Human neuroscience

Psyc 160b
Sc credit

Prof: Jeremy Gray

TF: Alice Albrecht
Human neuroscience: Neural bases of psych function
• Representation: a model of (part of) the world
• Transformation: going beyond the given
• Valuation: goodness or badness
1988: First functional imaging study
“Localization of cognitive
operations in the human brain”

Posner Peterson Fox & Raichle 1988

Localization of
cognitive operations (= function)
in the (living) human brain
Hypothesis:
different computation = different substrate
spatial separation (localization) of function
Same stimuli, different tasks:
• Physical (visual)
• Phonological (sound)
• Semantic (meaning)
Now you will see some words.
JUST READ each word silently.
hammer
froot-loop
brain
Now you will see some more words.
Say each word OUT LOUD.
hammer
froot-loop
brain
 Now close your eyes (no peeking!)
Just LISTEN as I say each word out loud.
hammer
froot-loop
brain
 Now you will see some nouns.
SAY A VERB that is related to each noun.
hammer
froot-loop
brain
You’ll see a fixation point ( + )

Just look at it.

+
+
+
 Hammer, froot-loop, brain

• The words were always the same

• You did different things with the words
– visual & auditory modality
– passive, active, & transformative
Different representations in the brain
+ only view hear

say say a verb

Measure blood-flow during task,
then compare conditions

view hear

repeat say new

The network changes with
experience:
NAIVE PRACTICED NOVEL
The brain mediates the mind:
localized computations

How far can we push this view?

Can neurosci explain all mental life?
 What does this course cover?
• An introduction to human neuroscience
• Key principles: localization of function, esp as
representation, transformation, valuation
• Key methods: cog sci, fMRI, patients, ERPs
• How we make inferences
• Topics: language, attention, memory,
cognitive control, social processes, emotion
• Mostly human studies, some animal
 Goals of the course
• Master key themes
• Understand key methods
• Appreciate context (ethical, societal)
• Read original research articles
• Develop critical thinking
GET a VIRTUAL brain

sylvius4
comes with the
textbook

BrainVoyager Brain Tutor

free download
Requirements
• lectures
• reading: textbook, papers
• personal integrity

Grading
• midterm exams (2) 25% x 2
• final exam 30%
• short papers (4) 20%
Questions?
• syllabus = classesv2 Psyc 160b
• textbook = Purves et al
• readings = classesv2
• hardcopies = in class
• all announcements by email - sign up!

jeremy.gray @ yale.edu

alice.albrecht @ yale.edu