Neurobiology (BIOL 367) – 4 credits, Writing Intensive
Spring 2016
Instructor:
Dr. Michelle Vieyra
Phone: (803)641-3608
Meeting Place/ Time:
Office: Science 111b
Email: michellev@usca.edu
Lecture: Science 108, TTh 10:50-12:05
Lab: Science 107, W 2:30-5:10
Suggested Textbook: Any anatomy & physiology text will cover the basics.
Required Lab Materials: 1) You will need to subscribe to SimUText for the first two labs. You must
subscribe to SimUText before our lab on Jan 20. I sent everyone an email with registration instructions. If
you did not get this email let me know ASAP. 2) The materials for all BioPac labs are available on blackboard.
You need to print them and bring them with you to those labs.
Course Description and Objectives:
An introduction to the structure and function of the human nervous system to include basic neuroanatomy and
neurophysiology as well as interaction/ cooperation between the nervous and sensory systems. Emphasis will
be placed on cellular processes and communication. The lab will focus on brain and eye dissection,
electrophysiological demonstrations and experiments as well as scientific writing.
Graded Assignments/ Exams/ Quizzes:
Exams: There will be six lecture exams throughout the semester as noted on the calendar. They will only cover
the material given since the previous exam and will be worth 100 points each. Expect a combination of
multiple-choice, fill in the blank, short answer and matching on each exam.
Lab Practical Exams: There will be two lab practical exams worth 60 points each. These will be given round
– robin style and will ask you to identify structures that are pinned on specimens or models. You must be able
to correctly spell the structure. You cannot make-up lab exams!!!!
Lab Quizzes: There will be 4 lab quizzes worth 20-25 points each. Quizzes will be multiple choice, short
answer or matching and will ask questions from the materials that come with your lab exercises.
Lab Participation: These are points you earn for doing labs during the lab period. For SimUText labs I will
check your work online. For BioPac labs I will look at your data sheets before you leave. 5 points per lab.
These points cannot be made-up.
Movie Write-up: We will be watching one movie during lab. You must write a 1-2 page reflection. A
summary of the movie will only earn you minimal credit, full credit requires thoughtful incorporation of lecture
material and how the movie relates to that material.
Writing Workshop Assignments & Research Paper: We will be doing a number of writing assignments
throughout the semester culminating in a big research paper. Most of the assignment will be done during lab
time. Writing workshop assignments are worth 20pts each, the research paper 50 points. More information will
be provided during lab.
Lab Reports: These will be written to describe BioPac experiments done in lab. We will work on these during
lab. The first lab report will be on the EEG lab. You can choose to write the second lab report on the EDA lab
or the biofeedback lab. 25pts each.
Lecture & Lab Calendars:
Date
T 1-12
Th 1-14
T 1-19
Th 1-21
T 1-26
Th 1-28
T 2-2
Th 2-4
T 2-9
Th 2-11
T 2-16
Th 2-18
T 2-23
Th 2-25
T 3-1
Th 3-3
T 3-8
Th 3-10
T 3-15
Th 3-17
T 3-22
Th 3-24
T 3-29
Th 3-31
T 4-5
Th 4-7
T 4-12
Th 4-14
T 4-19
Th 4-21
Th 4-28
Lecture Topic/ Exam
Syllabus, Intro
Cellular Transport
Membrane Potential, Intro to NS
Neurons and Glial cells
EXAM 1
Neuron Physiology
Synapses
Neurotransmitters I
Neurotransmitters II
EXAM 2
Brain Development and Intro to brain
Cerebrum I
Cerebrum II
EXAM 3
Rest of Brain I
Rest of Brain II, Spinal cord
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
PNS – Cranial nerves
PNS – Spinal nerves
EXAM 4
ANS I
ANS II
Intro to senses
Proprioception & Touch
Exam 5
Vision I
Vision II
Balance & Hearing
Taste & Smell
EXAM 6
Grade Breakdown:
Lecture Exams X6
Lab Practical Exams X2
Lab Quizzes X4
Lab Participation X5
Movie Write-up
Writing Workshop Assignments X3
Lab Reports X2
Research Paper
Total
600 pts
120 pts
85 pts
25 pts
10 pts
60 pts
50 pts
50 pts
1000 pts
Lab Quiz or Assignment/ Topic (Wednesdays)
Writing Workshop – Source Evaluation, Primary vs.
