Fifth week

This week’s lecture was about sensory systems more precisely, olfaction and vision, through a chemical perspective.

Prior to this lecture I was already very curious because I never had any classes geared towards more detailed information about both those regions. It was something I really wanted to understand better, being that they are so important to human life. It is inconceivable to me how one can go through life without both. But maybe, putting it in perspective, it is a different way to live and view this world, a different way to gather information that exists around us.

During this course, I have come to realize that the brain is really the connection to everything we do. Now I understand better why, for example, something may be good in my perspective and for another person it is not the same. It is really fulfilling to continue gathering more knowledge about the brain and to understand the connections made by this little and important organ.

It was interesting to learn about the fact that there are a lot of different tastes and small sensors for different molecules. Before I thought they would be something completely different, so I was surprised to find out that taste and smell are actually quite similar.

I also really enjoyed learning more about migraines. You see, I have migraines and in my physical experience, I thought this pain came from the brain, but now I know it is not true, since the brain does not have sensores tissues. It is really enjoyable to be able to continue to learn in order to break these notions that we had, and truly educate ourselves on how things actually work. The fun fact is also if we cup the brain we do not feel pain, it is like cupping the nails.

This week, we had also a virtual excursion to AMI, I really enjoyed it because we were able to see the laboratories and equipment. I did not know what the neuroscience research center at Aalto was like, so I was really impressed and amazed with everything. I found it very interesting to learn about the application of multiple imaging.