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Choose ONE of the Following Six Discussion Prompts
1. Sleep and the Brain: How Sleep Loss Affects Learning or Mental Health
Choose one area—learning and memory or mental health—and explore how sleep deprivation impacts it. Consider the effects of chronic sleep loss in students, shift workers, or new parents. What role do REM and slow-wave sleep play in supporting brain function? Use neuroscience research to explain the consequences of disrupted sleep.
2. Should We Adopt Permanent Standard Time? A Neuroscience Perspective
Examine the biological and psychological effects of switching between standard time and daylight saving time. How does this affect circadian rhythms, sleep quality, and public health? Based on neuroscience and health research, make a case for or against adopting permanent standard time.
3. When Rhythms Go Wrong: How Circadian Disruption Affects Mental and Physical Health
Explore how disruptions to circadian rhythms—due to shift work (working all night) or frequent jet lag—can impact mood, cognition, metabolism, and immune function. How are these disruptions linked to psychiatric conditions like depression or bipolar disorder?
4. Hormones and the Brain: How the Neuroendocrine System Regulates Stress and Emotion
Discuss how hormones like cortisol, oxytocin, or melatonin influence brain function and behavior. How does chronic stress dysregulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and what are the implications for mental health?
5. Mental Illness in the Movies: How Accurate Are Hollywood’s Portrayals?
Choose a popular film that depicts a psychiatric disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, etc). Compare the portrayal to what neuroscience and clinical psychology say about the condition. What are the risks and benefits of these portrayals for public understanding?
Consider famous examples including (but definitely not limited to!), Rain Man (1988), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Black Swan (2010), and Silver Linings Playbook (2012).
NOTE: I appreciate all the online synopsis and the availability of AI, but please actually watch a film (it'll be fun!) and write your own personal analysis on a character based on what you've learned in this class! As a friendly reminder, plagiarism is against the academic code of conduct and will be reported to Academic Affairs.
6. The Gut-Brain Connection: How Microbes and Hormones Influence Mood and Behavior
Explore the emerging science of the gut-brain axis. How do gut microbes and gastrointestinal hormones communicate with the brain? What role does this system play in mood regulation, anxiety, or depression? Discuss how diet, stress, and inflammation may influence mental health through this pathway.
Health & Medical · Studypool