3905G Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Physiologists of Mind

Franz Josef Gall (1758-1828)
- Built on earlier work of Thomas Willis
- Was one of the first scientists to look at the brain as a complex organ
- Willis Observed that brain 2 kinds of substances, gray matter (outer surfaces of the brain) and white matter.
- Willis believed that the white matter contained spirits generated in the gray matter and correctly described blood vessels in the brain.
-Gall correctly identified commissures, that the two halves of the brain are interconnected by white matter. This helped explain why damage to one side would lead to effects on the other.
These findings laid the groudwork for the later discovery that the brain and spinal cord are composed of neurons.
-Gall was also one of the first comparative brain anatomists and developed phrenology. Believing that parts of the skull could properly identify different faculties and traits.
Used empirical observations to make deductions and proposed 27 faculties called organs.

Pierre Flourens (1794-1867)
- Aimed to use more rigorous scientific methods to understand brain functions
Ablation (Removal part of brain or lesions), then studied functions and regeneration.
Found that ablation of cerebellum=motor loss, and cerebral cortex=lost will
-Proposed that the cortex and cerebellum had specific functions (action proper) but they interacted to function as a whole (action commune)
- The proposed idea of brain plasticity


Paul Broca (1824-1880)
- A patient of Broca's named Tan had a lesion on the left frontal hemisphere which caused a lack of speech production, although comprehension was intact. Later Tan began losing sense of his right arm and leg.

Broca's aphasia: Loss of proudction of speech caused by damage to the left frontal hemisphere (Broca's Area) also known as motor aphasia 

Gustav Fritsch (1837-1927) and Eduard Hitzing (1838-1907)
- Studied if brain responded to electrical stimulation i
- Shocking animals brains etc

David Ferrier 
- Stimulated occipital lobe and found loss of vision.
- Also located the temporal lobe and sensory strip
Ideas emerged such as interconnected (association) areas and importance of white matter.

Carl Wernicke (1848-1905)
Described sensory aphasia also known as Wernicke's aphasia
- The ability to produce speech but not understand (receptive) language.
- Will repeat and have issues with comprehension, paraphasias 


Shepard Ivory Franz (1874-1933)
- Found that cats that had previously solved a puzzle forgot the responses only when the frontal regions were ablated. Sometimes frontally ablated animals were able to relearn the escape response


Karl Lashley (1890-1958)
-Refuted localization and though that memories were contained within cortex widely.
-Said it was important the size of the ablation and the difficulty of the maze.
Built on Flourens's concept of action commune
Espoused Equipotentiality (Brain plasticity, neural regions take over)

Wilder Penfield (1891-1976)
- Located the region of the epileptic seizure through gentle stimulation and removed regions

Brenda Milner (1918-)
- Did work with HM
- HM had seizures and had medial temporal lobe severed and parts of hippocampus
- Seizures stopped but had severe anterograde amnesia (developing new memories)
- Had impared encoding and storage, declarative memory also impaired
- Findings showed that memory is a distinct cerebral function
- Showed that medial aspect of temporal lobe is important for memory
- Findings showed that hippocampus and temporal lobe stored memories.

Common: Be (2005) (Hip-hop)

Wholesome comfort food raps and well-cobbled hearty beats. The album is a homely ode to Chicago, spirituality and civil rights, performed by Common with a sense of honesty, introspection and uplifting simplicity. The beats primarily produced by Kanye West, are complementary, composed largely of soul and jazz samples, typically unrefined allowing for continued emphasis on a rawer more authentic project. 

Best Tracks: Be (Intro), The Corner, GO!, Faithful*, Testify, Love is...*, The Food*, Real People*




A-

Uplifting Vibes/Hip-hop/Jazz rap

Grimes: Miss Anthropocene (2020) (Electronic,Pop)

Miss Anthropocene is a largely stylistically inconsistent collection of songs tied together by a nocturnal, apocalyptic ethos. Though there are a handful of enjoyable songs, the album is overwhelmed by overproduction and muddy mixes. The best moments occur when the production is a little stripped back and  Grimes can more clearly sing downer pop. That being said occasionally the hyperproduction gives a worthwhile element of mayhem as shown the insomniac banger My Name is Dark.

Best Tracks: Delete Forever, My Name is Dark*, You'll miss me when I'm not around


C

DarkVibes/Electronic/Ethereal Wave/Pop

Denzel Curry, Kenny Beats: Unlocked (2020) (Hip-hop)

Kenny's production and Denzel's flows both take center stage and gel-like a 50-year-old man and a wifebeater. Quirky beats that give flashbacks to other comic book-like albums (ehm Madvillainy), disjointed songs, yet in your face with Denzel's aggressive deliveries make for a captivating EP though you do think that this schtick needs more substance for a full record.

Best Tracks: Take_it_Back_v2, Lay_Up*, Diet_, 'Cosmic'.m4a*






B-


Comic Book Vibes/Hip-hop

Tame Impala: The Slow Rush (2020) (Pop,Rock)

The Slow Rush was a partially apt name. The vibe that is Tame Impala has formulated is largely similar to that of Currents. Though an album about time, there seems to be a larger focus on making the songs as long and arduous while washing them even more in "psychedelic" haze. Most songs are far too drawn out and leave the album feeling much longer than it is. There are some highlights though, It Might Be Time and Is it true have some bright and peppy songwriting and crisper instrumentation. The best song on the album is Lost In Yesterday with its groovy and captivating bass line, and catchy hooks and introspective lyrics it may be one of the best Tame Impala songs. Tame Impala shine when making simpler poppier tracks, the psychedelic odysseys end up feeling long-winded, and flood the album making the sands of time fall way to slow.

Best Tracks: Breathe Deeper, Lost In Yesterday*, Is It True, It Might Be Time


C-

Psychadelic Rock/Pop/Electronic

The Death of Ivan Ilyich Review

The Death of Ivan Ilyich Leo Tolstoy 

Sad and daunting at times, but relieving and sincere as well. A case study in life. 

Siddhartha Review

Siddhartha Herman Hesse 

Appears simple and is told quite simply and quickly, however, the story becomes very profound, hopeful, sad and insightful.
As a self-help journey book, it is superior to the Alchemist in every way. The story is paced better, the wisdom is not given out like candy but rather develop with their characters, through failures, and insights and the characters and ethos of the book remain memorable.