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PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
PSYC 425/Fall 2014
MWF 11:50 a.m. to 1:05 p.m.
Olds Upton #412
Professor:
Dr. Robert Batsell
Office: Olds-Upton #403B
E-mail: rbatsell@kzoo.edu
Office Telephone: 337-7032 (or in emergencies: 743-8050)
Office Hours: MWF 10:00-11:00 a.m. and by appointment
Recommended Textbook:
Breedlove, S.M., Rosenzweig, M. R., & Watson, N. V. (2013). Biological Psychology
(Seventh Edition). Sinauer.
Required Additional Readings:
Colapinto, J. (2000). As nature made him. Harper Collins Publishers.
Journal Articles (see pp. 4-8)
Class List-serve: PSYC425-1@kzoo.edu
I. COURSE SUMMARY
Physiological psychology examines the interactions between the brain and
behavior. In this class, we isolate the physiological processes that take place inside the
body whenever behavior occurs. The assumption underlying this science is that for every
behavioral event--every action, thought or feeling--there is a corresponding physical event
or series of events taking place in the body. During this quarter, we will focus on a
variety of topics including: the structure and function of neurons, neuroanatomy and
function of the brain, behavioral neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, affective
neuroscience, and assorted special topics. By the end of this course, students should be
able to think about an organism’s behavior on three levels (cellular, structural, and
systems/behavioral).
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II. GRADING. There are a total of 400 points available in this class. A 10% grading
scale will be used in which students who score over 360 points will earn an ‘A,’ students
who score between 320 and 359 will earn a ‘B,’ students who score between 280 and 320
will earn a ‘C,’ and so forth.
Tests (4 Total) =
Article Reviews (100 pts) =
350
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A. Tests. Four tests will be given throughout the semester. The test format will include
fill-in-the-blank, short-answer, and essay questions. The tests will cover the material
presented in class and from the book chapters designated on the syllabus. Moreover, each
test will include questions that are taken from book material that is not discussed in
lectures. Please note that all exam dates are clearly marked on the syllabus, and they will
be given on those dates. Students are required to abide by the Kalamazoo College Honor
Code for all of their work in this class. Tests 1 and 2 are worth 75 points each and Tests 3
and 4 are worth 100 points each.
B. Article Review Assignments: There are 4 randomly scheduled journal articles
readings. For a paper review, the class will self-divide into small groups or pairs of
students, and each group/dyad will complete the review sheet. One or two of these
review sheets may be completed in class, but to facilitate a meaningful discussion of the
article, the majority of the review sheets will be completed out of class before the
scheduled class period. The questions on the review sheet will cover information such as
the hypothesis, methods, and results of the research. Moreover, key questions will cover
the implications of the research, not only for science but for society as well. Please note
that spelling, grammar, and economical presentation of material will all be considered in
determining the student’s grade. Plagiarism is not tolerated. The article review
assignments will range in value from 12 to 15 points for each member of the group.
III. ACCOMMODATIONS.
A. Student Athletes. Student athletes who have university permission to miss
classes or tests need to inform the instructor before they miss the assignment.
B. Cultural/Religious Holidays. Kalamazoo College provides reasonable
accommodations for observing religious or cultural holidays. Students can be excused
from class to participate in these religious/cultural activities, but they will be responsible
for getting all assignments and turning in course work. It is the student's responsibility to
contact the faculty member in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate
accommodations.
C. Students with Disabilities. Kalamazoo College provides reasonable
accommodations for students with disabilities. It is the student's responsibility to contact
the office of the Dean of Students [337-7209] in a timely manner to arrange for
appropriate accommodations.
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IV. CLASS RULES.
A. Honor System. This course will operate in accordance with the Kalamazoo
College Honor System: a responsibility for personal behavior, independent thought,
respect for others, and environmental responsibility. Students who are caught cheating or
plagiarizing will receive a zero for that assignment, will be referred to Student Services,
and may fail the class. Students who download papers or any information from the
Internet without citing the source may receive an F in this course.
B. Attendance. Attendance will not be taken in this class; but students are
expected to attend the scheduled classes. Many of the test questions will come from class
lectures and are not in the book. It should be noted that students who have been
successful in this class in the past have adopted the strategy of reading the book prior to
lecture, attending the lecture, and then rereading the text over the corresponding material.
C. Classroom Behavior. The Kalamazoo College Honor Code applies to
classroom behavior as well as other types of interpersonal interactions on campus;
“respecting others” includes respectful behavior in class. Although Kalamazoo College is
committed to respecting fundamental principles of freedom of speech, including even
controversial positions taken in class, all types of speech and behavior must be balanced
with principles of appropriate classroom behavior. It is ultimately the faculty member
who controls the classroom, and if a situation develops in which, in the opinion of the
faculty member, the class is being disrupted, the faculty member has the ultimate right to
ask a student to leave the class. Longer-term solutions to these problems will be dealt
with according to College procedures.
