🎓 Brain and Consciousness: From Neuroscience Theory to Experiment

Dmitri Filimonov (PhD Candidate) English Course

This open course invites curious non-specialists to explore a scientific framework for the nature of consciousness. We begin by dismantling assumptions—strictly separating consciousness from intelligence or attention—before zooming out to tackle the famous "Hard Problem."

Together, we will explore major neurobiological theories and analyze the Neural Correlates of Consciousness (NCC) to understand the real link between brain activity and subjective experience.

You will leave with more than just knowledge; you will sharpen your ability to evaluate scientific claims, navigate complex philosophy, and think scientifically about your own mind.

No prior medical or academic background is required.

🎓 Register

📞 (+372) 555 73 711

About the Course

🎓 Brain and Consciousness: From Neuroscience Theory to Experiment

Session 1: Properties and Dimensions of Consciousness

Session 2: History of The Concept, State of The Art

Session 3: The Laboratory Methods

Session 4: Philosophy of Consciousness

Session 5: Consciousness Battles and Group Workshop

Session 6: Neurobiological Theories of Consciousness

Session 7: Neural Correlates of Consciousness

Session 8: Designing a Scientific Experiment on Consciousness

✏️ Learning Methods

🏁 Ceritification

Full Price

€45 x 8 = €360

Purchase by March 30, 2026, to get a €70 discount. Use promo code: NEUROBIRD. Includes full access to 8 sessions and course materials. By the end of the course participant get the certificate of completion.

🪄 Purchase Course

Membership

€65/month

Purchase the Open Neuroscience community membership for €65/month today and get full access to this program's course and all upcoming events during the period of your subscription.

Become Member

📖 Course Programme

The course consists of 8 sessions over 2 months, covering topics from theory and neuroscience philosophy to practical exercises and experiments.

Session 1: Properties and Dimensions of Consciousness

Lecture

The first session strictly defines what consciousness is and what it is not, distinguishing it from attention, intelligence, and arousal. Session maps the core dimensions of the field, including state and content, phenomenology, and function.

Outcomes: You will understand the precise meaning, features, and boundaries of the term “consciousness”.

🎓 Join Session 1

Session 2: History of The Concept, State of The Art

Lecture Practicum Discussion

The second session traces the historical evolution of the concept and invites participants to test their own intuitions. Through practical work, the class explores how to turn personal ideas into a clear question map.

Outcomes: You will master the process of conceptualizing abstract ideas and raising scientific questions about the mind.

🎓 Join Session 2

Session 3: The Laboratory Methods

Lecture

This lecture explores the toolkit of modern neuroscience, examining how researchers move from hypothesis to measurement. It explains the logic behind tools like EEG, fMRI, and TMS, and demonstrates what physiological data can actually reveal about subjective reports.

Outcomes: You will understand how consciousness is studied empirically via scientific laboratory experiments.

🎓 Join Session 3

Session 4: Philosophy of Consciousness

Lecture

This session navigates the "Hard Problem" and the conceptual disagreements of the field, covering physicalism, dualism, and illusionism. It teaches why definitions matter scientifically and distinguishes between phenomenal and access consciousness.

Outcome: You will understand deep-rooted philosophical positions and gain a profound grasp of the phenomena at stake.

🎓 Join Session 4

Session 5: Consciousness Battles and Group Workshop

Practicum Workshop

In this debate-style session, the group applies philosophy to sharpen scientific thinking. Teams defend specific positions, identify falsifiability points, and attempt to translate philosophical claims into empirical predictions.

Outcomes: You will be able to choose, formulate, and defend a robust philosophical position.

🎓 Join Session 5

Session 6: Neurobiological Theories of Consciousness

Lecture

This lecture examines the leading neurobiological theories of consciousness, comparing their narrative logic and positions on the emergence of subjective experience.

Outcomes: You will understand the main neuroscience theories and gain general knowledge on how the human brain functions.

🎓 Join Session 6

Session 7: Neural Correlates of Consciousness

Lecture

The session focuses on the Neural Correlates of Consciousness, identifying the brain activity linked to subjective experience—distinguishing true correlates from confounds, and discussing competing views on brain activation (e.g. "front vs. back").

Outcomes: You will understand the main neurophysiological mechanisms attributed to consciousness in the human brain.

🎓 Join Session 7

Session 8: Designing a Scientific Experiment on Consciousness

Workshop

In this final team-based design studio, participant build a minimal but coherent study of consciousness. The group picks a concrete question, operationalises consciousness, chooses a method, and predicts outcomes for competing explanations.

Outcomes: You will design your own experiment and train scientific thinking skills applying gained knowledge and skills from the course.

🎓 Join Session 8

✏️ Learning Methods

The course suggests experience beyond passive listening and combines clear, conceptually scaffolded lectures with interactive workshops and "lab literacy" exercises. You will not just learn about neuroscience but learn how to think like a scientist. We will analyze case studies of classic findings—spanning anaesthesia, sleep, and behavioural paradigms—and unpack the logic behind tools like fMRI, EEG, and TMS. The journey culminates in a final practicum where you will work in teams to design your own consciousness experiment, turning abstract philosophical questions into testable scientific hypotheses.

🏁 Ceritification

Upon successful completion of the full course and the final practicum, all participants will receive a Certificate of Completion from Quadrivium Academy.

Page updated

Report abuse