Lecture 1: The Human Brain
Introduction
- Professor: Nancy Camwisher
- Course: 9.13 The Human Brain
- Agenda:
- Brief story
- Why, how, and what of studying the human brain
- Course mechanics and grading
Story Overview
- True story about a medical situation involving a friend, "Bob"
- Themes:
- Human mind and brain organization
- Recovery after brain damage
- Resilience, privilege, expertise
Bob's Medical Incident
- Bob's symptoms: frequently got lost, displayed navigational issues
- Incident: Collapsed at friend's house, seemed fine after medical check
- Nancy suspected a brain issue due to navigational symptoms
- Discovery: A lime-sized tumor in Bob’s brain near navigational regions
Implications and Outcomes
- Tumor: Meningioma, not cancer, slow-growing
- Surgery successful, but Bob did not recover navigational abilities
- Relies on iPhone GPS for navigation
Themes Highlighted in Story
- Brain Structure and Function
- Different parts of the brain perform different functions
- Specific loss of mental ability (navigation) without overall cognitive decline
- Specificity of Brain Functions
- Some brain regions are highly specialized
- Brain Organization and Mind Architecture
- Brain study helps understand mental processes
- Recovery and Plasticity
- Adults vs. children in recovery post-brain damage
- Methods of Brain Study
- Behavioral observations, anatomical images, functional images
Why Study the Brain?
- Know thyself: Brain as identity
- Understand human knowledge limits
- Advance AI, where machines emulate human-like abilities
- Greatest intellectual pursuit
How to Study the Brain
- Levels of organization: molecules, neurons, circuits, regions, networks
- Focus: How brain functions give rise to the mind
- Methods:
- Cognitive science (psychophysics, illusions)
- Neuropsychology, MRI, neurophysiology, EEG, connectivity measures
Course Focus
- Functions with known brain bases: perception, recognition, understanding language, music
- Human-specific functions in later lectures
- Emphasis on cognitive science intersections
Grading and Assignments
- Midterm and final exams
- Regular reading and writing assignments
- In-class quizzes to encourage consistent engagement
- Longer written assignment designing an experiment
Additional Notes
- No textbook; focus on cutting-edge research
- Importance of understanding scientific papers
- Methods and strategies for reading and interpreting research papers
Upcoming Topics
- Neuroanatomy basics, brain dissection
- High-level vision and visual perception
- Development and navigation systems
- Unique human cognitive functions
These notes encapsulate the main points and structure of the lecture, serving as a guide to the course content and philosophy.