Description
Fundamental questions about human brain function can now be answered using straightforward applications of fMRI. This is particularly true in the area of high-level vision, the study of how we interpret and use visual information, including object and face recognition. The course will examine the fMRI methods commonly used to study face and object recognition with a combination of lecture, readings, student presentations, laboratory exercises, and a semester-long neuroimaging project including data collection and analysis.
The course covers the basics of fMRI, the strengths and limitations of fMRI compared to other techniques, and the design and analysis of fMRI experiments, focusing on high-level vision. Another focus will be the strengths and limitations of region of interest analysis. Upon completion, students should be able to understand and critique published fMRI papers in high-level vision, understand what is known about face and object recognition from fMRI, and have a good grasp of the steps involved in analyzing an fMRI experiment.
The course should be equally appealing to psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience majors who are interested in learning about fMRI and/or high-level vision.
Prerequisites: K300; P346;
Recommended: P349; P335