Spanish 230ME - Identities & Intersections: An Introduction: 'Mariposas del Alma: Memory, Emotion and the Brain'

In 1917, Santiago Ramón y Cajal described neurons as mariposas del alma (butterflies of the soul). This course uses his legacy to explore connections between neuroscience and the human experience by examining the neural mechanisms of how the brain processes emotions, and how emotions filter our memories. Scientific knowledge is discussed in relation to the analysis and interpretation of a variety of cultural expressions in the history of Spain (e.g., Goya's prints, The Pan's Labyrinth). Studying scientific concepts in dialogue with movies, paintings, and literature, this course articulates how trauma, nostalgia, and human feelings are both biologically encoded and culturally voiced.

Prereq: SPAN-212 and one course in any science.