Issues in Neuroscience

Biology of the Mind Sp'09

Issues in Neuroscience
[last updated 3/24/09]

Date	Lab # / Topic / Reading / Guided Questions	Gazzaniga
Jan. 21-23	0] No Issues- see Lab outline
Jan. 28-30	1] Stem cells / moral status of an embryo	Preface,Ch1
	• Background- Gazzaniga - Moral Status of an Embryo • The Science- How stem cells are created (The Cloning Process - Nova) [ link ] • Can viable human stem cells be created from embryos - monkey data [ link ] • Objjections to human stem cell use [ link new ] • Avoiding the problem?- Stem cells from skin cells (NYT) [ article link ] [ graphics link ] • Resources (NYT) [ link ] • First human embryonic stem cell trial approved [ link ]	Guided questions [link]
Feb. 04-06	2] No Issues session this week
	• Data analysis in Harder 103 of your experimental data (see lab outline)
Feb. 11-13	3] Issues: "Birth & Death" or when can we abort & when can we terminate life	Ch 2
	Primary ('required' readings) • Gazzaniga - The Aging Brain <== Read this carefully- you will use it to decide life/death cases • Eyes Open, Brain Shut, S. Laureys, Sci. Am. May 2007 [ link ] Secondary readings • NYT parallel article (to "Eyes' ) on coma cases [ link ] • 3 coma cases two of which 'came to life' [ case 1 ] [ case 2 ] [ case 3 ] ] case 4 , 4 optional ]	No prelab/ PLEASE prepare Guided questions[ link ]
Feb. 18-20	4] Issues: Improving the brain chemically: Memory or 'can I take a pill & do better on this test? Should I?	Ch 5
	• Gazzaniga - Smart Brain With Drugs • 2 Additional articles [ link ]	Prelab / Guided questions [link]
Feb. 25-27	]No Issues- lab practical week
Mar. 04-06	5& 6] Issues: "Better Brains Through Genes" or can we/should we make a Harvard kid?	Ch 3 (and 4)
	• Gazzaniga - Better Brains Through Genes • Additional articles to be posted [ 1 , 2 - Choosing sex ration ] Note: we cover 2 related topics, Read Gaz 3 & 4	NO PRELAB due Guided questions[ link ]
	6& 5] Issues: Improving the brain physically "Effort vs. Cheating - The Physical Aspect"	Ch 4 (and 3)
	• Gazzaniga -Training the Brain • 2 Additional articles [ 1, 2 - Role of white matter Note: we cover 2 related topics, Read Gaz 4 &3
	Spring vacation (7-15)
Mar. 18-20	7] Issues: "It's not my fault, ' My Brain Made Me Do It' ! " 2)Legal 3)Brain Injury	Ch 6
	• Gazzaniga -My Brain Made Me Do It • Additional articles [ Legal , Brain injury & moral decisions ]	Guided questions[ link ]
Mar. 25-27	8] Issues: Morality / privacy	Ch 7
	• Gazzaniga 7 -Antisocial Thoughts and the Right to Privacy • Read 108-114 in conjunction w/ EDA lab/ • Neuromarketing/ Hard Wired Behavior

Apr. 02-03	9] Topic & Readings TBA	TBA

Apr. 08-10	No issues discussion - final project planning
Apr. 15-17	No issues discussion - final project experiements conducted
Apr.22-end	No issues discussion - final Research Projects presentations

Note well: While lab/discusssion topics & dates are fixed as listed above, any specific material below the red update warning is from the last edition of the course & is subject to change and posted only for your convenience.