1. Introduction to the Human Brain

Nancy Kanwisher introduces her course, "The Human Brain," by recounting a personal story about her friend Bob, who had a brain tumor affecting his navigation abilities. The story underscores the brain's modular organization, where specific areas handle distinct functions, and damage to one area doesn't necessarily impair overall intelligence. Kanwisher emphasizes that studying the brain is crucial for self-understanding, advancing AI, and exploring the limits of human knowledge. She outlines the course's focus on mental functions like perception, language, and social cognition, and the various methods used to study them, including neuropsychology and functional MRI. The course aims to equip students with the ability to critically read current research papers and appreciate the big questions in the field.