Secondary Literature, Citations
Source Evaluation Assignment Due – 20pts
SimUText Diffusion & Osmosis Lab Demos
Quiz 1 (SimUText Membrane Transport Labs) - 20 pts
Writing Workshop – Topics/ Annotated Bibliographies
Annotated Bib 1 Assignment Due - 20pts
SimUText Action Potentials Explored
Quiz 2 (SimUText Action Potentials) – 20pts
BioPac 3 & 4 – Introduction to EEG
Quiz 3 (EEGs/ BioPac 3 & 4) – 20pts
Writing Workshop - Lab Reports
Lab Report 1 Due – 25pts
Brain Dissection
Lab Practical – Brain - 60pts
Writing Workshop – Finalizing Paper Topics & Sources
SPRING BREAK
Annotated Bib 2 Assignment Due – 20pts
Movie – Secrets of the Mind
Movie Write-up due – 10pts
BioPac 9 – EDA/ Polygraph
Research Paper Due – 50pts
BioPac 14 - Biofeedback
Quiz 4 (BioPac 19 & 14 – 25pts)
Writing Workshop – Lab reports
Lab Report 2 due – 25pts
Spinal cord, cranial nerves, ear and eye dissection
Lab Practical – Eyes & Ears - 60pts
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Grading Scale:
A = 900 pts or more
B+ = 850 - 899 pts
B = 800 - 849 pts
C+ = 750 - 799 pts
C = 700 - 749 pts
D+ = 650 - 699 pts
D = 600 – 649 pts
F = below 600 pts
IMPORTANT!!!
Because this is a writing intensive course, you cannot receive higher than an F if you do
not participate in the writing components of the class. Failure to turn in at least 75% of
the writing assignments will result in failure in the course regardless of course standing.
Attendance/ Late/ Absence Policy:
Missing lecture: Unless you miss an exam, I do not need to be notified about missed lecture time. It is YOUR
responsibility to get notes from a friend – I do not give private lessons over missed material. If you are
legitimately absent for a lecture exam I must be contacted within 24 hours of the missed exam with a viable
excuse. You must schedule and make-up the missed lecture exam within one week (i.e. if you miss an
exam on Tuesday you must make it up sometime before class meets on the following Tuesday).
Missing lab: This is very bad and if you have a possible Wednesday afternoon conflict you need to drop this
class. Many lab assignments/ points cannot be made up. Instructions for writing assignments will be given in
lab and we will be using lab time for me to give you feedback on writing assignments. DO NOT MISS LAB!!!
Arriving Late: Exams and quizzes will be given at the beginning of every class. If you are late beginning a
lecture exam you will be given until the amount of time allotted to the rest of the class has elapsed. Being late
to a lab practical will result in you receiving a zero for the stations you miss.
Be responsible and courteous to your classmates!
Be prepared for labs by making sure you can open SimUText modules before class and printing out and
bringing Biopac handouts with you when you are supposed to. If you have issues/ problems please email/ see
me before class not during class. I do not appreciate wasting class time waiting for you to print out stuff down
the hall or trouble shooting your computer issues. Also, when doing dissection/ studying the brains and eyes
please clean your dissection pan and instruments and put the brains and eyes away. Just because the anatomy
kids are slobs doesn’t mean you have to be.
Contacting/ meeting with me:
The best way to contact me is via email. I usually check email nightly until 9pm. Do not expect an answer to
your midnight questions until the next morning.
I will generally be available to meet with students on Wednesdays from 10-1 and Thursdays from 1-4 and can
be available at many other times in the week by appointment. I cannot guarantee I will be in my office if you
just pop-in so please schedule an appointment if you would like to meet with me. The best way to schedule an
appointment is in person before or after class or by email.
Additional Comments:
You are expected to follow the honor pledge on every assignment:
“On my honor as a University of South Carolina at Aiken student, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid
on the assignment/examination. To the best of my knowledge, I am not in violation of academic dishonesty.” This
includes plagiarism which will be covered in more detail when I assign papers. Violation of the honor code will result
in a zero on the assignment, a grade decrease and letter to the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs.
DO NOT CHEAT!!! Nothing burns bridges with professors like cheating in their classes.
If you have a physical, psychological and/or learning disability which might affect your performance in this course please
contact the Office of Disability Services, 126A B&E, (803)641-3609 as soon as possible.
From the USCA student handbook: “It is the instructor’s right to remove from the classroom any student who disrupts or disturbs
the proceeding of the class. Disruption of the class includes but is not limited to the use of any portable electronic devices, including
cell phones, MP3 players; iPods, etc. unless prior approval has been given to a student or unless required for the course. In extreme
cases the faculty member can request assistance from University Police. If the student who has been ejected causes similar
disturbances in subsequent meetings of the class, he/she may be denied admittance to the class for the remainder of the semester and
assigned a grade of F.”
What this means for this class: I encourage you to take notes on your tablets and laptops if you wish but please do not visit
disruptive and distracting websites during class. While I may not notice cell phone use while I am lecturing, IF I SEE A
CELL PHONE IN YOUR HAND DURING AN EXAM I WILL GIVE YOU A ZERO – NO
EXCEPTIONS!!!!!!