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2022　Linguistics C

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Academic unit or major
Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s)
Akama Hiroyuki  Yamamoto Hilofumi 
Class Format
Lecture / Exercise    (Livestream)
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Tue7-8(W934)  Fri7-8(W934)  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.T309
Credits
2
Academic year
2022
Offered quarter
1Q
Syllabus updated
2022/3/16
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

This course focuses on neurolinguistics, and covers some related fields such as cognitive linguistics and statistical linguistics (natural language processing). It introduces some approaches made by our forefathers in the history of science to understand human language through the structure and function of the human brain and explore the neural correlates of linguistic ability by emphasizing the findings in linguistic study brought by the technique of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).　 Some concepts essential in contemporary linguistics such as language acquisition, bilingualism, impairment of language (aphasia), semantic processing, memory, perception, motion and emotion are treated in this course covering the fundamentals as well as the relevant recent research findings.　This course also provides an introductory lecture about the computational programming necessary for the study of neurolinguistics.
By learning the principles of linguistics and neuroscience, students will have the chance to develop cultural literacy and skills in scientific research and realize pleasures and difficulties of this research field. Students will deepen the levels of understanding the human existence and create their everyday guide in our advanced technological age and highly-sophisticated information society.

Student learning outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1)Have an understanding of the basic topics of linguistics and neuroscience by learning neurolinguistics.
2)Acquire the fundamental skills of running linguistic experiments to explore the structure and function of the human brain.
3)Acquire the basic literacy of computational programming needed for linguistic study.

Keywords

language, linguistics, brain, neuroscience, neurolinguistics, brain imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, fMRI

Competencies that will be developed

✔ Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills Communication skills ✔ Critical thinking skills ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Refer to the following URL to know the detail of the course process
https://sites.google.com/site/akamatitechlab/coursesbyakama2020_1q
Students will use Zoom and Slack to go through the distance education.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Introduction, Guidance Understand the introductory part of Linguistics.
Class 2 Brain and Language--Humans and Animals Explain the neural representation of the innate language ability.
Class 3 Representative Structure of the Human Brain Explain the representative structure of the human brain.
Class 4 Use of Brain Atlases Explain the structure of the human brain and the anatomical labeling.
Class 5 Classical Language Areas Explain the history of finding the regions involved in language such as Broca's area and Wernicke's area.
Class 6 Neurolinguistics Explain the overview of the neurolinguistics aiming at the neural processing of language in the brain.
Class 7 Semantics (1) Explain various theories about the semantic processing in the brain.
Class 8 semantics (2) Explain various theories about the semantic processing in the brain.
Class 9 Multilingualism Explain the theories on the mechanism of the bilingual brain.
Class 10 Language Acquisition and Loss Explain the brain disorder bringing the loss of language ability (aphasia).
Class 11 Semantic Network and Memory Explain the neural networks and the semantic networks in the human brain.
Class 12 Language and Brain Imaging Explain the methods of exploring the neural process of linguistic ability with fMRI.
Class 13 Computation of Brain Imaging Explain the computer literacy required for fMRI.
Class 14 Summary and Review or Presentation Wrap up the course of Linguistics C.

Out-of-Class Study Time (Preparation and Review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

The purchase of the following texts books are not required, but reading them is recommended.
William O'Grady et al., Contemporary Linguistics, An Introduction. Chapter 11~14,Bedford/St.Martin's
(This book is highly recommended to the students who will attend the courses of Linguistics A, B and C altogether.)
Eric R. Kandel et al., Principles of Neural Science, Mc Graw Hill, Part IX
(As the classes of Basic Neuroscience and Advanced Neuroscience in the department of Life Science and Technology are conducted on the basis of this book, it is highly recommended to the students who will participate in these classes.)
Scott A. Huettel et al., Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Second Edition, Sinauer Associates, Inc.
(This book is highly recommended to the students wishing to carry out an MRI study in their departments.)

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Original course materials based on the following textbooks are created so that students can download them from TOKYO TECH OCW, TOKYO TECH OCW-i or Slack.
William O'Grady et al., Contemporary Linguistics, An Introduction. Chapter 11~14,Bedford/St.Martin's
Eric R. Kandel et al., Principles of Neural Science, Mc Graw Hill, Part IX
Scott A. Huettel et al., Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Second Edition, Sinauer Associates, Inc.
etc.

Assessment criteria and methods

Students are assessed on the following criteria.
reports 100%.

Related courses

  • LAH.T109 ： Linguistics A
  • LAH.T210 ： Linguistics B
  • LAH.H109 ： Special Lecture : Language and Culture
  • LST.A346 ： Basic Neuroscience
  • LST.A410 ： Advanced Neuroscience
  • HCB.M461 ： Laboratory Training on Human Brain Functions and Their Measurements
  • LST.A242 ： Instrumental Analysis in Bioscience

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

No prerequisites.

Contact information (e-mail and phone)    Notice : Please replace from "[at]" to "@"(half-width character).

Hiroyuki Akama: akama.h.aa[at]m.titech.ac.jp

Other

Please refer to the following URL to know the details of the course information.
https://sites.google.com/site/akamatitechlab/coursesbyakama2020_1q
If you are interested in the research activities of the instructor, refer to the following URL.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hiroyuki_Akama
https://sites.google.com/site/akamatitechlab/home
Should the number of applicants for this course exceed the limit, a lottery system will be used to determine which students are admitted. Be sure to attend the first class.

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