Have you always found the brain fascinating but you just don’t know where to start? We are here to help!
Neuroscience may sound daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. There are ample resources online that are suitable for everyone and all levels. Here’s a list of the best (and free!) resources available for all neuroscience enthusiasts:
Websites
Neuroscience For Kids:
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/introb.html
As its name suggests, this website is targeted at kids. Nonetheless, it is a brilliant resource for all neuroscience beginners! It covers a huge variety of topics, ranging from how we sleep, to why we laugh as well as common mental disorders. It does so in a straightforward, simple way that is easy to follow.
For the AI lovers and tech savvy:
http://learn.neurotechedu.com/lessons/
NeuroTechX created an online module about brain-computer interfaces. It covers what makes up a brain-computer interface, how it is made and some of the current technologies in the field.
Instagram Accounts
The Brain Scientist:
Daniel (aka The Brain Scientist) is a neuroscientist at UCLA who shares bite-sized information about various areas of neuroscience, along with some captivating images of the nervous system. He also shares his daily life in the lab (pre-COVID, at least), so if you are interested in the day-to-day life of a neuroscientist, this is the page for you.
Basically Brain:
Another great instagram account is Basically Brain. They aim to educate the general public on psychotherapy and mental health through their daily informative posts that cover a wide range of psychological disorders.
Books
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales by Oliver Sacks

Oliver Sacks, a physician and a neurology professor, shares some unusual case studies of his patients in “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat”. Each chapter tells the story of a different patient with a rare neurological disorder. The book is interesting and informative; some technical language is used but Sacks does a great job at keeping it relatively simple and readable for everyone.
Youtube
Neuroscience Crash Course
CrashCourse is a great resource for all science students and enthusiasts. Hank, the presenter, is a self-proclaimed geek who delivers a huge range of scientific topics in an engaging and highly informative format. This special edition of CrashCourse, in collaboration with the British Neuroscience Association, covers the nervous system and the brain.
Podcasts
Podcasts are great as they cover a wide breadth of topics while also keeping it light and fun. Two podcasts that we found particularly enjoyable are “A Neuroscientist Explains” and “Naked Neuroscience”. Both podcasts are made by respected neuroscientists who cover, in a simple and digestible format, various neurological concepts. The episodes are short (up to 1 hour) and they target a different topic each time.
A Neuroscientist Explains by Dr. Daniel Glaser and the Guardian
Naked Neuroscience by Dr. Katie Haylor and BBC
Online Course
Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life by Professor Peggy Mason, offered through The University of Chicago and Coursera.
https://www.coursera.org/learn/neurobiology#about
This is a great course for beginners as it covers everything for brain electricity and neuronal connection to the gross brain. It is interactive and flexible, as you can do it at your own pace (typically takes about 28 hours to complete). When the course is completed you can even get a certificate, so apart from learning the basics of neuroscience, it will also look great on your CV!
We hope you enjoy these great resources and learn a bit more about the brain. Let us know if there are any more available resources that we can share with our fellow neuro enthusiasts!