General Psychobiology 261L
Fall 2005
Sarah Raskin
Extension 2342
Office Hours: Monday, Friday 2-3, Tuesday 9-11
Office LSC 210
Readings:
Carlson, N. (2005). Foundations of Physiological Psychology, sixth edition. New York: Allyn and Bacon.
Conlan, R. (1999). States of Mind. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
This course will review the basic structure and function of the mammalian nervous system. The biological bases of major classes of behavior and the relationship between the brain and behavior in humans will be discussed.
Date Topic Reading
SECTION I: Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology
September 2 Introduction and Techniques
C: Chapters 1, 5
September 7 Neuroanatomy C: Chapter 3
September 9 Co: Chapter 2
September 12
September 14 Neurophysiology C: Chapter 2
September 16
September 19
September 21 Neurochemistry C: Chapter 4
September 23
September 26 EXAM
SECTION II: Sensation and Movement
September 28 Vision C: Chapter 6
September 30
October 3
October 5 Audition C: Chapter 7
October 7
October 12 Somatosensation, Vestibular
October 14 Discuss papers with peer
October 17 Olfaction, Gustation
October 19 Movement handout
October 21
October 24 EXAM
SECTION III: Motivated Behavior
October 26 Ingestive Behavior C: Chapter 11
October 28
October 31 Reproductive Behavior C: Chapter 9
November 2
November 4 Sleep C: Chapter 8
November 7 Co: 8
November 9 Stress and Emotions C: Chapter 10, 16
November 11 Co: 4,5,6
November 14 EXAM
SECTION IV: Higher Cortical Functions
November 16 Learning and Memory C: Chapter 12
November 18
November 21 Co: 7
November 28 Language C: Chapter 13
November 30
December 2 Neurological Disorders C: Chapter 14
December 5
December 7 Mental Disorders C: Chapter 15
December 9
Co: 1, 3
FINAL EXAM during final exam week
There will be a service learning component to this class. You will be participating in a collaborative learning project with students at the Greater Hartford Academy of Math and Science. You will contribute via Blackboard each week to a discussion of the progress of the course.
Grading will be based on the following:
1. Four equally weighted exams (15% each). Each exam will consist of 40 multiple choice questions (2 points each) and two short answers (10 points each).
If you will be unable to take a scheduled examination you must contact me by telephone at least 24 hours before the scheduled time of the exam to schedule a make-up exam.
2. A term paper (20%). The paper will be a brief review of one topic covered in the course and will be reviewed by a peer in the class. The format of the paper will be a response to an article in the popular press (newspaper or magazine). The goal will be to evaluate the accuracy of the popular article.
The reference list and topic are due September 19, 2005.
The first draft is due October 12, 2005.
The final draft is due November 7, 2005.
The paper grade will have five points deducted for each day it is late for any of the deadlines.
3. Short responses to scientific articles (10%). You will be asked to write a short paper (2-4 pages) integrating material from Scientific American articles into class material. I will distribute specific questions to be answered in each paper. The questions will not be able to be answered directly from the reading. You will work in small groups on these papers.
These papers are due on September 12, October 5, October 31, November 28
4. Participation in the service learning component (10%). This is based on your overall participation in the program and on your contributing at least 10 entries in the Blackboard discussion.
Class participation will be used to weigh a borderline grade in your favor.