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Free Will and Neuroscience
  • Level Foundation
  • المدة 9 ساعات hours
  • الطبع بواسطة Dartmouth College
  • Offered by

عن

In this course, we will discuss free will from a neuroscientific perspective. Module one of the course will explore two neuroscientific arguments against free will from Libet and Wegner and evaluate neuroscientists’ arguments against free will. You will also examine where these experiments do not succeed in debunking free will. In module two, the anatomy and physiology of neurons will be described. You will also learn how they communicate. You will have an understanding about neural anatomy and physiology to consciousness, attention, and free will. In the final and the third module of the course, you will explore an example of the top-down influence on bottom-up processing called volitional attention. You will see how neural circuits responsible for both volitional and non-volitional thought and action interact with each other. Next, you will learn how a neural circuit can change its physical structure and function, and how these changes might impact human behavior.

الوحدات

Welcome to the Course

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Introductions

1 Readings

  • Welcome reading

The Libet Experiment

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • The Libet Experiment Discussion

4 Videos

  • The Libet Experiment Overview
  • Debunking Libet’s Conclusions
  • Hypnosis vs. Libet
  • Libet’s Confusion

Wegner’s Experiments

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Neuroscientific Arguments Against Free Will Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Wegner’s Experiments Discussion

2 Videos

  • Hume's Theory
  • Feelings of Agency

Introduction to the Neuroscience of Free Will/Neurons and the Neural Code

    • 9 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 6 Assignment
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6 Assignment

  • How Neurons Function
  • Ionotropic and Metabotropic Receptors
  • Synchrony and Bursting
  • Why Is There a Synaptic Cleft?
  • How Neurons Realize Informational Criteria
  • Is Synaptic Reweighting Important To The Neural Code?

1 Discussions

  • Neurons and the Neural Code Discussion

9 Videos

  • Why Did Free Will Evolve?
  • Two Valleys of Information-processing Death
  • How Neurons Function
  • Ionotropic and Metabotropic Receptors
  • Synchrony and Bursting
  • AMPA and NMDA Receptors
  • Why Is There a Synaptic Cleft?
  • How Neurons Realize Informational Criteria
  • Is Synaptic Reweighting Important To The Neural Code?

Indeterminism in the Brain

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Indeterminism in the Brain Discussion

3 Videos

  • Indeterminism in the Brain, Part 1
  • Indeterminism in the Brain, Part 2
  • Indeterminism in the Brain, Part 3

Top-down Executive Control

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The Neuroscience of Free Will: Part 1

1 Discussions

  • Top-down Executive Control Discussion

6 Videos

  • What Is a Top-down Executive Function in the Brain?
  • Global Cortical Architecture
  • Phineas Gage and Self-governance
  • Executive Control Circuits of the Brain
  • Cybernetic Cingulate Cortex and Willpower
  • Top-down Causation in the Brain

Volition in the Brain

    • 5 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Volition in the Brain Discussion

5 Videos

  • The Neural Basis of Volitional Attention
  • The Neural Circuitry of Non-volitional Thought
  • The Neural Circuitry of Volitional Thought
  • How Volitional and Non-volitional Circuits Interact
  • The Neural Basis of Willpower

Transforming our Minds by Transforming our Brains

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • The Cultivation of Willpower and Attention
  • The Neuroscience of Free Will: Part 2 Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Transforming Our Minds By Transforming Our Brains Discussion

6 Videos

  • The Cultivation of Willpower and Attention
  • The Neural Basis of Mindfulness
  • The Cultivation of Hope and Meaning
  • The Neural Basis of Volitional Imagination
  • The Relationship of Consciousness to Free Will
  • The Neural Basis of Self-transformation

Auto Summary

Discover "Free Will and Neuroscience," a foundational course in Health & Fitness offered by Coursera. Dive into the neuroscientific perspective on free will, exploring key arguments and experiments by Libet and Wegner. Learn about neuron anatomy, physiology, and communication, and understand their connection to consciousness and attention. The final module focuses on volitional attention and the interaction of neural circuits, examining how changes in these circuits affect behavior. This 540-minute course is perfect for those interested in the intersection of neuroscience and free will, with starter subscription options available.

Peter Tse
Instructor

Peter Tse