Lecture Notes: The Human Brain (Class 913)

Instructor: Nancy Kamwisher
Date: [Insert Date]

Introduction

• Welcome and brief overview of the course agenda.
• Focus on the human brain: why, how, and what we will study.
• Overview of class mechanics and grading details.

Story Time

• True Story of Bob:
  • A friend of Nancy's, Bob, experiences a medical emergency while visiting her.
  • Bob has a crash in the morning, and Nancy finds him unresponsive.
  • Ambulance arrives, and Bob seems okay, but there is uncertainty about his brain health.

Key Elements of the Story

• Brain Damage & Recovery:
  • Discussion on the nature of brain injuries, recovery, and resilience.
  • Introduction of themes surrounding privilege and expertise in Cambridge society.
• Bob's Symptoms:
  • Bob had shown signs of navigational difficulties for years (e.g., getting lost, providing incorrect directions).
  • Nancy connects these symptoms with possible brain issues.
• Hospital Visit:
  • Bob is taken to Mount Auburn Hospital's ER.
  • Initial tests find nothing, but Nancy insists on checking Bob's brain.
• Diagnosis:
  • A brain scan reveals a tumor (meningioma) near critical navigational brain regions.
  • Tumor discovery highlights the importance of specialized brain areas in navigation.

Themes and Lessons from the Story

• Brain Organization:
  • Brain is not uniform; different parts serve specific functions (e.g., navigation).
• Specialized Mental Abilities:
  • Damage to specific brain areas can result in the loss of specific abilities while preserving others (intact IQ).
• Challenges of Recovery:
  • Adults may not recover specific skills post-brain damage as children might.
  • Bob uses GPS to compensate for lost navigational skills but remains aware of his deficits.

Why Study the Brain?

1. Know Thyself:
   • Understanding the brain is central to understanding identity and consciousness.
2. Understanding Knowledge Limits:
   • Exploring how the mind works can reveal limits to human knowledge and understanding.
3. Advancing AI:
   • AI can benefit from studying human cognition; existing AI systems have limitations.
4. Intellectual Quest:
   • Studying the brain is a profound intellectual pursuit, offering insights into human nature.

How to Study the Brain

• Multiple levels of organization: molecular, neuronal circuits, brain regions, networks.
• Focus on understanding how the brain gives rise to the mind, starting with mental functions.
• Study methods include:
  • Psychophysics
  • Neuropsychology
  • Functional MRI, EEG, MEG, etc.

Course Topics Overview

• Cognitive Science vs. Biological Properties:
  • Emphasis on cognitive functions: perception, memory, language, navigation, etc.
• Techniques for studying brain functions and their correlates.

Grading Structure

• Midterm Exam: 25%
• Final Exam: 25%
• Reading/Writing Assignments: 50% (approximately two papers per week)
• Quizzes to ensure understanding, scheduled throughout the semester.

Course Format

• Focus on interactive discussions and readings from current research papers rather than textbooks.
• Encourage students to engage with recent findings and understand the cutting edge of cognitive neuroscience.

Upcoming Classes

• Next class will cover basic neuroanatomy and a live brain dissection demonstration.
• Ensure familiarity with core concepts before attending the dissection.

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Note: Adjust the date and any specific examples from the class as needed.