How does the brain support our behaviors, such as our ability to learn, to remember, or process incoming information?
We will start with the basics of how the brain supports the senses with a focus on vision. This will start with the development of brain regions all the way up to how specific brain regions support certain visual processing (for example: how are we able to read?)
We will then discuss how modern neuroscience and psychology understands more complex processes such as language, emotion, learning and memory, and creativity. How do multiple brain regions support these complex processes? How do we study this in a robust manner? How do these vary at the individual level (i.e. how may your brain support behaviors that are unique to you)?
The class will introduce the broad landscape of the field of cognitive neuroscience through both readings and through doing hands-on psychological experiments. A lot of science is meant to be read by scientists, but when it comes to something as inherently interesting and relatable as the brain, it is important to make this material digestible, and that is the scope of the course!