Skip to main content

Unit 7: Neuroscience

Image result for butterfly brain scan
Butterfly Brain Scan
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
Sea Sponges


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

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Two Cultures

Art and science have always been two co-existing factors in my life with noticeable differences. I recognized these distinctions starting in middle school where we were still required to take general education science and elective art classes. Those who were good at constructing shapes with paint brushes received higher grades and those who could memorize the chemical equation for photosynthesis tended to do better. This has stuck with me since then because although I do not consider myself an artist I really tend to think more creatively and open-minded as people would see from a right-minded thinker. However, I am a woman of to-do lists and organization which would be expected of a left minder thinker. Thus, I have never really identified with the whole specific left/right outlook! Maybe this isn't a good thing as I am still undeclared here at UCLA and not exactly sure what academic path I am most interested in :/. I am steering towards communication studies in which I believe s...
2 comments
Read more

Week 6: Biotechnology

 Biotechnology is a realm I have limited information on, but after watching the lectures, a few Tedtalks, and viewing the multitude of links the professor provided I realize it is a dense sector of science and often viewed as controversial. In one of the lecture videos Steve Kurtz talks about Biotech being about the shock culture from fluorescent mice to altering the wings of living butterflies to synthesizing bacteria into living organisms and shooting them into space, to plant modifications, Biotech seems to accomplish the impossible (and often in a creepy way). Fluorescent Mice While there is a multitude of experiments going on within biotech there also a plethora of opinions. "Meanings of Participation: Outlaw Biology" mentions that  Outlaw biologists love demystifying science," and they "can exist inside as well as outside of science." This statement stands for the George Gessert artistic irises, Orlan's Harlequin's coats, Kathy High's ...
2 comments
Read more

Robots & Art

The industrial revolution was only the beginning for the evolution of robotics and I believe we are only budding the surface of what engineers have discovered and created. After watching the lectures, it is very apparent the history of geniuses who have paved the way and helped aid us to be as knowledgeable about the application of mechanics into everyday capabilities. People like Nikola Tesla (AC), Michael Faraday (dialysis), robots emerging into assembly lines and how that affected the printing press and car production, computers becoming the unity of the modern world, and I could go on. Robot Show in Tokyo The Ted Talks gave great insight into how robotics are being tested and utilized today. Starting in Japan where robots have always been prized and designed to mimic human form rather than American robots who are designed with a specific purpose and put to work. I will never forget when I visited Tokyo and we went to a Robot Show. Probably one of the most bizarre experie...
3 comments
Read more