Brain Bee Lectures
Access lectures covering a broad range of topics in cognitive science. These lectures are based on the curriculum of the Brain Bee competition, which follows the material in the "Brain Facts" textbook. By following these lectures, not only will you be incredibly prepared for the Brain Bee, but you will also gain a deeper knowledge of many subfields of cognitive science.
What is the Brain Bee?
The Brain Bee is a competition with local, national, and international levels that tests students on their knowledge of cognitive science. The content covered is based on the "Brain Facts" textbook and includes a wide variety of topics, including anatomy, neurochemistry, psychiatric illnesses, neurodevelopmental conditions, and more.
To learn more about the International Brain Bee, visit their website: https://www.thebrainbee.org/.
Start Our Free Brain Bee Course!
In this series of lectures, I take you through a comprehensive overview of many fields of cognitive science.
Brain Anatomy Introduction
A detailed overview of the fundamentals of brain anatomy and function you need to know to excel in the Brain Bee Competition.
The Chemical and Molecular Brain
An overview of how the brain processes and relays information at the chemical and cellular level using a combination of chemical and electrical signals.
The Five Senses
Ever wondered how the brain knows that the sky is blue or a bell is ringing or that there's a chill in the air? This is a deep dive on how the brain translates environmental stimuli into sensory perceptions.
Memory and Attention
The brain has often been compared to a supercomputer, partly because of its rapid computational abilities but also because of its incredible capacity to store a lifetime's worth of information and memories. From the spaces between the synapses to the broader structures, this lecture covers the networks that allow the brain to store masses of memories.
To Be Or Not To Brain Bee
For ages, people have investigated how just three pounds of brain tissue can create someone's entire personality and explain the complexity of human behavior. This lecture does a deep dive in pinpointing the brain structures involved in information processing, language, and decision-making.
Early Brain Development
Before our brains were complicated, interrelated networks of neurons, they were just small collections of early neuronal cells on the road to developing into something extraordinarily powerful. This lecture narrates the early stages of brain development from fetus to early childhood.
The Superpower of the Teenage Brain
We all know about some of the downsides of the teenage brain - impulsivity, poor decision-making, vulnerability to addiction, etc. However, what people don't talk about as much are the incredible strengths of the teenage brain that allow adolescents to learn at an astoundingly rapid pace. In this lecture, we cover everything that makes the developing adolescent brain so unique.
The Brain Throughout Life
Perhaps one of the most sought after mysteries of science is why we age and what can be done to slow it down. This chapter provides a top-down overview for what occurs in the brain as we grow older and what can be done to prevent neuronal damage throughout one's life.
You Need To Get Some Rest
In spite of what many students with extra-tall cups of Starbucks may tell you, sleep is a critical function that allows our brains time to perform optimally. From the stages of sleep to sleep disorders to the brain structures that decide when and why we sleep, this lecture provides an in-depth look at the physiological need for rest every night.
