lec 01 evolution sum08

8/11/2019 Lec 01 Evolution Sum08

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David PrestiDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology

University of California, Berkeley

Summer 2008

Topics

brain and nervous system organization atoms, molecules, proteins, lipids, membranes

cells, DNA, genes neurons, ion channels, nerve signaling

synapse, neurotransmitters, neural circuits molecular pharmacology, drugs

seizures brain imaging (PET, fMRI, MEG, etc)

brain development sensation and perception

Topics

vision audition, music taste, smell

somatosensory / tactile movement, paralysis

biological rhythms, sleep, dreaming learning, memory

language mental disorders: depression, psychosis, etc

mind, consciousness


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Textbooks

An Introduction to Brain and Behavior

by Bryan Kolb And Ian Whishaw2nd edition - 2006

The Double Helixby James Watson - 1968Norton Critical Edition

edited by Gunther Stent - 1980

Course Grade

Exams: Two Midterm Exams (online)

Final Exam (proctored)

Homeworks: neuroscience in the news (one)

Double Helixessay composing exam questions

neuroscience in the news (two)

Online Discussion Forum participation

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY

(1968)

directed by Stanley Kubrickwritten by Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999)

and Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008)


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Hominid Evolution

hominid = human-like animal

includes modern humans and recent

(circa past 4 million years)

human ancestors

a timeline of hominid evolution

millions of years agoFigure 1-12

time spansare

approximate


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Hominid Evolution

genus Australopithecus

various species have been described:

A. robustus, A. africanus,

A. afarensis, A. aethiopicus

circa 4 million years to 1 million years ago

Hominid Evolution

genus Homo

Homo habilis

circa 2 million years to 1.5 million years ago

Homo erectus

circa 1.6 million years to 200,000 years ago

Homo sapiens

modern humans

circa 200,000 years ago

to the present

only extant hominid species


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Homo neanderthalensis

parallel evolutionary branch of the genus Homo

circa 300,000 to 30,000 years ago

ritual

burial of dead

pet animals

music

ancient music? - circa 50,000 years ago

portion of what appears to be a flute made

from bear bone by Homo neanderthalensisFigure 9-1

brainsizecubic

centimeters(cc)

Figure 1-12


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Killing of conspecifics

hominid human ancestors

~ 4 million years ago

human deaths due to violent conflictin the 20th century

~160,000,000

I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nationmust spiral down a militaristic stairway....I believe that unarmedtruth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.

Martin Luther King (1929-1968)Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech - 1964


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Does HAL

have amind?


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What is Mind?collection of mental states

internal, subjective experiences:thoughts

feelings

perceptions

awareness / consciousness

Reading associated with this lecture:

An Introduction to Brain and BehaviorChapter 1

begin readingThe Double Helix

lec 01 evolution sum08

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