1. The Minds Eye: Neuroscience in the Movies

2. Class Structure
Each class begins with ~30 mins of neuroscience background, with questions always encouraged throughout
Followed by a ~20 mins of student presentations
We’ll then dive into movie clips and analyze them as a class (most movies are available at Tisch/Netflix)
Discussion will be heavily encouraged from the beginning to end of each class—the more opinions and questions we generate the more insight we can uncover

3. Grading
Presentations (20%): summary of a review or primary paper and how it connects to the assigned movie (teams of 2-3, 2 total per student. Sign ups online)
Reflection papers (20%): connecting the neuroscience and movies presented for a week (500 words, 2/student)
Quizzes (20%): multiple choice, 1 short answer (every 3 weeks)
Final Paper or presentation (20%): 1000 words or 30 mins
Participation (20%)

4. The Brain in 15 Minutes

5. Breaking down a Neuron

6. The Brain can be divided into 4 lobes

7. Functions of The Brain: The Cortex
Movement
Bodily Sensation
Planning
Vision
Memory

8. Vision is processed in the Occipital Lobe

9. Hearing is processed in part of the Temporal Lobe

10. Touch is processed in part of the Somatosensory Cortex

11. The Somatosensory Cortex contains a map of your Body

12. The Motor Cortex enables the ability to move the body

13. The Frontal Lobe enables higher-order cognition, such as planning

14. The Thalamus relays nearly all sensory input to the brain

15. The Cerebellum processes fine-motor movements

16. The Subcortex

17. The Cortex and Hollywood
Movement
Bodily Sensation
Planning
Vision
Memory

18. The Subcortex and Hollywood

19. Caveat: these areas don’t just exclusively process one specific modality (i.e. the visual cortex does respond to sound, the auditory cortex does respond to vision, etc)

20. What Jason Bourne can teach us about Neuroscience
What Bourne Knows

21. What Neuroscience can teach us about Hollywood
Owen et al study on communicating with vegetative patients

22. A Brief Group Project
In groups of 4-5, try to come up with a brain-related, sci-fi idea or technology that you’d love to see possible in your lifetime
As well as what you’d ideally like to get out of this class

23. Your Brain on Bonus Points
In groups of 4-5, try to answer the following 5 questions as fast as possible.
The first group to complete the quiz and to get all 5 questions correct gets a bonus point for the semester.

24. Questions What are the 4 lobes of the brain?
What brain region processes our emotional responses to situations?
What brain region mediates the formation of personal memories?
What brain region is the “relay station” for incoming sensory information?
Leonard Shelby (Memento’s protagonist) cannot form new personal memories, and yet he can remember how to shoot a gun and how to drive. What brain region do you predict is damaged? What brain area should be intact?