Catalog Description
An advanced course covering anatomical, physiological,
behavioral, and computational studies of the central nervous system relevant to
speech and hearing. Students learn primarily by discussions of scientific
papers on topics of current interest. Recent topics include cell types and
neural circuits in the auditory brainstem, organization and processing in the
auditory cortex, auditory reflexes and descending systems, functional imaging of
the human auditory system, quantitative methods for relating neural responses to
behavior, speech motor control, cortical representation of language, and
auditory learning in songbirds.
Who should take the course?
Anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the role of the brain
in speech and hearing. For students in the Harvard-MIT Speech and
Hearing Bioscience and Technology Program, the course is an elective normally taken after the
core courses HST.723,
HST.718 and
6.541J/HST.710J. It is also appropriate for students in Brain and Cognitive Sciences
or other departments who have a strong background in the neuroanatomy and
neurophysiology of sensory and motor systems. Students unsure of their background should consult one of the
instructors.
How does the course work?
Much of the learning is done by topic discussions
of scientific papers. Typically, a topic begins with a lecture giving an overview of
the topic. Then, 3-6 topic papers are read and discussed in class under the
leadership of a student. Two of the topics are
proposed by
students and selected by a competitive process.
Related Programs and Research Laboratories
