| Course Title: Identities & Intersections: An Introduction: 'Mariposas del Alma: Memory, Emotion and the Brain' |
| Start Date: 09/09/2026 End Date: 12/22/2026 |
| Term: Fall Semester 2026 |
| Description: 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. |
| Distribution(s): I - Humanities , LANG - Language , TP - Topics Course |
| Academic Level Of Course: Undergraduate | Credits:4.00 |
| Faculty | Phone | Email address |
| Maria Nieves Romero-Díaz | rdiaz@mtholyoke.edu | |
| Marta Sabariego | msabarie@mtholyoke.edu |
| Meeting Dates | Method | Meeting days | Meeting times | Building name | Room | Frequency |
| 09/09/2026 - 12/22/2026 | Lecture | Tuesday and Thursday | 10:30AM - 11:45AM | TBA | TBA | Weekly |
| Requisite Courses | ||
| Prereq: SPAN-212 and one course in any science. | Take previously | Required |
| Comments |
| Additional Comments |
| Taught in Spanish. |
| Course Tags | ||
| PRI0001 | Used to identify primary sides of crosslisted courses for Workday conversion | |
| NEURO0001 | NEURO: Neuroscience & Behavior Major | This course has been approved to count towards the Neuroscience and Behavior major. |
| Cross-listed Sections |
| SPAN-230ME-01 Memory, Emotion and the Brain |
| NEURO-241-01 Memory, Emotion and the Brain |
| Course Availability | ||||
| Section status: Open | Capacity: 22 | Enrollment: 0 | Available: 22 | Waitlist: 0 |
BOOK INFORMATION
| Book List | Required | Publisher Full Price |
| To be determined. |
| Additional Book Comments |
| This is NOT the complete book list for this class. |