1. You have elementary knowledge about the structure and functions of brain regions, the processes in these regions, and their communication as a neural network (FQ 1.1)
2. You are able to explain in general terms how the brain’s anatomy and physiology supports cognitive functions such as perception, motor control, emotions, motivation, learning, memory and language. (FQ 1.1, 1.2, 2.3, 5.1)
3. You are able to reason and explain how deficits in the neural systems lead to specific disorders, including patients with perceptual and motor disorders, depression, aphasia, and  patients with learning and memory disorders (FQ 3.4, 3.5, 5.1)
4. You are able to interpret at a basic level neuroimaging and other representations of neural data (FQ 1.4).

The properties of the brain allow us to perceive, move, think, learn, speak, sleep and experience emotions. The goal of this course is to acquire insight into the way which these behaviours and cognitive processes can be explained from the workings of the brain. Briefly stated, "How does our brain enable behaviour?".

This course is at the intersection of various disciplines. The brain as a living organ is studied in biology (i.e. neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurochemistry and neuropharmacology) and psychology. In addition, abnormal brains are examined in both medical sciences (i.e. neurology and psychiatry) and (neuro)psychology. Within the latter, the main goal is to identify deviations with functional consequences.

Over the past decades there have been several breakthroughs that have accelerated brain research. For example, there are the discoveries that different abnormalities and disorders in behaviour and emotion can be traced back to changes in the brain. The use of new techniques, such as fMRI, optogenetics and DNA sequencing, have contributed to this.