required texts
Ratey, J.J. (2001). A User's Guide to the Brain: Perception, Attention, and the Four Theaters of the Brain. New York: Vintage Books.
recommended texts
Dublin, M.W. (2002). How the Brain Works. Oxford: Blackwell Science.
Society for Neuroscience. (2002). Brain Facts: A Primer on the Brain and Nervous System. Washington DC: Society for Neuroscience.
Free Brain Facts download available at:
http://web.sfn.org/content/Publications/BrainFacts/brainfacts.pdf
Additional readings or references will be provided in class.
pedagogic objectives
This course is intended to familiarize architecture students with the language and concepts of neuroscience. With this new vocabulary and a rudimentary ability to benefit from neuroscience research students will be able to correlate current neuroscience research to potential applications in the design of the built environment. The course is organized around understanding the relationship among the inner world (brain), the threshold (body), and the outer world (architecture), and how the mind uses the brain in experiencing architectural settings. The fundamental argument of this course is that the relationship among the brain, body and architecture is inherent, significant and compelling. Each is constantly influencing the other and each should not be considered outside the context of this relationship.
requirements
Quizzes | A quiz will be given at the beginning of each class. The quizzes will cover material from the previous class lecture and from the assigned readings. The quiz format could include short answers, fill-in the blank, definitions, and/or diagrams. The lowest quiz score will be dropped in the calculation of your final grade and therefore no make-up or conflict quizzes will be given.
Midterm Project | The midterm project is due at the beginning of class on Monday 07 May 2005. Late midterms will not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made.
Final Project | The final project is due at the beginning of class on Monday 11 June 2007. Late finals will not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made. Failure to turn in a final project will result in an F grade.
