The biological basis of behavior is a fascinating topic in its’ own right, but for those of us who spend our time observing and trying to ‘figure out’ specific behaviors, understanding the relationship between the brain and behavior may hold an extra level of interest. This course is intended to provide foundational knowledge for dog trainers, behavioral consultants, or any behavior geek interested in the relationship between the brain and behavior. We will cover topics including functional neuroanatomy and neurochemistry, how the brain produces sensation (e.g., smell, touch, taste, vision, and hearing), learns from experience and remembers those experiences, and how it regulates emotions and motivation. This course is for anyone interested in the brain and behavior! No prior knowledge of neuroscience is needed. A note to students: We’re learning together because we’re interested in dogs and brains, but a lot of what we know about the brain and behavior is from the study of humans and ‘model organisms’. Don’t worry – it translates! While there are certainly differences between a human brain and a dog brain, or a rat brain and a human brain, the similarities are so substantial that we’re able to draw many conclusions across species. Other model organisms that we have learned a lot from include flies, worms, squid, slugs, birds, mice, non-human primates, and more. We will discuss animal research in a respectful manner in this course.

Sponsor:APDT
Speaker(s):Marsha Penner Ph.D., KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA

Contact: Jennifer Voss Franco
 Email: education@apdt.com
 Phone: 859-219-3592
 Web: https://www.pathlms.com/apdt/courses/27484