Trinity Western University
COURSE SYLLABUS
BIOL/PSYC 350
INDEPENDENT STUDIES
BIOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY -- BRAIN AND BEHAVIOUR
Summer 2012
3 credit hours
Instructor’s Name: DR. JUDITH TORONCHUK
Phone: Local: 3104
E-mail: toronchu@twu.ca
Office Location: Upper SNC 215
Prerequisites: Psych majors: Psych 105/106 and Psych 201; for Biol. majors: Biol 113/114
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This online directed studies course will provide a broad overview of the relationship between the nervous
system and behavior. The emphasis will be on physiological mechanisms underlying human behavior,
including clinical problems. Topics will include biological bases of emotion, learning, memory, sexual
behavior, sleep and consciousness. Biochemical theories of schizophrenia, substance abuse and mood and
anxiety disorders will also be discussed.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. To provide the student with an introduction to the physiological, anatomical, developmental and
functional bases of mental experience and behaviour i.e. to explore the relationship between the brain,
behaviour and mental experience.
2. To encourage development of scientific thinking about the connection between the mind and brain.
3. To provide a basis for the student to understand that biological, psychological and social aspects of the
human being all work together to produce personality and behaviour.
4. To introduce the student to basic research methods used in studying the nervous system and behavior.
5. To provide an understanding of basic brain anatomy and basic neuron functioning.
6. To explore some common mental disorders associated with abnormalities in neural or biochemical
function.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Kalat, James W. (2009). Biological Psychology, 10th ed. N.Y, N.Y: Brooks/Cole.
Use of the companion website for the textbook is recommended. It allows you to test your knowledge
easily before taking my quizzes and exams for credit. The study guide that accompanies the textbook
is also a great resource that I recommend.
Jeeves, M. & Brown, W.S. (2009) Neuroscience, psychology, and religion: illusions, delusions, and
realities about human nature. West Conshohocken: Templeton Foundation Press.
Supplementary articles will be posted for you on the website. This material is also intended to help you
formulate your online postings. The following books are also recommended for discussion of neuroscience,
human nature and the problem of our existence as mind/bodies/souls. These books are very good sources for
your term paper.
Green, Joel & Palmer, Stuart. (2005). In search of the soul: four views of the mind-body problem.
Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity.
Jeeves, Malcolm, ed. (2004). From cells to souls--and beyond: changing portraits of human nature.
Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
Jeeves, Malcolm. (2006). Human nature: reflections on the integration of psychology and
Christianity . Radnor, PA: Templeton Foundation Press.
Markham, Paul N. (2007). Rewired: Exploring religious conversion. Eugene, OR: Pickwick.
Murphy, Nancey. (2006). Bodies and souls, or spirited bodies? New York, NY: Cambridge.
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Murphy, N. & Brown, W. S. (2007). Did my neurons make me do it?: philosophical and
neurobiological perspectives on moral responsibility and free will. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
DETERMINATION OF FINAL SEMESTER GRADE
Quizzes (11 quizzes)
11 %
Online postings (12)
24 %
Research Paper
15 %
Midterm test
15 %
Final Exam
35 %
This is an online course. Participation in the online forums is required.
Quizzes & Exams
Short (10 questions) multiple choice quizzes will be put on the course website after every chapter. Quizzes
and exams will be time-limited. The final exam will include material from all chapters and the notes that I
post (with stress on units 7-12), and integrative questions from the Jeeves & Brown book.
Online Postings—Must be completed every week
I will provide questions intended to address some of the more interesting topics/applications in each chapter.
You will usually have a choice of topics and you are expected to comment in a few paragraphs on the topic
using supplementary material and other journal articles that you find in order to make your points. Your
grade will be based on accuracy and relevance of your posts. You are also expected to comment on the
postings of at least 2 other students each week.
Research Paper (about 2000 words excluding bibliography and cover page)
I would like you to start with the book by Jeeves and Brown and focus on some aspect of the neuroscience of
religious experience—conversion, prayer, meditation, etc. Try to explore in detail the interaction of the brain
(physiology, biochemistry and/or anatomy) with experience and/or behaviour. Your goal should be to show
me that you are able to think analytically and in-depth.
Carry out some additional research on the topic using Pub Med, Academic Search Premier, etc. and the
books and articles I have recommended. You must use high quality relevant academic sources (i.e. peer
reviewed journals NOT newspapers or popular magazines or non-academic internet sources) in your
discussion (approximately 10 primary sources). You may include in this number articles that I post on the
class website.
You may also include your own reactions, how the authors’ views fit (or doesn’t fit) with your
understanding of religious faith, how the supporting evidence used by the authors fits (or doesn’t fit) with
other topics from this or other courses, or with other material you have found. What do you think are
potential problems with the material? Did the material answer any burning questions you may have had, or
did it leave you with more questions? Is the viewpoint presented consistent with a Christian worldview? Why
or why not? Of course there are other questions you may try to answer, but they should be relevant to the
course. Be sure you can rationally justify your ideas and that you include scientific discussion.
Please proofread your essay for correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, and sentence structure. I take
grammar, spelling and style into account when assigning your grade. Cite all your sources. Do not forget to
cite journal articles and books as journals or books, not as URLs. Cite secondary sources (ones you did
not read yourself) as secondary sources (e.g. Jones, 1999, cited in Brown, 2005) not as if they were primary
sources which you actually read. If you cite material that you haven’t read (a secondary source) as if you
have read it (i.e. primary source), you are being less than honest in padding your bibliography. Internet
citations should have an author and/or institution, title, and date as well as the URL. Plagiarism and
indiscriminate close paraphrasing are unacceptable!
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Academic dishonesty includes cheating on exams, tests etc; submitting the same or substantially the
same essay for credit in more than one course, without faculty permission; or plagiarism. In cases of
academic dishonesty, the University policy outlined in the Academic Calendar will be enforced
GRADING
Conversion of grade percentage to a letter grade will follow the university grading system:
A+ 90 -100
A 85 - 89
A- 80 - 84
B+ 77 - 79
B 73 - 76
B- 70 - 72
C+ 67 - 69
C 63 - 66
C- 60 - 62
D+ 57 - 59
D 53 - 56
D- 50 - 52
F 0 - 49
COURSE OUTLINE
The following is meant to help you schedule your reading of the text and notes. Aim to complete one unit per
week. Notes from the chapters will also be posted on the internet.
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Unit 6
Introduction
Nerve Cells and Impulses
Synapses, Drugs & Addiction
Anatomy of the Nervous System
Mind, Brain and Soul
Development and Plasticity
Kalat ch. 1, Jeeves & Brown ch 1, 6
Kalat ch. 2, J&B 2
Kalat ch. 3 J&B 3
Kalat ch. 4 J &B 4
readings posted on website, J&B 5, 7-9
Kalat ch. 5
Midterm test
Must write on or before June 20 includes ch 1-5 in Kalat, plus notes from units 1-6
Unit 7
Wakefulness and Sleep
Kalat ch. 9
Unit 8
Reproductive Behaviours
Kalat ch. 11
Unit 9
Emotional Behaviours and Stress
Kalat ch. 12
Unit 10
Learning & Memory
Kalat ch.13
Unit 11
Cognitive Functions
Kalat ch. 14
Unit 12
Mood Disorders & Schizophrenia
Kalat ch. 15
Term Paper due on or before August 5
Final exam
Must be written on or before August 15
includes all chapters Kalat (and Jeeves & Brown), with emphasis on Kalat ch 9-15
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