Lecture Notes: 913 - The Human Brain

Introduction

Instructor: Nancy Kamwisher
Class Overview: Today's lecture will cover:
1. A brief story (10 minutes)
2. Discussion on the why, how, and what of studying the human brain
3. Course mechanics and grading details
Purpose: To understand the organization and function of the human brain and its relation to the mind.

Main Character: "Bob", a close friend of Nancy's
Situation: Bob experiences a medical emergency while staying over at Nancy's house.
- Bob wakes up, shuffles, falls and is not responsive.
- Nancy calls 911, EMTs arrive and take Bob to the ER.
- Initial tests show nothing wrong but Nancy suggests they check Bob's brain due to previously observed signs of disorientation.

Brain Organization: Different parts of the brain perform distinct functions.
Recovery from Brain Damage: The ability to recover after brain damage differs based on age and type of damage.
Resilience and Privilege: The importance of knowledge, expertise, and access to medical resources in recovery.

Signs of cognitive decline:
- Issues with navigation and spatial awareness.
- Examples of Bob getting lost and not being able to give directions.
The contrast between Bob's high cognitive functioning (successful career, social skills) and his navigation issues.

Bob had a brain scan that revealed a lime-sized tumor, later identified as a meningioma (non-cancerous).
The tumor was located near regions associated with navigation.
Bob underwent successful surgery and initially recovered well.

Bob retains cognitive skills but has persistent navigation issues, relying on GPS for assistance.
Importance of understanding brain functions and their implications for cognitive abilities.

Brain Structure: The brain is organized and has specialized regions for different functions.
Specificity of Brain Functions: Certain brain areas are dedicated to very specific mental abilities.
Understanding the Mind: The organization of the brain reflects the architecture of the mind.
Brain Plasticity: Recovery from brain damage varies; younger brains tend to be more adaptable.
Research Methods: Numerous ways to study the brain, including neuropsychology, functional imaging, and behavioral experiments.

Know Thyself: Understanding the brain helps us learn about our identity and cognitive capabilities.
Limitations of Knowledge: Studying the brain helps identify what humans might be unable to comprehend.
Advancements in AI: Insights from brain studies can inform artificial intelligence development.
Intellectual Quest: Exploring the brain is one of the greatest intellectual challenges of our time.

Focus on understanding mental functions: perception, language, and cognition.
Explore various methods: psychophysics, neuropsychology, neuroimaging techniques.
Analyze the brain basis of specific cognitive functions.

Topics include high-level vision, navigation, language, and social cognition.
Emphasis on understanding mental processes and their neural correlates rather than rote memorization.

Grading Structure: Midterm (25%), Final (25%), reading/writing assignments, and quizzes.
Reading Assignments: Current research papers rather than textbooks.
Quizzes: Short assessments to gauge understanding of course material.

Next class will cover basic neuroanatomy and will include a live brain dissection demonstration.
Reminder about the importance of understanding the methods and how to read scientific papers critically.