Hi Bioverse!
This week, I’ve been taking a pre-college neuroscience course through Columbia University, and I wanted to share some of the most fascinating things I’ve learned—especially where they overlap with anthropology. Here’s a day-by-day highlight reel of my experience:
Day One – Understanding Pain and Inflammation
We explored what pain really is—it’s not just discomfort, but often the nervous system detecting tissue damage, a process called nociception. We also learned about inflammation and how ion channels work. These channels are made of proteins within the plasma membrane and usually stay “gated” to regulate ion flow, though they can open when needed. While we didn’t dive deeply into the human brain on this day, we gained a lot of insight into how complex nervous systems function.
Day Two – Brain Anatomy and Phineas Gage
We studied the famous case of Phineas Gage, a railroad worker who survived a severe brain injury when a metal rod pierced his left frontal lobe. Although he lived for 11 more years, his personality changed dramatically—he became more impulsive and struggled with social behavior. This is because the prefrontal cortex, which was damaged, is responsible for emotion regulation, decision-making, and social interaction. Interestingly, humans have a uniquely developed prefrontal cortex, which plays a major role in our ability to think rationally and connect with others.
Day Three – Rationalism vs. Empiricism
We discussed two ways of knowing: rationalism (innate knowledge, like breathing) and empiricism (learned knowledge, like speaking a language). For example, no one teaches you how to breathe—but you have to learn to talk. This got me thinking about how many things humans do that fall under empiricism: reading, writing, drawing, dancing. These skills may not be necessary for survival, but they’re central to human culture, creativity, and identity—an area where anthropology and neuroscience beautifully intersect.
Day Four – Touch Receptors in the Skin
We examined three types of mechanoreceptors in the skin: Pacinian corpuscles, Merkel cells, and Meissner’s corpuscles. Each responds to different types of mechanical stimuli—like pressure, vibration, and texture—helping us interpret the physical world around us.
Day Five – The Motor System
We wrapped up the week by looking at how we move. Every motor action involves four key stages: planning, coordination, execution, and muscle contraction. Different parts of the central nervous system are responsible for each. For instance, the cerebral cortex handles execution, while the cerebellum manages coordination. It’s incredible how our brain orchestrates something as simple as lifting a finger through such a complex system.
Kyra's Bioverse 