INSTRUCTOR: Cheryl A. Frye, Ph.D.
See below for a course description,
goals,
expectations
and
requirements,
assessment
(and extra credit possibilities), materials,
and time and location.
This syllabus is subject to minor revisions. If such revisions take place, they will be clearly noted repeatedly in class in a verbal manner.
COURSE DESCRIPTION (from graduate catalog): The research literature and theoretical positions in the area. Provides preparation for advanced work.
COURSE GOALS: This course is intended as an introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience, a branch of psychology that concerns itself with the relationship between the nervous system and behavior. As such, it focuses on more reductionistic explanations of mental and behavioral events. In this course, we will be reviewing what is known about the biological underpinnings of human and non-human behavior. The first goal of this course is for students to integrate this information into their existing knowledge base. Students should gain a greater understanding of neural and sensory functioning. Current knowledge regarding the basic biological functions, including ingestive behavior, feeding and aggression will be discussed. This course will also examine current knowledge regarding the biological basis of language development, learning, gender development, as well as emotions, stress, and mental functioning. The second goal of this course is to provide students an adequate framework about basic principles in biopsychology so that in the future new information may be incorporated as the rapidly expanding field progresses. To accomplish these goals, the topical information will be presented through a combination of lectures, discussions, self-guided exercises, and classroom demonstrations that emphasize outcome as well as process.
CLASS TIME AND LOCATION: Monday and Wednesday, 7:15 - 8:35 PM; Room SS 131.
HOW
TO CONTACT INSTRUCTOR:
email cafrye@cnsunix.albany.edu
Office Hours (ss 220) Monday
and Wednesday, 5:30-7:00 PM
REQUIRED TEXT:
N.R. Carlson. (1999) Foundations
of Physiological Psychology, Allyn and Bacon. ($73.00 new)
SUPPLEMENTAL Books:
W.H. Calvin, Ojemann, G.A. (1994) Conversations with Neil’s Brain: The Neural Nature of Thought and Language, Addison Wesley Press. ($13.00 new)
O. Sacks (1985) The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Harper Perennial, Press. ($13.00 new)
* other readings are journal articles that are on reserve in the library
COURSE EXPECTATIONS:
Background:
As this course will focus on the
biological basis of behavior, you are expected to have some college level
psychology and biology before taking this course. If it has been
some time since you have taken any biology, you may wish to review an introductory
biology text. Similarly, students in the class are expected to be
familiar with the basic concepts in psychology, such as classical conditioning,
short term memory etc. If these concepts sound unfamiliar to you
be sure to consult an introductory psychology textbook for review.
Time Commitment:
This course meets in two 1.33
hour period per week. Three hours of outside of class work is expected
for each hour of class time. Thus, in order to make satisfactory
progress in this course, you should be spending a minimum of 8 hours per
week outside of class reading, writing, and reviewing your notes.
If you wait until the last minute to do this work (say the weekend of the
first exam), then you will have at least 40 hours of work to do in a 48
hour weekend. Do not make this mistake. Students who have been successful
in this course are those with good study habits. Successful graduate
students have reviewed the reading prior to coming to class and then taken
detailed notes from the reading after class. The notes from the lecture
and the reading are then studied on a regular basis (rather than just prior
to the exam).
Preparation for class
Students are expected to come
prepared to all classes so that they can engage in discussion of the material
rather than just hearing a lecture. The instructor retains the right
to lower any student’s final grade for excessive unpreparedness, tardiness,
or absenteeism.
Ethics and Conduct
Please be aware of the University
Policy on Academic Integrity outlined in the graduate bulletin and behave
accordingly. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner
that is conducive to learning in the classroom.
Student Input
This is your class.
The instructor is interested in bringing all students closer to the material.
In order to accomplish this input is necessary from students. Please
come to class prepared with questions about the reading and/or about the
last class discussion so that we may engage with one another about the
material.
