22 Making Connections (IntroPSYC and the World Health Organization): Making connections with neurons, health, and education
By Meghan E. Norris and Riley J.T. Bonar
Welcome to our unit on neurons!
Sometimes we hear from students that they are not interested in learning about biology, and that they are more interested in the “social side” of working with people. We understand that there can sometimes be a felt disconnect between biology and working with “real people” in front of us. We are hoping to get you excited in this unit, and to make the importance of neurobiology in psychology clear. Understanding neurons, and neurobiology more broadly, is important not only for psychology, but also for for global health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), neurological conditions are the leading cause of ill health and disability, with over 1 in 3 people affected worldwide (WHO, 2025).
Understanding neurobiology is also important for those working in education. To make connections between neuroscience and teaching practices, we invite you to watch the below optional video with Dr. Sandra Van Aalderen.
If you are interested in learning more about the connections between neurobiology and public health, we invite you to read the WHO’s Global Status Report on Neurology Executive Summary (2026).
If neurons are an area of interest for you, we encourage you to check out the work of Dr. Jason Gallivan who studies the cognitive and neural basis of goal-directed action.
References:
van Aalderen, S. (2016, April 19). Teachers, know your brain! TEDxAmsterdamED [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz87r90Tf1I
World Health Organization. (2025, October). Global status report on neurology. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116139
World Health Organization. (2025, October). Global status report on neurology: Executive summary. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/B09657
How to cite this using APA Style:
Norris, M. E., & Bonar, R. J. T. (2026). Making connections (IntroPSYC and the World Health Organization): Making connections with neurons, health, and education. In PSYC 100: Principles of psychology. eCampusOntario. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/testbookje/chapter/making-connections-intropsyc-and-the-world-health-organization-making-connections-with-neurons-health-and-education/
