Notes on Lecture: The Human Brain - Prof. Nancy Kanwisher

Introduction

• Prof. Nancy Kanwisher provides an overview of the course
• Class focus: The human brain, its organization, resilience, and recovery from damage
• Agenda: Story of a friend (Bob) related to brain health, discussion on the importance of studying the brain

Story: Bob's Medical Situation

• Background: Bob, a close friend, stays over before a conference
• Incident: Bob collapses in the morning; emergency response team arrives
  • Initial assessments show no immediate issues
  • Prof. Kanwisher recalls odd behaviors from Bob previously (navigation deficits)
• Hospital Experience: Bob is taken to ER, undergoing tests
  • Kanwisher stresses concern regarding Bob's memory/navigation issues
  • Eventually a scan of Bob’s brain reveals a meningioma (tumor) next to the navigation region

Key Themes from the Story

1. Brain Organization:
   • Brain has specific regions responsible for distinct functions
2. Specificity of Brain Damage:
   • Damage does not uniformly degrade all intellect; specific skills can be lost.
3. Functions and Structures:
   • Identifying parts of the brain helps in understanding functions and recovery
4. Resilience and Recovery:
   • Recovery potential varies by age and degree of damage; Bob retains some abilities (using GPS for navigation)

Importance of Studying the Brain

1. Understanding Ourselves:
   • Brain underpins personal identity
2. Limits of Human Knowledge:
   • Understanding cognitive processes can elucidate the limits of human knowledge
3. Advancing AI:
   • Learning from human cognitive abilities can inform AI development
4. Greatest Intellectual Quest:
   • Studying the brain is posited as one of the most profound challenges in science

How to Study the Brain

• Levels of Study: From molecular interactions to neural circuitry
• Focus of the Course:
  • Investigate how the brain produces mental functions
  • Explore cognitive operations such as perception, navigation, and language
  • Involves comparing cognitive functions with brain structures

Methods to Explore the Brain

• Cognitive Science Techniques:
  • Psychophysics, perceptual illusions
• Neuropsychological Studies:
  • Observing patients with brain damage (like Bob)
• Imaging Techniques:
  • fMRI, electrophysiology
  • EEG, MEG, diffusion tractography

Course Structure

1. Introduction: Overview of the course, upcoming lectures
2. Neuroanatomy Overview: Basic brain structure
3. Guest Lectures: Focus on specific neuroscience topics and methodological approaches
4. Discussion of Methods: Analyze and compare different ways to gauge brain function

Goals and Assignments

• Grading:
  • Standard grading system, including midterms, finals, and written assignments
• Papers: Read original research articles, critique, and present understanding
• Learning Methodology:
  • Understand practical applications of scientific research versus rote memorization.

Conclusion

• Anticipated Challenges: Learning to read and understand scientific papers
• Student Engagement: Encouragement to discuss questions and issues in learning
• Looking Forward: Outlining topics to be covered, including deep brain structures and cognitive mechanisms.