Syllabus
Shattered Brains and Fractured Minds
Fall 2013
Syllabus subject to modification! Consult the BB regularly for updates.
Course Title:
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Shattered brains and fractured minds : cerebral localization in history and culture
PY2009
4
PY100 Introduction to Psychology or permission
Prof. Sharman Levinson
Wednesdays (period 2 & 3) 12:10-3:05
PV
By appointment or after class from 3:20-4:40
Email: slevinson@aup.edu
Mailbox: Grenelle building,
Course Description
Explanations of psychological phenomena seem to generate more public interest
when findings are related to the brain. In particular, ideas based on localization of
brain function hold a particular appeal. This may lead to an uncritical acceptance of
any evidence as long as it is related to the function of the brain and particularly to a
specified area of the brain. This course provides knowledge and provokes students’
understanding of possible relationships between mind and brain. Tracing scientific
debates on cerebral localization over the course of history we will gain insight into
current unresolved questions about localization and its limits. We will consider
experimental and clinical evidence about cerebral localization focusing on brain
injury (inflicted or accidental) and the interpretation of its consequences in humans
and animals
This course is not a standard course in neuropsychology and is also accessible for
non-psychology students interested in psychological and neuroscience topics. We
will discuss topics and disorders such as face recognition/propagnosia,
language/aphasia, memory/amnesia, proprioception/phantom limbs, awareness of
brain impairment/anosagnosia. We will also consider the history of visualizing and
interpreting brain anatomy and brain functions, the anthropological construction of
“brainhood” or the “cerebral subject”, as well as the role and problems played by
vivisection in brain research. These topics are interwoven with philosophical
considerations about the dissemination of “neuroculture” and its societal
implications.
Learning goals
At the end of this course I would like you to able to:
Describe relationships between brain damage in different parts of the brains and behavioral
abnormalities.
Express ideas about the brain’s role in organizing bodily perception, and discuss ideas about the
relationship between the brain and the “self”.
Describe the brain’s involvement in different types of remembering and forgetting
Discuss ideas on how we recognize faces and objects.
Describe evidence for conscious and unconscious perception and give examples for brain systems
involved in this
Describe how the brain is involved in language and what the evidence is for this
Retrace important events in the history of debates on cerebral localization, and be able to explain
why the history of these debates is relevant to neuroscience today
Understand the importance but also the limits of single case studies for cerebral localization
Understand the contributions of vivisection to neuroscience and neurpsychology but also the
ethical issued raised by vivisection
Have notions of the history of neuroimaging and be able to discuss questions concerning
interpretation
Have notions of the relationship of neuroscience and neuropsychology to other disciplines
Furthermore I would like you to:
Further develop presentation skills.
Practice skills involved in conducting a literature search.
Further develop critical thinking skills.
Further develop writing skills and learn
Be able to develop a clear argument
Grading
Final grades will be based on the following factors (all having equal weight):
Class participation – this is a discussion class so you MUST participate. You will be graded on the effort.
Be prepared to discuss:
o Readings required up to the lecture day (chapters, articles)
o Any articles of interest to the discussion topic (from popular media to scientific journals) –
remember your source of course.
o I will recommend some blogs you can follow so we can also stay informed of current neuroscience
discussions, you should take a look at these blogs periodically
Warning! If I am not satisfied that you have been doing the readings I reserve the right to conduct pop-quizzes.
Presentation on a Neurological Disorder: Each student will give an 15 minute presentation of a case study on a
patient with brain damage (or mental disorder that can be related to the brain, including neurodegenerative
disorders). The student has to report on neuroscience literature (at least 5 primary scholarly sources) that deals
with explanations of the phenomena found in this particular case study/(or possibly case studies but focus on one
in particular, the student must also link the discussion to readings in class including historical readings. You
presentation should include power point and all power point slides are due on October 9 th independently of the
presentation date!!!
Paper on a ‘Neurophilosophical’ Topic: Each student will write a 15 page paper (double spaced, 12 point
Times New Roman font) on a topic that combines neuroscience with philosophy, sociology, technology, art,
literature or other non-psychology, non-neuroscience field. Possible topics are: the internet and the brain,
consciousness/ illusion of reality, emotion and reason, neuroculture, neuro aesthetics, religiosity and the brain. A
complete bibliography will be requested by each student by November 9 for my approval. The final paper must
use the same sources as listed on the approved bibliography. Depending on the topic the number of sources can
vary but a minimum of 8 must be used and no more than 12. In addition to these sources you should also refer to
the historical and philosophical readings assigned for class.
Important: The quality of your presentation and your paper is crucial to your grade. Papers and presentations
should be submitted in a finished form, demonstrating well-thought out arguments, providing supporting
evidence for your arguments, providing sources (that you have read), and must be written in a clear voice. You
are asked to use APA 6th edition style. This means that I do not want any stream of consciousness papers that
have not been spellchecked. There is a Writing Lab on campus (in this building) that can help you out and so can
I.
Reading schedule subject to modification, possibility of museum visits TBA
READINGS CAN BE FOUND ON BB
Septembre (Historical and philosophical background)
S1
S2
S3
11
Presentation of course and objectives
Discussion of students representations of the brain and expectations for the course
Read : Brainhood, Anthropological Figure of Modernity, Cardiocentric Physiology the persistence of a delusion
18 Lecture and Discussion of Brainhood, the “cerebral subject” and “neurochemical selves”
Read: Brain Physiology and the Mind in the Nineteenth Century
25 Lecture and Discussion of Brain Physiology and Mind
Presentation of Basic Relevant Brain Antomy and consequences of Brain Injury to different areas
Read : Cortical Localization
Octobre (Cortical Localization : Discoveries and Debates)
S4
S5
S6
S7
2 Lecture and Discussion of the History of Cortical Localization
Read Localization of Language Function, Leborgne
9 The case of Broca’s famous patient “Tan”
Student Presentations on Neurological disorders or Cases
Read Holism and Criticism of Cortical Localization
16 Lecture : Holism and Cortical Localization : a scientific and political issue, discussion of the debate and current
perspectives
Student Presentations on Neurological disorders or Cases
Read Phineas Gage and the Frontal Lobes and Intellect
23 Lecture and discussion : Phineas Gage yesterday and today, presentation of original documents.
We will analyze these documents together in class
Student Presentations on Neurological disorders or Cases
Read H.M. Articles
Novembre (Case Studies and Neuronarratives)
S8
6 Lecture on H.M and memory, Discussion of H.M. case
S9
S10
S11
Read the Man who mistook his wife for a hat, and history of agnosia
13 Discussion of the Man who mistook his wife for a hat, agnosia, propagnosia, the “neuronarrative” and its
diffusion
Read Ramachandran on Phantom Limbs and (optional : phantom penis), read about early mirror therapy
20 Lecture and Discussion of Phantom Limbs, therapeutic perspectives
Read Sacks the disembodied Lady
27 Discussion of Brain, Body and Self in relation to the Disembodied Lady and Phantom Limbs
Read Ramachandran on Capgras’ sydrome
Décembre
S12
4 Lecture and Discussion Capgras his case : L'Illusion des sosies dans un délire
systématisé chronique (we will discuss distinctions between organic and
psychogenic etiologies)
S13
11
Traumatic Brain injury in Film
Film session (the Lookout)
S14
18 Discussion of Final Papers
Hand in Final Paper Today !!
The bibliography for this class can be found in a separate document that you can consult on the BB.
Any articles suggested by students can be added to the BB and bibliography with my permission, these suggestions
can be readings related to your presentation of final paper.