PSYC 50.10 Brainwaves
From the very first electrical recordings of the human brain in the 1920s it became clear that the brain generates rhythmic, wave-like patterns of neural activity. Studying these “brainwaves” has resulted in major advances across multiple areas of neuroscience and psychology: in understanding fundamental brain processes underlying memory, attention, and predictive processing, in creating consumer devices and brain-machine interfaces that seek to improve different areas of brain function, and in cutting-edge diagnosis and treatment of a number of brain disorders. This course provides an introduction to the phenomenon of brainwaves. Using a combination of textbook readings, primary research articles, and in-class discussion, we will explore the neural basis of brainwaves, their significance for brain function and dysfunction, and evaluate their potential for applications in consumer and clinical devices. You will learn to describe different aspects of brainwaves using precise terminology, to interpret and critically evaluate brainwave data and claims made on the basis of such data, and situate their significance in the broader context of fundamental and applied neuroscience.
Instructor
van der Meer