The Human Brain - Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Class Title: 9.13 The Human Brain
• Professor: Nancy Camwisher
• Agenda for Today:
  • Brief story (~10 minutes)
  • Why, how, and what of studying the human brain
  • Mechanics and details of the course (grades, syllabus)

Brief Story

• Not examinable content; serves to foreshadow themes in the course
• Story Theme: A true story about a medical situation involving a friend named Bob
  • Incident highlights: nature of the human mind, brain organization, brain damage recovery, resilience, privilege, and expertise
• Key Events:
  • Bob had a medical scare, found unconscious
  • Initial misdiagnosis; later discovered a brain tumor called meningioma
  • Specific symptoms related to navigation despite being otherwise highly functional
  • Importance of specialized neurosurgery for successful outcome
• Outcomes:
  • Bob survived the surgery but did not regain navigational abilities
  • Relies on technology (iPhone GPS) for navigation
• Analysis & Learnings:
  • The brain isn't just a mush; it has structured and specific regions responsible for various functions
  • Brain regions may show extreme specialization
  • Important for understanding the recoverability and malleability of the brain

Why Study the Brain?

• Know Thyself: The brain is central to our identity and function
• Understand Human Knowledge Limits: Study of the mind as empirical epistemology
• Advance AI: Insights from the human brain can bolster AI
  • Deep Nets and their revolution in visual recognition
  • Limitations of AI capturing human-like understanding
• The Greatest Intellectual Quest: Investigating how a physical organ gives rise to the mind

How to Study the Brain?

• Multi-Levels of Organization: Molecules, neurons, circuits, brain regions, and networks
• Focus of Course: Bridging brain function to mental functions (perception, cognition, etc.)

Key Methods

• Psychophysics: Reaction time and accuracy to understand perceptual processes
• Neuroimaging: Functional MRI to identify active brain regions during various tasks
• Neuropsychology: Studying patients with brain damage to identify functional brain areas
• EEG & MEG: Recording electrical/magnetic activities from the brain's surface
• Connectivity Measures: Diffusion tractography to map brain networks

Course Topics

• High-Level Vision: Color, shape, motion, facial recognition
• Scene Perception & Navigation: Understanding spatial awareness
• Developmental Aspects: How the brain wires up during growth
• Number Processing: Brain regions involved in numerical understanding
• Speech & Music: Processing and appreciating auditory stimuli
• Theory of Mind: Understanding others' thoughts and emotions
• Brain Networks: How different regions interact
• Cutting Edge Technologies: Deep learning, Brain-Machine Interfaces

Important Points

• Assessment Method:
  • Midterm: 25%
  • Final: 25%
  • Reading & writing assignments: 40%
  • Quizzes: 10%
• Reading Strategy: Focus on understanding the purpose, findings, and implications of scientific articles
• Why No Textbook: Field is rapidly evolving; course relies on current research papers
• Background Needs: Psych 900 or 901 recommended; supplemental resources provided for those who haven't taken these courses.