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Hi my name is Caroline Feldman. I am a junior at Haverford, but I am majoring in Biology at Bryn Mawr. I have never taken a neurobiology course before and I am excited to learn more about the topic. Animal behavior always has fascinated me and I would really like to explore that topic. Actually, merging human and animal models of brain and behavior raises an interesting point: Do homologous brain regions among vertebrates, or at least mammals, guarantee similar neural processes? This is a difficult question. If the brain were a computer, then it would be easier to predict that two computers with the same architecture and processor would show similar "physiology." However, matching neural blueprints are no guarantee of consistent responses. Two species may both possess a structurally similar region of the brain, yet the size of that region relative to the rest of the brain may differ.

I also play on the Haverford Women’s basketball team and athletics has always been a big part of my life and daily activity. Another question I would like to explore is what motivates people to be active and athletic? How do kids become interested in sports? I would like to understand the neural processes of motivation as they relate to athleticism. This involves understanding, at the most basic level, the foundations of motivation and then of course exploringthe topic on a more scientific level. I am looking forward to taking this class and learning from other students.