Class:   Science Center 102
Lab:      Science Center 127

Office Hours:    M 3:00 PM
                          T 10:00 AM
                          2 more TBD

Announcements

Oct 26, 2000
Here is the Stretch Reflex Slides

Oct 25, 2000
Here is the Control Systems Theory Link

Sept 5, 2000
We now have a discussion group for the class.  Check it out using the Class Discussion link on the left.

Sep 1, 2000
Welcome to the beginning of Neuropsychology. I hope you have an enjoyable and intellectually stimulating term. 

Look in this space on the syllabus for course updates and announcements.

Objectives:

The central nervous system, composed of the brain and spinal chord, is the control center of the body; however, it is a jelly-like mass encased in fluid-filled sacks again encased in bone. How do these buried structures carry on the tasks of learning about the environment around us, controlling our movements so precisely, helping us survive individually and as a species, causing us to experience finely-tuned emotional reactions, learning, remembering, speaking so well? That is the goal of this class: To bring some light to this greatest of all human mysteries. Our answers are at best tentative, but we have learned much and the hints at the final answers are, I find, exciting. In this course I will use the most common way of thinking about the brain: as a very sophisticated computer. This represents the information processing approach and is the mainstay of Neuropsychology today. Don't get too caught up in the computer analogy. While we understand that the brain does not operate in the same way as the PC or Macintosh on your desk, it is helpful to use some of the terminology from computer functions to understand brain functions, e.g., input for bringing in information about the outside world.

The goals of the laboratory portions of the class are: (1) to gain first-hand knowledge of neuroanatomy, (2) to gain experience in the handling, care, and proper use of laboratory animals, and (3) to acquaint you with some of the behavioral methods used to study brain-behavior relations.

Expectations:

·         Read material before coming to class.  In class we will not simply recover what is in the text but examine the material to see if we can figure out what it means.  Thus, familiarity with the material prior to class is vital.

·         Attend Class.

·         Turn assignments in on time.  A letter grade is lost for each late day and nothing will be accepted more than three days late.

·         Participation in Class.  As much of this class will be an investigation into the meaning of the findings we discuss we need all of you to ask questions, suggest ideas and critique other people's ideas, including mine.

·         Seek help as you need it.  Unfortunately my training in  psychology has not made me a mind reader.  If you are having troubles seek help from me and/or fellow students before the latter part of the term.  Seek the help as soon as the trouble begins.  That requires you thinking about the material and not just memorizing so that you know if you really understand it.

Schedule:

Date	Days	Topic	Reading/Assignment
Wk 1, 9/4	M, T, R, F	I. Overview: Philosophical Issues of Neuropsychology	Ch 1
		II. Neuroanatomy and Physiology

 

Wk 2, 9/11	M, W		A. TheCellular Basis of Behavior	Ch 2;
	R, F		B. The Membrane Potential	Ch. 3; The Physical Factors Behind the Action Potential
Wk 3, 9/18	M,W		C. The Action Potential	Ch 4; The Physical Factors Behind the Action Potential
	R,F		D. The Synaptic Potential	Ch 5;  Whole Brain Atlas;
Wk 4, 9/25	M	Test #1  Before this test you are required to complete the neuron structure tutorials These quizzes will be graded. Constructive comments will be given extra credit.  For review follow this link.

 

W,R,F

E. Functional Neuroanatomy

Ch's 6,7,8

 

III. The Input and Output of the Nervous System

 

Wk 5, 6, 10/2, 10/9

M,W,R,F, M,W

A. Input (Sensory Systems)

Ch 9; Receptive field tutorial; Receptive field slides; Receptive fields as edge detectors

 

R,F

B. Output (Motor Systems)

Ch 10; Stretch Reflex

 

Wk 7,	W	Test #2
10/18
		IV. Basic Motivated Behaviors	Control Systems Theory

 

A. Behaviors Necessary for Individual Survival

 

	R,F	1. General Model and Thirst	Ch 14
Wk 8, 10/23	M,W	2. Hunger	Ch 14
	R,F	3. Sleep	Ch. 13

 

Wk 9, 10/30	M,W	B. Pleasure and Pain	Ch. 11
	W,F	C. Sexual Behavior	Ch 12  The Psychology Place Scientific American Connection: Sex Difference in the Brain (Look through the activity and read both articles).

 

Wk 10, 11/6	W	Test #3
		V. Higher Functions

 

Wk 10-11, 11/13	R,F,M, W,R,F	A. Development and Learning	Ch 15  .
Wk 12, 13, 11/20, 11/27	M,M, W,R,F	B. Organization and Function of the Cerebral Cortex	Ch 16

 

Wk 14, 12/4

M,W, R,F

C. Mental Illness and  Psychophamacology

Ch. 18, 17

 

Dec 11-15		Final Paper

LABORATORY SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS.

Week	Outline	Topic/Assignment
I	II. C.	Sheep Brain Dissection I  Check out the Online Sheep Brain Dissection
II	II. C.	Sheep Brain Dissection II It might help to review the brain tutorials.
III	V. B.	Sheep Brain Practicum/Handling and Care of Laboratory Animals
IV	V. B.	Learning and Shaping I
V	V. B.	" " " " II
VI	V. B.	" " " " III
VII	IV. A. 3.	" " " " IV
VIII	IV. A. 3.	Circadian Rhythm I
IX	IV. A. 3.	" " " " II
X	V. C.	" " " " III
XI		Cerebral Asymmetry I
XII		" " " " II
XI

Assignments:

There will be four examinations. In a course of this type, all later information builds upon the foundation developed in earlier parts of the course. Therefore the course is cumulative and so are the examinations. Each examination will cover material from all previous sections of the course. Since later examinations will be covering more material they will be worth more points. The value of the examinations are as follows:

Exam 1	80 points
Exam 2	100 points
Exam 3	120 points
Final Paper	200 points

The first three examinations will be one hour in length and take place during a class period.  The final assessment is a paper described in detail here. While you are studying for your tests you might checkout the Neuropsychology Study Aids.They might be of some help. I would appreciate feedback on the utility of this site.

Homework:

Periodically there will be homework assignments given to solidify some of the concepts and measures described in the text and in class.  They will be due the next class and graded.  Each assignment will be worth 10 points.

Laboratory Assignments:

There will be different assignments for each laboratory.

For the sheep brain dissection you will have a test on the parts and terminology at the end of the lab.

For the operant conditioning you will keep a journal of the progress of your rat and rough out the results of our final data collection.

For the circadian rhythms laboratory you will write up a results section according to the APA trying to clearly present the results.

For the final laboratory you will write up both a results and a conclusion sections.

Grading and Policies:

Class Participation and Miscellaneous Grades:

To help ensure that students actively participate there is a participation grade. In addition I reserve the right to give other small assignments and quizzes as I see fit to best benefit the quality of the class experience. The points for this section is 150 points. At least 100 will be participation. Up to the other 50 points could be short in class quizzes, or other network assignments or perhaps a reading assignment. These will be clearly announced with their point value. What ever is not used in these assignments will be part of the participation grade.

Late Policy:

An assignment is late 1 minute after the beginning of class. One letter grade will be subtracted for the first day late and another letter grade for each additional day.  No assignment will be accepted more than three days late.

Grades will be converted to percentiles and letter grades will be assigned as follows:

Grade	Percentage Range
A	100 - >93%
A-	93 - 90%
B+	<90 - 87%
B	<87 - >83%
B-	83 - 80%
C+	<80% - 77%
C	<77 - > 73%
C-	73 - 70%
D+	<70 - 67%
D	<67 - 60%
F	< 60%