Grading is not competitive and students are encouraged to study and discuss materials together. However, unless explicitly stated otherwise (e.g. presentations), any work turned in must be yours and yours alone. If you have any questions about the University Policy on Academic Integrity outlined in the graduate bulletin, ask the instructor for clarification, as violations will not be tolerated.
Your final overall grade will be assigned based on your performance on the requirements of this course (listed below). If you ever have any questions regarding your standing in this course, please feel free to meet with the instructor.
Grading Scale: What do I have to do to get an A?
A 94-99%
C 74-76%
A- 90-93%
C- 70-73%
B+ 87-89%
D+ 67-69%
B 84-86%
D 64-66%
B- 80-83%
D- 60-63%
C+ 77-79% F 59%
and below
Your grade in this class will be determined as follows:
Two exams: 30% of overall grade
Research Paper: 20% of overall
grade
Presentation: 10% (May 4,
6, or 11) of overall grade
Thought Paper on book:
10% of overall grade
Extra credit (Optional:
up to 3%: 0.5% for each summary written up to 6)
EXAM 1 and 2: These exams will be in class on March 11 and April 27. They will consist of multiple choice questions, fill-in the blank questions, short answers, and essays.
OPTIONAL FINAL EXAM (May 17): If you were not able to take either exam for any reason, then you must take the final examination and your grade on the portion of the final that corresponds to that exam will be utilized. If you took either exam 1 or 2 and were not happy with your grade you can retake the corresponding portion of the final and the higher grade will prevail.
Research Paper: A research paper that describes the existing knowledge about the biological basis of a particular system of interest and critiques the models and rate limiting steps to learning more about the biological basis of the system in question. This paper should be in APA format and should be about 15 pages long. Discuss possible topics with the instructor and start your research early as you will likely need to obtain articles from other libraries. The last date and time that this paper will be accepted is May 13 at 5PM. Students are encouraged to turn their papers in prior to this final deadline. The instructor would be happy to provide comments on students papers prior to the deadline. In order to do this bring a reasonable draft of your work to the instructor during her office hours and she will give you feedback. The last opportunity for comments on drafts will be May 3.
Presentation: Students will present an overview of a topic in biological psychology that was not previously discussed in class. Students are encouraged to work in groups. Three topics not previously covered will be generated by the class and each class member is expected to work within a group exploring the biological basis of that topic. Each group will then be responsible for presenting an overview of the topic to the class at the end of the semester.
Thought Paper: A 1-2 page thought paper (write this like an abstract) that summarizes and analyzes one of the two recommended books. The last date and time that this paper will be accepted is May 13 at 5PM. Students are encouraged to turn their papers in prior to this final deadline.
EXTRA LEARNING,
EXTRA CREDIT. (0.5 points added on to your final grade for each satisfactory
1 page, typed summary -total maximum 6 papers)
North East Under/Graduate Research
Organization for Neuroscience: Saturday May 1, Trinity College,
Hartford, CT
This will be a one day conference
in which graduate and undergraduate students present their research, discuss
pipeline/training issues, and hear a keynote address by Dr. Robert Sapolsky.
Students can earn credit for writing up symposium summaries, talk summaries,
or poster summaries (maximum 4 papers).
Colloquium Summaries:
Due to the search for a new biological psychology faculty member there
will be several colloquia in the area of biological psychology. Students
can earn credit by attending and writing up summaries of these talks (maximum
4 papers).
Brain Injury Art Show: There
is an art show being held at the North Lobby of the Empire State Plaza
(February 9-12). The art work is by individuals who have had brain
injury. Attend the art show and write a 1 page summary of what you
learned from the experience and earn 0.5 points of extra credit.
Brain Bee: In order to promote
education about the brain and in support of Brain Awareness Week, a brain
bee contest will be held for high school students at SUNY Albany.
The winner will go on to a National Brain Bee. Attend this event
and write a 1 page thought summary of it for 0.5 points of extra credit.
Last updated 16-Feb-99 by JKL