Course Syllabus
NSC 310: BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR LAB
Fall 2012
Tuesday (9:00-10:50), Tuesday (3:00-4:50), or Thursday (3:00-4:50)
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor:
Dr. Gretchen Gotthard
Office Location: Moyer 224
Tuesday & Thursday
Email:
ggotthard@muhlenberg.edu
Office Hours:
1:00-2:30pm
[also, by appointment]
WHAT IS THIS LAB ABOUT (and do you really get to work with rats!?)?
The two key purposes of this lab are to provide you with opportunities to (1) develop a solid
knowledge base in research methods, and (2) experience, in a “hands-on” fashion, some of the
current experimental techniques and methods employed in behavioral neuroscience research.
Additionally, the lab will serve as a supplement to material discussed during our regular class
meetings (e.g., sheep brain dissections to reinforce neuroanatomy discussed in class).
We will start with an extensive examination of basic research methods. Students will then
design and carry out an experiment in small groups (using rats) that may employ any of the
following tools: beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists, protein synthesis inhibitors, sand maze,
odor discrimination digging task, predator model of PTSD, elevated plus maze, and open field
(or you may choose to design your own apparatus!). Following data collection, students will
analyze their data, and create a group research poster that will be presented to the lab in small
groups.
WHAT WILL YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN?
Over the course of the semester, students will work to refine their critical thinking skills (via
problem solving, critical reading, in-class writing, and group discussions), and their presentation
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and collaborative skills (via numerous group learning and presentation/discussion
opportunities). Additionally, by the end of the semester, students should:
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understand the basic care needed for their rats subjects, and the important ethical
guidelines that accompany research with animals;
be able to identify various structures of the sheep brain, and relate these structures to
function;
have a solid understanding of research methods (e.g., ethics, experimental design,
controlling for key variables, etc.), and be able to apply these methods to the design of their
own group project;
have a working knowledge of a sampling of the experimental methods and procedures used
to examine animal learning and memory (e.g., odor discrimination, sand maze,
intraperitoneal injections, etc.);
be able to conduct simple data analyses, and transform their findings into a clearly-written,
empirically-supported group research poster;
refine their presentation skills, as evidenced by clear descriptions of the research project,
and an ability to answer questions regarding the project.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SUCCEED IN THIS LAB?
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Come to lab: Lab attendance is required. You are responsible for any material,
announcements, and assignments given (or due) in lab on the day you missed. Because so
much of what we do in the lab requires hands-on work, it is imperative that you come to
every scheduled lab session. There will be no make-up sessions for missed labs.
IMPORTANT: Be sure to check the lab schedule each week, because later in the semester
we often will not have a formal lab session. Several lab sessions will be set aside for data
collection, so we will not meet formally as a group.
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No late assignments: Be sure to hand in all assignments on the designated date. There will
be no exceptions. All late assignments will lose one letter grade per day.
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Be prepared to “get your hands dirty”: One of the key objectives of this lab is to give
students hands-on experience with behavioral neuroscience. I expect that all students will
participate in all lab activities (dissection, rat handling/care, data collection, data analysis,
and poster preparation and presentation). If you are absent from lab or do not participate
fully in lab activities, then your grade will be lowered. Please see me ASAP if any member of
your group is not contributing equally to lab work so that we can remedy the situation
immediately.
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Be respectful of my lab space and research assistants: We will be using my PERSONAL
research lab for the project portion of the lab, not a public or shared research space. I am
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placing a lot of trust in all of you by allowing you to come into my lab and use my
equipment and other resources. PLEASE take great care to return everything to its rightful
place and clean up any messes you (or your rat) make BEFORE you leave the lab EVERY
TIME you are in the lab. Additionally, my research assistants will be working in the lab this
semester as well. I expect you to treat them with respect by being quiet and not disrupting
their work, and in return, you can expect them to be respectful of your time and work as
well. These individuals will be volunteering their time to help you with rat handling, giving
you tips on training, and will be helping to inject your rats – you are going to want their
help, so please treat them with respect. Given the serious issues I’ve had with these types
of situations in the past, students’ grades will be negatively impacted by a lack of attention
to these important details.
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MOST IMPORTANT: Take SUPERB care of your research subjects! Any student who
mistreats or fails to adequately care for their rat (this includes forgetting to feed/water your
rat, even for one day) will receive an automatic ZERO for the “Group Poster and
Presentation” portion of this course, and will immediately be relieved of their duties for the
group project. There will be no exceptions to this rule – if you cannot feed/water your rat
on a given day, PLEASE find someone from your group who can, or email me and I will find
someone who can help out.
HOW WILL YOUR LEARNING BE EVALUATED?
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QUIZZES: There will be two quizzes during the semester. The first quiz will cover sheep
brain anatomy/function (50 points). The second quiz will cover research methods (75
points).
GROUP POSTER AND PRESENTATION: Students will work with their group to present their
study to the rest of their lab section in the form of a PowerPoint poster. More details about
the poster can be found in the Group Poster and Presentation handout that will be
distributed separately. Your Group Poster and Presentation will be worth 50 points.
Assignment
Neuroanatomy Quiz
Research Methods Quiz
Group Poster and Presentation
TOTAL
Grade
%
A
94-100
A90-93
Grade
B+
B
B-
%
87-89
84-86
80-83
Grade
C+
C
C-
Points
50
75
50
175
%
77-79
74-76
70-73
Grade
D+
D
F
%
67-69
63-66
0-62
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SCHEDULE
NOTE: This is a tentative schedule. We may need to make adjustments as the semester
progresses. If changes are made to the schedule, they will be announced in lab and/or passed
along to you via email as soon as possible.
Week of
Aug 27
Topic/Activity
LAB OVERVIEW
SHEEP BRAIN DISSECTION [begin]
RESEARCH METHODS:
Sept 3
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Introduction to Methods and Ethics of Research
SHEEP BRAIN DISSECTION [complete]
RESEARCH METHODS:
Sept 10
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Getting Started
SHEEP BRAIN DISSECTION [study]
Sept 17
QUIZ: Sheep Brain
Sept 24
YOM KIPPUR: No Lab
RESEARCH METHODS:
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Oct 1
Basic Research Designs
ARTICLE DISCUSSIONS:

Cohen & Gotthard (2011)

Gotthard & Knöppel (2010)
RESEARCH METHODS:
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Oct 8
Controlling Extraneous Variables
ARTICLE DISCUSSIONS:

Cohen et al., (2006)

Rodriguez-Ortiz et al. (2008)
Oct 15
FALL BREAK: No Lab
Oct 22
QUIZ: Research Methods
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Finalize Experimental Design
Oct 29
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Final “tweaks” to design
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Work on data sheets
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Plan for necessary supplies
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Set running time
DATA COLLECTION: No Lab
Nov 5
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Run rats during designated time
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Meet with group and Dr. Gotthard as needed
DATA COLLECTION: No Lab
Nov 12
Nov 19
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Run rats during designated time
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Meet with group and Dr. Gotthard as needed
THANKSGIVING BREAK: No Lab
COMPLETE PROJECT: No Lab
Nov 26
Dec 3
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Analyze data (see Dr. Gotthard, if needed)
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Create poster (see examples posted on BB)
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PRACTICE presenting your poster, as a group
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
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