Psychology 465 - Physiological Psychology - MWF, 10:00 - FALL, 2009
Shirley Cole-Harding, Ph.D. Office: Memorial Hall, 230N. Phone: 858-3044, or 858-3145 (Dept. Office)
Email: shirley.cole-harding@minotstateu.edu
Office Hours: MWF: 11:00-12:00, 2:00-3:00, or by arrangement
Text: Breedlove, S.M., Rosenzweig, M.R., & Watson, N.V. (2007). Biological Psychology. Sunderland, MA:
Sinauer Associates, Inc.
Goals: Students will understand the basics of the biological bases of behavior, including the following:



Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology
Research methods in biopsychology (note physiological psych, biological psych and biopsych are all
just about the same)
Neural mechanisms of cognition, mental disorders and other selected behaviors.
Objectives for the Course:



Read, participate in lectures, and take quizzes and exams over the basic information.
Do a presentation summarizing the neural mechanisms of a specific behavior.
Read and discuss original research reports in these areas.
Online Quizzes: There will be Online Multiple-Choice Quizzes worth 20 points (10 questions worth 2
points each). Each quiz will cover 1 chapter in the book. You may take the quizzes as many times as you
wish. These quizzes are available all semester and will help with the exams.
Pop quizzes/Article reviews: There will be some "pop" quizzes worth 5-25 points - each given without notice
at any time during the semester. It may be information just lectured on or from a previous days' lecture. These
may be a short answer essay or multiple choice, paper and pencil or Personal Response System. Article
reviews may also be assigned for 25 points.
Exams: There will be 4 50-point in-class exams, a combination of multiple choice (1-point each), matching and
essay. Exam 1 covers Chapters 1-3; Exams 2, Chapter 4-5, and Exam 3, Chapter 6-7. Exams 1-3 (Chapters
1-7) will cover the basic information about brain anatomy and physiology. Chapters 8, 11, 16, & 19 are about
specific types of behavior. They will be covered by Exam 4.
Final Exam: There will be a comprehensive multiple choice online final worth 100 points (2 points each). You
may take it as many times as you wish, but note that the questions will be different every time you take
it. It will be available from 8:00 am 12/2/09 - Midnight 12/15/09.
Paper: You will be required to write a 5-page paper reviewing a topic in physiological psychology. this will be
worth 100 points. Research articles pertinent to each chapter are available to help you choose a topic or you
may choose a topic on your own. I'll want to approve the topic for everyone's paper. You must have 3-5 peer-
reviewed original research articles, and up to 2 peer-reviewed review articles. Textbooks will NOT be
considered part of the 5 required articles, but may be used as background. Paper copies of articles must be
turned in unless available online. You will use APA style for the papers. If you aren't familiar with it, just ask! By
the way, I'm picky. Papers are due 11/23.
The paper must be submitted via the online program SafeAssign, which is a plagiarism checker. However,
it will not be a "gotcha" exercise, but a learning experience. You may correct anything SafeAssign identifies as
copied before you let me see the paper. Please ask any questions you may have regarding plagiarism.
Attendance: Attendance will be used to decide borderline grades.
MSU Accommodation Statement
In coordination with the Disability Services Office, reasonable accommodations will be provided for
qualified students with disabilities. Please meet with the instructor during the first week of class to
make arrangements. Accommodations and alternative format print materials (large print, audio, disk
or Braille) are available through the Student Development Center, located in the basement of Lura
Manor - South Entrance, phone number 858-3371.
Assessment
Summary:
Exams (4 X 50)
Final Exam
Paper
Pop quizzes/Article reviews
Online Quizzes (11 X 20 points)
200 points
100 "
100 "
??
220 "
Total possible points
620+ points
Grading Criteria
93-100%
83-92%
70-82%
below 60%
A
B
C
F
Tentative Schedule
Quiz1
Ch. 1 – Biological Psychology: Scope and Outlook
2
8/28
3
8/31
Ch. 1
4
9/2
5
Quiz2
No Class
Labor Day
6
9/4
9/7
9/9
Ch. 1
Ch. 2 – Functional neuroanatomy: The nervous system and behavior
7
9/11
Ch. 2
8
9/14
Ch. 2 - Lab/Exercise
9
9/16
Ch. 2 - Lab/Exercise
10
9/18
Ch. 2
Quiz3
Ch. 3 - Neurophysiology: The generation, transmission, and
integration of neural signals
11
12
13
14
9/21
9/23
9/25
9/28
15
9/30
16
10/2
17
10/5
Ch. 4 - The chemical bases of behavior: Neurotransmitters and
neuropharmacology
Ch. 4
Ch. 4
18
10/7
Ch. 4
19
10/9
20
10/12
21
22
23
10/14
10/16
10/19
EXAM 2
Chapters 4-5
24
10/21
Quiz6
Ch. 6 – Evolution of the brain and behavior
25
10/23
Ch. 6
26
10/26
Ch. 6
27
10/28
Ch. 6
28
10/30
29
11/2
Ch. 7
30
11/4
Ch. 7
31
11/6
Ch. 7
32
33
11/9
11/11
11/13
34
11/16
37
11/18
36
11/20
Quiz 9
37
11/23
Papers due
38
11/25
39
40
EXAM 1
Quiz4
Quiz5
Chapters 1-3
Ch. 5 – Hormones and the brain
Ch. 5
Ch. 5
Ch. 5
Quiz7
EXAM 3
No Class
Quiz 8
Ch. 7 – Life span development of the brain and behavior
Chapters 6-7
Veteran's Day
Ch. 8 - General principles of sensory processing, touch, and
pain
Ch. 8
Ch. 8
Ch. 11 - Motor control and plasticity
Ch. 11
Ch. 11
11/27
No Class
Thanksgiving
11/30
12/2
Quiz 10
Ch. 16 Psychopathology: biological basis of behavioral disorders
41
12/4
42
12/7
43
44
12/9
12/11
noon2:00
12/15
Ch. 3
Ch. 3
Ch. 3
Online Final
Available.
Comprehensive (Chapters 1-7)
Quiz 11
Ch. 16
Ch. 16
Ch. 19 - Language and cognition
Ch. 19
Ch. 19
Exam 4
Chapters 8, 11, 16, 19 (50 points)
Online final exam
Midnight closes
Online comprehensive (Chapters 1-7)