The Human Brain (9.13)

Lecturer: Nancy Kanwisher

Class Logistics

• Lecture start time: 11:05 AM
• Course name: 9.13 The Human Brain
• Professor: Nancy Kanwisher
• Key Agenda: Brief story, why/how/what of studying the human brain, course mechanics (syllabus).

Story: Bob's Medical Incident

• Introduction: True story, changed minor details for privacy.
• Audience: Friends, Cambridge community members, anyone interested in the human brain

The Incident

1. Background: Bob

   • Close friend, known for years
   • Planning to go to a conference; stayed overnight at Prof's house

2. Morning Incident

   • Noise heard by Prof; Bob was on the floor, unresponsive
   • Called 9-1-1; EMTs arrived quickly but found nothing wrong
   • Decided to drive Bob to Mt. Auburn Hospital ER

3. ER Visit

   • Routine tests, nothing conclusive
   • Prof's intuition to “check Bob's brain” due to past signs (e.g., frequent disorientation)
   • Previous scan had shown a small abnormality

4. Discovering the Tumor

   • Radiologist found a lime-sized tumor in Bob’s brain
   • Previous scan from Prof's lab: tumor was the size of a grape
   • Diagnosis: Meningioma (not cancer, but serious)
   • Prof's analysis related to Bob’s navigational deficits

5. Tests Conducted by Prof

   • Sketch maps: home and Prof’s house
   • Couldn’t draw floor plans accurately
   • Drawing exercise: Bicycle (accurate), lobster (accurate)
   • Indicated specific spatial memory issues

6. Surgery and Recovery

   • Lengthy surgery; removed lime-sized tumor
   • Post-op: Bob fine but navigational abilities didn’t recover
   • Dependents on GPS for navigation now

7. Interesting Discussions

   • Immediate spatial orientation vs. navigational planning
   • Other spatial abilities intact
   • Recognizes places but cannot navigate them

Themes from Bob's Story

1. Specialization of the Brain

   • Different brain regions have specific roles
   • Bob had selective navigational issues despite general cognitive health

2. Recovery and Plasticity

   • Specific brain damage recovery is limited in adults
   • Children have higher plasticity

3. Studying the Brain

   • Behavioral observations: Key insights (Bob could navigate using GPS but not otherwise)
   • Anatomical images: Localization of abnormalities
   • Functional Imaging: Understanding impact on cognitive functions

Lecture Key Points

Why Study the Human Brain?

1. Self-Knowledge: Understanding our identity and functioning
2. Limits of Knowledge: Empirical epistemology - knowing the knower
3. AI and Machine Learning: Improved understanding aids AI development
4. Intellectual Quest: Profound understanding of human existence

How We’ll Study the Brain?

1. Levels of Organization: Molecules, neurons, circuits, brain regions
2. Understanding the Mind: Perception, cognition, etc.
3. Methods: Psychophysics, neuropsychology, MRI, EEG

The Human Brain’s Organization

1. Historical Knowledge: Limited understanding before 1990
2. Current Understanding: Dozens of specific brain regions identified

Key Functional Domains Covered in the Course

• Visual perception, navigation, language, music, social cognition, etc.
• Methods across cognitive science: Psychophysics, neuroimaging, and more

To be Discussed

1. Mental Functions: Specialization
2. Developmental Aspects: How brain regions develop
3. Technology Integration: Deep Nets and their implications
4. Neurological Basis: How specific regions contribute to mental functions
5. Shortcomings: Areas not covered extensively (e.g., motor control, memory)
6. Cutting Edge Research: Reading and analyzing recent research papers

Course Logistics Again

• No Textbook: Current research papers instead
• Assignments: Regular readings and written responses
• Quizzes: To ensure engagement
• Grading: Midterm (25%), Final (25%), Assignments, and Quizzes
• Final Assignment: Design an experiment

Summary and Reflection

• Engagement: Responding to student feedback
• Focus: Cognitive neuroscience as it relates to mental functioning