PKU3 - Culture, Behavior and Brain

4 July 2016 – 22 July 2016
Hosted by Peking University

Human beings have created the most colorful cultures in the world that not only contextualize our behavior but shape our mind and brain as well. This course will examine a variety of issues across cultures, cognitive processes and brain activity.

• Do people's behavior vary across cultures?
• Whether and how cultures influence human cognitive processes and underlying brain activity?
• Do individuals engaged in Western and East Asian cultures have distinct cognitive styles during perception and attention?
• Can we understand cultural differences in social behavior by examining cultural effects on brain functional organization?
• Can we modify individuals' brain activity in laboratory by short-term exposure of new cultural values? How does culture interact with genes to modulate brain functions and behavior?
• Can we predict future changes of human behavior by examining current cultural differences in multiple neurocognitive processes?

There has been a long history of human thoughts of these interesting issues. However, only recently have these questions been examined by empirical studies that combine psychology, neuroscience, brain imaging, genetics, etc.

This 4-weeks course aims to illustrate the important issues regarding the interactive relationships between culture, behaviour and brain, to explain psychological paradigms and brain imaging methods that have been integrated to study cultural influences on cognitive and neural processes, to introduce our current knowledge/theory about the sociocultural brain, and to discuss future questions regarding the interactive relationships between culture, behavior, and brain.

The first three weeks will focus on class teaching and discussion and, during the last week, students in small groups will be required to finish proposals of independent research project proposals related to cultural effects on behavior, mind, and brain.

There will also be opportunities for students to visit the brain imaging facilities at Peking University and to get involved in experimental studies.

Field trip

Visit at the brain imaging facilities at Peking University.

Target Audience & Prerequisites

Bachelor students.
There is not specific prerequisite for students who select this course. But English skill is requested.

Delivery Method & Learning Outcomes

Teaching, discussing, reading, visiting, and thinking

Assessment

Evaluation will be conducted based on students' motivation and activity in classroom and their final project proposals.

Credit equivalent at host university & contact hours

Credits at host university: 2 credits

Contact hours: 21 total contact hours + 7 hours at the brain imaging facilities
(excluding self-study hours)

Lecturer(s) / Tutor(s)

Prof. Han, Shihui, Peking University
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Accommodation

PKU’s Global Village: http://www.pkugv.com/english/index.asp

Students must arrive by: 03/07/16.
Students will be able to check in from: 02/07/16.
Check-out date: 30/07/16.
Students may apply for up to 7 additional days' accommodation.

Costs

Figures are estimates only. Click on each item for details.

Required and / or Recommended Insurance(s)

International insurance must be purchased by the student or his/her home university. Proof of insurance will be required upon registration.

Further Information

For further information about PKU GSP courses, please visit the program website at www.oir.pku.edu.cn/summerschool or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.