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Strokes, Accidents and Alzheimer's: Explaining the Human Brain
Naomi Goldblum
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| Seminar Introduction |
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Can our knowledge about the physical workings of the brain help explain how our thought processes work? Some researchers--known as connectionists--believe that it can. They maintain that the human brain is a highly complicated network of interconnected nerve cells (called neurons). Nowhere is this idea more evident than when our brain networks are damaged. How they cope with the impact of soft brain tissue against the hard skull in traffic accidents, or the strokes and neural degeneration that may occur as we get older, all tells us more about the workings of the brain. In this seminar, drawn from chapter 10 of her work The Brain-Shaped Mind (available through Fathom), Naomi Goldblum outlines the connectionist view of how the human brain copes with damage. Concentrating mainly on the effects of strokes, where a great deal of research has been done, she also looks at some of the problems which result from traffic accidents. She finishes by looking at Alzheimer's disease, admitting that what is known about it is very little, but offering hope for prevention in the future. Students will benefit most from this seminar by reading it in the context of the other chapters of Professor Goldblum's book The Brain-Shaped Mind, which provide a deeper understanding of her overall position.
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| Learning Objectives |
- Outline the way strokes impede the brain's network, therefore affecting memory and speech.
- Explain the difference between short and long-term memory.
- List some of the effects of physical damage to the brain.
- Describe the effects of Alzheimer's disease, and the search for a cure.
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| Sessions |
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The text of this seminar is taken from The Brain-Shaped Mind by Naomi Goldblum, published by Cambridge University Press, copyright Naomi Goldblum, 2001. Will brain scientists ever be able to read our minds? Why are some things harder to remember than others? Based on recent brain research and neural network modelling, The Brain-Shaped Mind addresses these and other questions, and provides a clear account of how the structure of the brain influences the workings of the mind. Neuroscientists are now learning about our minds by examining how the neurons in the brain are connected with one another and the surrounding environment. This book explores how neural networks enable us to recognise objects and learn new things, and what happens when things go wrong. The reader is taken on a fascinating journey into what is arguably one of the most complicated and remarkable aspects of our lives.
The Brain-Shaped Mind
Goldblum, Naomi
Paperback (2001)
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| Technical Requirements |
To appreciate this seminar experience, it is critical that you have the appropriate software, plug-ins, and network connections. Please take the time to download the latest versions of the plug-ins mentioned below if you do not already have them.
Browser: Netscape versions 4.x up to 4.76, or Internet Explorer versions 4.x or later. Your browser must have JavaScript enabled and must be set to accept cookies.
Network Connection: The recommended minimum connection is 56K modem with throughput of 34Kbps or more. A faster connection is encouraged to take better advantage of the media elements in the seminar.
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