Lecture Notes: The Human Brain

Introduction

• Date & Professor: September 13, Professor Nancy Kanwisher
• Objective: Overview of the course, including an introductory story and course mechanics.

Course Agenda

1. Brief personal story (10 minutes)
2. Discuss the Why, How, and What of studying the human brain
3. Course mechanics and grading details (covered in the syllabus)

Story About Bob

• Context: A true story about a close friend, Bob, who experienced a medical emergency.
• Incident:
  • Bob was staying over before a conference.
  • Bob collapsed in the morning and was unresponsive initially.
• Ambulance Response: EMTs checked vitals but found nothing initially wrong.
• Hospital Experience: After many tests without answers, the professor suggested scanning Bob's brain due to prior concerns about Bob's navigational abilities.
• Key Observations:
  • Bob had shown signs of navigational deficits over the years.
  • Despite being intelligent and successful, he had trouble with directions, raising concerns about potential brain issues.
• Diagnosis:
  • Later scans revealed a tumor (meningioma) in Bob's brain, indicating slow growth and was not cancerous.
  • Importance of finding a skilled neurosurgeon for successful surgery.
• Surgery Outcome: Bob had successful surgery, but his navigational abilities did not return. He now relies on GPS for navigation.

Themes from the Story

1. Brain Structure & Function: Different brain parts have specific roles, and damage doesn't universally impair intelligence (Bob's IQ remained intact).
2. Specialized Brain Functions: Some brain regions handle specific tasks, and damage may result in loss of particular abilities while others remain intact.
3. Plasticity of the Brain: Recovery from brain damage varies, especially between children and adults.
4. Diverse Methods for Brain Study: Including behavioral observations, anatomical images, and functional brain scans.
5. Understanding the Mind: The relationship between brain structure and mental processes.

Why Study the Brain?

1. Know Thyself: Understanding the brain is key to understanding human identity.
2. Limits of Knowledge: Exploring the mind can reveal the limits of human understanding.
3. Advancing AI: Insights from human cognition can inform advancements in artificial intelligence.
4. Great Intellectual Quest: Studying the brain is considered a significant intellectual pursuit.

How to Study the Brain

• Levels of Organization: Study can range from molecular interactions to brain regions and networks.
• Focus on the Mind: Aim to understand how the brain produces the mind and mental functions.
• Methods: Will cover cognitive science, neuropsychology, fMRI, EEG, etc.

Course Structure & Topics

• Focus on well-understood mental functions related to perception, cognition, and high-level vision.
• Major topics include:
  • Visual perception
  • Scene perception and navigation
  • Language understanding
  • Understanding others' minds (theory of mind)
  • Brain networks and their interactions.

Grading & Assignments

• Grade Distribution:
  • Midterm: 25%
  • Final Exam: 25%
  • Reading & writing assignments: 2 papers per week with written responses.
• Emphasis on understanding and reading current research papers in the field.

Conclusion

• Next Steps: Brief introduction to neuroanatomy and a live brain dissection demonstration.
• Reading Papers: Guidance on how to approach reading scientific papers, focusing on main questions, findings, and interpretations.