Basic Overview of Human Brain Course

Class introduction by Nancy Kanwisher at 11:05 AM.
The course is titled "Nine Thirteen, The Human Brain".
Professor Kanwisher emphasizes she has a brain and will share insights about its study.

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Class introduction by Nancy Kanwisher at 11:05 AM.
The course is titled "Nine Thirteen, The Human Brain".
Professor Kanwisher emphasizes she has a brain and will share insights about its study.

5x^2

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Storytelling: A brief story to illustrate themes of the course.
Course Mechanics: Discussing how the course will be structured and grading allocations, all detailed in the syllabus.

Setting: A personal story about a close friend, referred to as Bob, who experienced a serious medical situation.
Incident: Bob stayed overnight prior to a conference. The following morning, he was found unconscious on the floor.
Emergency Response: The professor called 911; Bob regained consciousness but initially couldn't explain what happened.
Hospital Experience: Despite tests and monitoring, the medical team initially found no clear problems.

The professor noted Bob had exhibited signs of navigational difficulties for years (showing confusion about familiar locations).
Professor’s expertise led to the suggestion of a brain check, building on her years of research in understanding brain functions.
Her realization of the necessity to seek brain scans emerged during this hospital visit.

A tumor was discovered in Bob's brain, described as a "lime" size, raising concerns around location and function.
The tumor's position was adjacent to the parahippocampal area known for navigation, indicating a possible cause for Bob's navigation difficulties.
Previous data from the professor's lab indicated this region was studied as related to navigational functions and mental mapping.

Brain areas have specific functions, where damage to one part can impair a particular ability (like spatial navigation) without affecting overall intelligence.
Example provided: Bob could still fulfill social roles and tasks despite navigation impairment, illustrating specializations in brain functions.

Long-term Outcomes: Bob's navigation ability did not return after surgery, showcasing the challenges of recovery from specific brain injuries.
Bob relies on technologies (like GPS) for navigation, highlighting adaptations to brain function losses.

Brain Organization: The brain is structured, with distinct parts responsible for specific functions.
Mental Ability Loss: Loss of navigational skills doesn't equate to a general decline in intelligence.
Methods of Study: Utilizes varied approaches including cognitive science, neuropsychology, and brain imaging.
Brain Development: Differences in recovery potential based on age and brain plasticity.

Self-Understanding: The brain defines identity and consciousness.
Understanding Knowledge Limits: Evaluating what human cognition can achieve.
Advancing AI: Insights into brain function contribute to better AI systems, revealing human-like capabilities.
Scientific Inquiry: Deep diving into the brain represents one of the most significant scientific pursuits of our time.

Various levels of organization exist from molecular interactions to entire brain systems.
Focus of the course will be on understanding the relationship of mind functions and their brain basis.

Traditional cognitive science methods (reaction times, perceptual illusions).
Neuropsychology through case studies to identify abilities and losses.
Functional MRI and other techniques for studying brain activity, with an aim to connect cognitive functions with brain regions.

Course organized around significant cognitive functions like perception, language, and navigation with a mix of case studies and neuroanatomy.
Each function assessed for specialized brain mechanisms, including studies on brain injuries, development, and evolution.

Course grading outlined (midterms, final, reading assignments).
Emphasis on understanding current studies rather than memorization, with expectations to engage deeply with research articles.

Students will gain insight into foundational questions in cognitive neuroscience, methods of studying the brain, and the interplay between brain structure and cognitive function.
Engaging primarily with fresh research to ensure relevance and cutting-edge understanding in the neuroscience field.