Reading 1 (required)
The argument about the neuron doctrine seemed to be settled 100 years ago. Now we are not so sure. Fields, R. D. (2006). Beyond the neuron doctrine. Scientific American Mind, 17(3), 20-27.
Reading 2 (required)
A comparison of modern and older phrenology by the excellent Neurocritic blogger.
Reading 3 (required)
Chen, Ingfei (2009): Brain Cells for Socializing: Does an obscure nerve cell help explain what gorillas, elephants, whales—and people—have in common? Smithsonian Magazine
Reading 4 (required)
Blogpost by John Mark Taylor: Mirror Neurons After a Quarter Century: New light, new cracks
Video 1 (optional, but recommended)
We tend to regard the brain as a highly abstract and magical thing. It is worth reminding ourselves how it looks physically. If you don’t mind a bit of explicit anatomy, here is a worthwhile video from the Wellcome Foundation showing how brains are dissected.
Reading 3 (optional)
Kay, Lily E. From logical neurons to poetic embodiments of mind: Warren S. McCulloch’s project in neuroscience. Science in Context 14.4 (2001): 591-614.
This article provides some societal context to the emergence of cognitivism, the role of logic in the origins of neural networks, the links between neural networks, information theory, and the military during and after the Second World War, and the driving passions of Warren McCulloch, described as “psychiatrist, experimental epistemologist, poet, militarist, and theological engineer”. A good read.
Software (free)
BrainTutor is a wonderful programme for interactively looking at and learning the macroscopic anatomy of the brain. Works on Mac and Windows.
Reading 4 (optional)
Hari et al., (2015) Centrality of Social Interaction in Human Brain Function Fairly recent article reviewing need for hyperscanning techniques in studying social interaction.