Brain Localization and Mind Limits
Humanities
Discussion – Brain Localization and Mind Limits
Step 1: Watch Green, “Meet Your Master: Getting to Know Your Brain”
Step 2: Listen to the podcast at https://curiosity.com/topics/the-limits-of-the-human-body-may-be-more-mental-than-physical-curiosity/ or follow the transcript at https://gretta.com/curiosity The podcast lasts 45 minutes but there is nothing to memorize. Note: You may ignore everything but the podcast or its transcription at those websites.
Step 3: Read this discussion of the evidence mentioned in the podcast in Step 2: https://www.outsideonline.com/2112241/fatigue-all-your-head
Step 4: Address the following questions in discussion in one 150-word paragraph for each of the three question items:
Questions
1. Choose two parts of the brain described in Step 1 for this week and discuss how they might be related in function. How might a neuron in one structure depend for its function on what is happening in a neuron in the other structure?
2. Draw a conclusion about the way we localize functions in the brain: Was Broca justified in labeling a speech center in the brain with so few patients? How many brains are necessary to draw a conclusion? What does localization mean, after all? There is no strictly right or wrong answer to this question, but only thoughtful responses.
3. Describe an example in your own experience of misattributing a body function to a mental function or misattributing a mental function to a body function. For example, did doing chores as a kid really make you tired?
