6. Introduction to the Human Brain

The lecture explores methods in human cognitive neuroscience, particularly focusing on face perception in the brain. It emphasizes the importance of understanding causality, distinguishing between the stimulus causing neural activity and neural activity influencing behavior. Functional MRI's limitations in temporal resolution and causal inference are discussed, contrasting it with the better temporal but poorer spatial resolution of ERPs. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is presented as a method for testing causal roles in normal subjects, with the occipital face area as a practical target. Ethical considerations in animal research are addressed, balancing animal welfare with the benefits of research. The lecture also covers experimental design, including the concepts of independent and dependent variables, confounds, and the importance of minimal pairs in isolating mental processes.