems, learning, motivation, and behavior disorders.

An exploration of theoretical and methodological questions involved in the study of learning and neural plasticity. Questions covered will include: What is learning? What are the mechanisms that support neural plasticity, and how do they contribute to learning-induced changes in behavior? How does learning change across the lifespan? Laboratory exercises will include the development of original experiments to elicit and measure learning at the behavioral and neural levels, as well as the analysis of neural data. Three hours of class and three hours of laboratory.

A theoretical and methodological exploration of the psychological and physiological mechanisms of stress. Questions will include: How does psychological stress impact health and well-being? What neurobiological mechanisms are involved? What is the role of environmental context? Laboratory exercises will include designing original experiments to examine the role of stress on behavior and physiological activity, as well as analyzing data, writing papers based on findings, and oral and poster presentations. Three hours of class and three hours of laboratory.

This course is centered on understanding the neurobiology of the "addicted brain." Strong emphasis on the neurobiological effects of drugs of abuse, including short and longer-term changes in the brain and body that occur in response to drug use and abuse. A sampling of drugs to be discussed include cocaine, heroin, marijuana, hallucinogens and alcohol. Effectiveness of various treatment strategies will also be considered. Some discussion of the social, political and philosophical aspects of addiction to drug and non-drug substances (e.g., food compulsions and pathological gambling).

Exploration of AI theory and philosophy, as well as a variety of algorithms and data structures, such as heuristic strategies, logic unification, probabilistic reasoning, semantic networks and knowledge representation. Topics include application areas such as natural language understanding, computer vision, game playing, theorem proving and autonomous agents. Programming intensive.

All Courses Requirements

Meet Our Faculty

Siobhan Robinson

Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Director of Neuroscience

sxrobins@hamilton.edu

neurobiology of learning, memory and motivation

Vikranth Rao Bejjanki

Assistant Professor of Psychology

bejjanki@hamilton.edu

learning and inference; functional neuroimaging; computational neuroscience; cognitive science

Rhea Datta

Assistant Professor of Biology

rdatta@hamilton.edu

gene regulation; patterning and morphogenesis; transcription factors and DNA-binding; regulatory DNA; developmental genetics; molecular biology; embryology; eye development

Herman Lehman

Professor of Biology

hlehman@hamilton.edu

cellular neurobiology and neuroethology; measurement and detection of neurotransmitters; isolation and identification of novel chemical messengers; cellular metabolism in the nervous system

Alexandra List

Associate Professor of Psychology

alist@hamilton.edu

cognitive neuroscience of perception and attention; experimental psychology; cognitive psychology; human neuropsychology

Explore Hamilton Stories

Elizabeth "Tatie" Summers ’22

Summers ’22 to Continue Research at Mass Gen Cancer Center

After previously serving as an intern, Elizabeth “Tatie” Summers ’22 will continue her work with the Brastianos lab at Massachusetts General Cancer Center as a full-time research technician after graduation.

Matthew Anderson ’22

Summer Research Leads to UCLA Ph.D. Program for Anderson ’22

Last summer, Matthew Anderson ’22 took part in a neuroscience research program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In the fall, he will return to UCLA to begin his Ph.D. in neuroscience.

Preston Perez '22 guides diver into pool

Helping Vets, Shaping Academic Focus Through Dagger Dive

At age 10, Preston Perez ’22 got his scuba diving certification; a few years later, he began volunteering with the Dagger Dive program of Task Force Dagger, an organization that supports members of the Special Operations Forces community.

Careers After Hamilton

Hamilton graduates who concentrated in neuroscience are pursuing careers in a variety of fields, including:

  • Researcher, National Institute for Drug Abuse
  • Medical Student, Harvard Medical School
  • Research Analyst, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch
  • Neurologist & Neuro-Oncologist, Unity Hospital
  • Science Teacher, New York City Department of Education
  • Neuropsychologist, Sports Concussion New England
  • Assistant Professor, Penn State College of Medicine
  • Researcher, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Contact

Department Name

Neuroscience Program

Office Location
198 College Hill Road
Clinton, NY 13323
Phone
315-859-4298

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