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 Other neurobiological courses I have taken previously in the bi-co have basically encompassed categories of summarized previous research on powerpoint slides. This method of teaching is essential to develop what has become factual knowledge in detail, and allows us to be aware of how the brain works. For me, neurobiology and behavior has added a component of intense analyzation to make me think about not only this is how it is, but what does it mean because it is this way.

As the weeks went on, one idea that grew stronger in me that our I-function, or consciousness, is only one part of the brain and not the whole brain. This notion that there  is another part of the brain apart from our concsiousness, gained more and more influence as we learned more about the functions of this part of the brain. I started to embrace this dichotomy of the conscious and unconscious brains and I was first scared and questioned how much actual control I have over my own body.

Learning about such things like our neurons, cells I thought to just transmit information, actually can do much more than that such as arithmetic which decides if information gets passed on or not, without me being aware of it. Also that we have proprioceptors and corollary discharge signals which allow different parts of the brain to communicate information to each other, and central pattern generators which are programmed patterns of behavior innate in our brains as we saw by studying lobsters and grasshoppers. Furthermore studying spastic paralysis and how those with damage to the cortex could not move their arms, but when a beach ball was thrown at them they could block it especially highlighted the differences between conscious and unconscious control. Also studying about how the picture in the head is different from the picture on the retina, our brains fill in the blind spots  and is a creation of our brain highlighted how reality is subjective for each individual and is a creation of the unconscious brain.  Our brain creates many things including colors that dont exist. When we see two different wavelengths of light our brain combines them together. Color is the creation of our unconscious brain.

 These conclusions that we drew during every class enforced the idea of an unconscious and conscious nervous system, and that our realities are creations of the brain. It put reality into perspective for me in that I am aware of the differences in realities for each person. Furthermore, these functions of the unconscious brain even though at first caused fear in me, I have come to realize that even though the I-function is not central to the nervous system, the rest of the nervous system exists so that our I-function can focus on other things. If we had to constantly be spatially figure out where things are, or looking at worlds with blind spots, or figuring out how to move our body instead of just being able to do it when we want to, our minds would be forever occupied. These central pattern generators, arithmatic neurons, and functions that fill in the blind spot serve to allow our I-functions to be free from these responsibilities so we can focus our conscoius attention elsewhere and lead our own life. I realize, this unconscious part of the brain, allows my I-function to create a reality for myself and control my own destiny. This course has led me to understand and appreciate this other part of the brain much more, and further motivate me to achieve my lifelong goals because I can, and because my brain is constructed in such a way that makes it possible. Furthermore it has also made me question reality, and what truly exists, and what is a creation of my brain. I have become more analytical about the world, more apt to second guess my thoughts and experiences and what can be attributed to this other part of the brain, and this understanding has enhanced my experience of reality.