Behavioral Neuroscience

(PSY 4313)

Fall 2017 Online

Instructor: Steven T. Brewer, Ph.D. Office: A 204G

Email:steven.brewer@angelo.edu

Phone: (325)486-6124

Office Hours: M & W: 1:00 – 3:00

T 11:00-12:00

R 11:00-12:00 & 2:00-3:00

F 11-2; Or By Appointment.

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Required Text: Pinel, J. (2014). Biopsychology 9/E. Boston: Pearson

Prerequisite: PSY 2301 (General Psychology)

Course Description: The field of psychology evolved from the combination of

philosophy and physiology. The first textbook in psychology, written by Wundt in the

late 19th c. was entitled "Principles of Physiological Psychology". Physiological

psychology involves studying the relationship between physiological mechanisms and

behavior. The primary physiological mechanism is the nervous system. Anyone who has

kept current with psychological research realizes that the future of psychology will

revolve around neural substrates of behavior and how they are influenced by our genetic

makeup and modified by the environment. The purpose of this course is to give the

student a basic understanding of the relationship between these neural substrates and

behavior.

Course Objectives:

1. Gain factual knowledge (terminology, classifications, methods, trends)

2. Learn fundamental principles, generalizations, or theories

3. Learn to apply course material (to improve thinking, problem solving, and decisions)

Student Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, you should:

1. Have learned the structure and function of the nervous system.

2. Have learned the organization of sensory and motor systems.

3. Have learned general theories of neuronal communication.

4. Have learned several common biological processes underlying higher level

functions such as learning and memory, language, and mental disorders.

Class Sessions 1. This is an online class and as such is largely self-paced. 2. It is your responsibility to check the syllabus frequently and know when

assignments are due. 3. It is a VERY good idea to not wait until the last minute to do assignments. 4. “Lectures” will be posted by chapter as it is assigned (approximately 1 per week, a

total of 17) and placed in a folder entitled lecture material. “Lectures” will be designed to supplement the reading of assigned chapters.

5. Questions and comments are always welcome!

*DISCLAIMER: This class may examine ideas and material that some students may find disagreeable. If students are unable or unwilling to tolerate other perspectives or their own value systems in the context of the class, then they are encouraged to speak with the instructor regarding their concerns and may wish to reconsider their enrollment in the course. Should you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions at any time during the semester, please feel free to contact me.

Communication 1. Email is the best way to contact your instructor. 2. All emails should include “PSY 4313” in the subject line. 3. All emails should include your first and last name. 4. Emails will typically be answered within 24 hours (excluding weekends and

holidays), if an email is not answered within 24 hours please verify the email address and speak with your instructor during office hours or the next class period.

METHODS OF ASSESSING LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Student Evaluation:

1) There will be Thirteen 25 item online quizzes (Bb) covering each chapter assigned and worth 50 points (650 total points). Students may take the quizzes three times with the higher score counting toward the course grade. There will be a 30 minute time limit. Quizzes are open book and open note. Be aware that the quizzes are randomly generated from a test bank so no two quizzes will be identical. The quizzes will begin on August 29th with approximately one (1) quiz added each week. The quizzes will be available until the end of the week, (Sunday @ 11:59 p.m.), in which they are posted. The quizzes are found in the folder, oddly enough named “quizzes”. The quiz number, e.g. quiz6 refers to the chapter (chapter 6).

2) The thirteen chapters covered in this course will be broken into 3 blocks of 3 chapters and 1 block of 4 chapters (see schedule). At the end of each block there will be a 50-question exam that will cover material from the previous chapters and will be worth 100 points each (400 total points). The Exam will be posted to the “exams/quizzes” folder at 8 a.m. on the last Friday for each block. You will have until Sunday 11:59 pm of the same weekend to take and complete the exam. You will only get one two-hour attempt to take the exam. It is in your best interest that you take the exam from a computer with a reliable connection to the internet. The exam will be respondus lockdown. Once you start the exam you must finish it in one sitting.

Technical difficulties happen, so please let me know if you have a technical difficulty during the exam.

Final Grades will be based on total points earned (1050 pts total). 945-1050=A, 840-

944=B, 735-839=C, 630-734=D, and below 630=F.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Late assignments will not be accepted and will be assigned a

grade of 0.

Communication

5. Email is the best way to contact your instructor.

6. All emails should include “PSY 4319” in the subject line.

7. All emails should include your first and last name.

8. Emails will typically be answered within 24 hours (excluding weekends and

holidays), if an email is not answered within 24 hours please verify the email address

and speak with your instructor during office hours or the next class period.

Tentative Schedule*

Block 1 August 28 – Biopsychology as a Neuroscience Chapter 1 September 3 Quiz 1 due 9-3 by 11:59 pm September 4 –10 Evolution, Genetics, and Experience Chapter 2 Quiz 2 due 9-10 by 11:59 pm September 11-17 Anatomy of the Nervous System Chapter 3 Quiz 3 due 9-17 by 11:59 pm

Exam 1 Chapters 1, 2, & 3 Posted Friday 9-15 @ 08:00

Due Sunday 9-17 @ 11:59 pm

Block 2 September 18-24 Neural Conduction and Synaptic Chapter 4 Transmission Quiz 4 due 9-24 by 11:59 pm September 25 - Drug Addiction and the Brain’s Chapter 15 October 1 Reward Circuits Quiz 15 due 10-1 by 11:59 pm October 2-8 The Research Methods of Biopsychology Chapter 5 Quiz 5 due 10-8 by 11:59 pm

Exam 2 Chapters 4, 5, & 15 Posted Friday 10-6 @ 08:00

Due Sunday 10-8 @ 11:59 pm

Block 3

October 9-15 The Visual System Chapter 6 Quiz 6 due 9-15 by 11:59 pm October 16-22 Mechanisms of Perception: Hearing, Chapter 7 Touch, Smell, Taste & Attention Quiz 7 due 10-22 by 11:59 pm October 23-29 The Sensorimotor System Chapter 8 Quiz 8 due 10-29 by 11:59 pm

Exam 3 Chapters 6, 7, & 8 Posted Friday 10-27 @ 08:00

Due Sunday 10-29 @11:59pm

Block 4

October 30 - Brain Damage and Neuroplasticity Chapter 10 November 5 Quiz 10 due 11-5 by 11:59 pm November 6-12 Learning, Memory, and Amnesia Chapter 11 Quiz 11 due 6-12 by 11:59 pm November 13-26 Thanksgiving Week No Assignments November 27- Lateralization, Language and the Split Chapter 12 December 3 Brain Quiz 12 due 12-3 by 11:59 pm December 4-10 Biopsychology of Psychiatric Disorders Chapter 13 Quiz 13 due 12-10 by 11:59pm

Exam 4 Chapters 10, 11, 12, & 13 Posted Friday 12-8 @ 08:00

Due Sunday 12-10 @11:59pm

* Syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor*

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Angelo State University expects its students to maintain

complete honesty and integrity in their academic pursuits. Students are responsible for

understanding the Academic Honor Code, which is available on the web at

http://www.angelo.edu/forms/pdf/honorcode5.pdf. Any violation of academic honesty

may result in course failure.

Tutoring:

The ASU Tutor Center is located in the Library C301 (3rd floor). Tutoring is free to all

ASU students.

Disabilities:

Persons with disabilities which may warrant academic accommodations must contact

the Student Life Office, Room 112 University Center (325-942-2191), in order to request

such accommodations prior to any accommodations being implemented. You are

encouraged to make this request early in the semester so that appropriate arrangements

can be made.