Unit 7: Neuroscience

This week's topic is one that I have actually been discussing and studying a lot recently. I am also enrolled in a communication class about Media & Mind. Do not be fooled by our common interpretation of media like social media, but instead, it signifies the media of our imagination, consciousness, and dreams. Why has our imagination and ability to dream persisted throughout biological evolution? It is crazy to learn that our brain has only been studied for about a century and that the beginning of these process Aristotle thought all the thinking happened in the heart!! We've come a long way, to say the least. I really enjoyed listening to Professor Vesna talk about all the influential people who made massive contributions and discoveries as to how the brain operates with our bodies. Work included Pierre Broca with the grey and white brain matter discovery, Santiago winning a Nobel peace prize for his neuron transmission and connection of pattern research, Franz Gall and his work in phrenology, to Suzanna Anker's development of the butterfly scan. Another insane fact was how 70% of our genes are shared with SEA SPONGES. That is absolutely crazy to think about and also a little concerning.

I have always been super interested in criminal mind behavior, so really enjoyed Mark Cohen's lecture on the overused parts of the brain and how that forms bumps on the head. The study of phrenology the detailed study of the shape and size of the cranium as a supposed indication of character and mental abilities. I would love to explore this concept more and how it relates to people's cognitive abilities and thought processes such as racism, gender roles, and sexism.

Sea Sponges

Phrenology

Works Cited:

Cohen, Mark Ph.D. (2012, May 12). Neuroscience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=255&v=eDq8uTROeXU.

deCharms, Christopher. “Transcript of ‘A Look inside the Brain in Real Time.’” TED, www.ted.com/talks/christopher_decharms_scans_the_brain_in_real_time/transcript?language=en.

Vesna, Victoria. (2012, May 17). Neuroscience-pt 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzXjNbKDkYI.

Vesna, Victoria. (2012, May 17). Neuroscience-pt 3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM9DOpmPFjU.

Vesna, Victoria. “Neuroscience-Mark Cohen.mov.” YouTube, YouTube, 12 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDq8uTROeXU&feature=youtu.be.

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