Subject: USNA

Term: Summer 2024

USNA 285: The Science of Madness: An Historical Investigation of Mental Illness (800/3309)

TWR 04:00-05:30 PM Jun 03-Jul 31

Burgess-Van Aken, B

Since antiquity the western world's understanding of mental illness has continued to evolve. This course will examine the trajectory of that evolution, looking at the medical theories that have influenced assumptions about the causes and treatments of mental illness from the early modern era through the twenty-first century. Examples of questions we will investigate include: How we have defined the normal and the pathological in human mental behavior over time? How do we explain the centuries-old correlation that medicine has made between creativity and mental illness? Which past and present psychiatric treatments have been beneficial and which harmful? How did Darwin's theory of evolution affect theories of mental illness (and how does it continue to do so with the advent of evolutionary psychology)? How have changing philosophies of science affected the research and practice of psychology? How and why do the sciences of the mind--psychiatry, psychoanalysis, clinical psychology, psychopharmacology, the cognitive neurosciences--claim so much scientific authority and exert influence over our lives today? As a frame work for this inquiry, the class will use the concept of paradigm shifts as Thomas Kuhn defines in his classic work, the Structure of Scientific Revolutions.

USNA 289A: Antibiotics: From Miracle Drugs to Superbugs (100/3311)

MTWR 10:30-11:40 AM Jun 03-Jul 31

Wang, S

Since the discovery of penicillin in 1928, antibiotics have become an essential drug in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections. They are used to cure sexually transmitted diseases, to ward off complications after surgery, and to boost the yield and safety of our food supply. This widespread use has created a significant problem: antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" are emerging at an alarming rate. It has been estimated that the useful lifetime of an antibiotic is only eight years. What can physicians, patients, policy-makers, corporations, and consumers do to address this trend? In this seminar, we will examine the science and history of antibiotics, some of the reasons for their overuse, and possible solutions to the problem of antibiotic resistance.

USNA 289F: Biology of Sleep and Dreams (800/3310)

TWR 12:00-01:30 PM Jun 03-Jul 31

Moawad, H

Sleep is a fundamental to human survival, yet the physical and emotional components of sleep are only partially understood. In this seminar, students will investigate unanswered questions about the biology of sleep and dreams, including how sleep impacts and is impacted by wakefulness. We will read about and discuss the meaning of consciousness and the changes that occur in the body during wakefulness, sleep, and dreaming. And we will examine these states primarily from the biological perspective, with attention to the psychological and social influences and effects as well. In applying these perspectives, students will develop familiarity with approaches used to study sleep physiology, including the use of objective measures of altered states of consciousness, as well as narrative descriptions of individuals' experiences when normal sleep patterns are disrupted. In addition, students will investigate their own sleep and dreams.

USNA 290K: The Neurobiology of Trauma (800/3318)

MTW 12:00-01:30 PM Jun 03-Jul 31

Bedell, A

Can your body remember trauma? In what ways does unhealed trauma manifest within individuals and society? How does trauma spill from one generation to the next? This course provides an overview and theoretical background of trauma, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and the impact of early trauma and toxic stress have on individuals, communities, and organizations. We will explore the wide range of manifestations and responses to trauma from the cognitive, emotional, interpersonal, and physical perspectives. A focus will be placed on the neurobiological effects of adversity on brain development and how health and learning can be affected throughout the lifespan. In addition to adversity experienced at the individual level, we will also explore the prevalence and impact of trauma experienced at the community level. Through varying projects that develop writing, critical thinking, and communication skills, our class will engage with evidence-based approaches and trauma-informed frameworks that promote healing and recovery. Students will not only become aware of trauma, its prevalence, and related effects, but they will also develop a deeper understanding of those affected by trauma and apply this knowledge to their own life, to those around them, to their communities, and to their professions.