Also, the presence of electronic devices is distracting to the professor and other
students. Cell phones should be silenced before class and in-class texting may be met
with sarcasm, ridicule, and prolonged verbal abuse.
D. Make-up Policy. If you know that you are going to miss an assignment (test or
paper) for any reason, it is the responsibility of the student to contact the professor
BEFORE the assignment is due. Makeup assignments may not be given if prior warning
(and the professor’s consent) has not occurred.
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Physiological Psychology Course Outline
Fall 2014
SECTION #1: AN INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
Week #1: Introduction to Class
Sept 15 (Mon)
Introduction to Class & Field of Neuroscience
Sept 17 (Wed)
Brain Evolution [Breedlove et al., Ch. 1 & 6]
MacLean, E. L., Hare, B., Nunn, C. L., Addessi, E., Amici, F., Anderson, R….Zhao, Y.
(2014). The evolution of self-control. Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences, XXX, 2140-2148.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/MacLean%20et%20al.2014%20copy.pdf
Sept 19 (Fri)
Methods of Studying the Brain [Breedlove et al., Ch. 5]
Smith, K. (2013). Reading minds. Nature, 502, 428 – 430.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/Smith.2013.pdf
Week #2: Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience
Sept 22 (Mon)
Neuronal Transmission [Breedlove et al., Ch 2 & 3]
Fields, R. D. (2013). Map the other brain. Nature, 501, 25 – 27.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/Fields.2013.pdf
Sept 24 (Wed)
Neuronal Transmission & Psychopharmacology [Breedlove et al.,
Ch. 3 & 4]
Sept 26 (Fri)
TEST #1
SECTION #2: Organization of the Nervous System & Brain Functioning
Week #3
Sept 29 (Mon)
Organization of the Nervous System: Subcortical Regions
Oct 1 (Wed)
Organization of the Nervous System: Cortical Regions
Mason, M. P. (2008). Rob Rabe cannot cry. Head cases. (pp. 73-96). Farrar, Strauss,
Girou: New York.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/rob%20rabe.pdf
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Mason, M. P. (2008). The hospital in the desert. Head cases. (pp. 224-244). Farrar,
Strauss, Girou: New York.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/hospital.pdf
Oct 3 (Fri)
Challenges to Localization of Function
Doidge, N. (2007). Midnight resurrections: Stroke victims learn to move and speak
again. The Brain that Changes Itself (pp. 132-163). Viking, New York.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/doidge.2007.pdf
Week #4:
Brain Functioning (Cont’d)
Oct 6 (Mon)
Neuropsychology
Sacks, O. (1970). The man who mistook his wife for a hat. The man who mistook his
wife for a hat and other clinical tales. (pp. 8-22), HarperPerrenial, New York.
Oct 8 (Wed)
Decision Making & Morality in the Brain
Bascom, N. (2012). Brainy ballplayers: Elite athletes get their heads in the game.
Science News, 182, 22 – 25. http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/Bascom.2012.pdf
Milius, S. (2013). Little mind benders: Parasites that sneak into the brain may alter your
behavior and health. Science News, 183, 24 – 28.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/Millius.2013.pdf
Oct 10 (Fri)
Decision Making & Morality in the Brain
Burns, J. M., & Swerdlow, R. H. (2003). Right orbitofrontal tumor with pedophilia
symptom and constructional apraxia sign. Archives of Neurology, 60, 437-440.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/Burns%20&%20Swerdlow.2003.pdf
Anderson, S.W., Bechara, A., Damasio, H., Tranel, D., & Damasio, A.R. (1999).
Impairment of social and moral behavior related to early damage in human
prefrontal cortex. Nature Neuroscience, 11, 1032-1037.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/Anderson%20et%20al.1999.pdf
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Dolan, R.J. (1999). On the neurology of morals. Nature Neuroscience, 11, 927-929.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/Dolan.1999.pdf
Oct 13 (Mon)
TEST #2
SECTION #3: Behavioral Neuroscience
Week #5:
Physiological Substrates of Learning
Oct 15 (Wed)
Long-term Potentiation [Breedlove et al., Chp 13]
Oct 17 (Fri)
Physiological Substrates of Learning
Tang, Y., Shimizu, E., Dube, G. R., Rampon, C., Kerchner, G. A., Zhuo, M., Liu, G.,
& Tsien, J. Z. (1999). Genetic enhancement of learning and memory in mice.
Nature, 401, 63-69.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/Tang%20et%20al.1999.pdf
Oct 20 (Mon)
Physiological Substrates of Learning (Continued)
Ressler, K. J., Rothmaum, B. O., Tannenbaum, L., Anderson, P., Graap, K., Zimand, et
al. (2004). Cognitive enhancers as adjuncts to psychotherapy: Use of DCycloserine in phobic individuals to facilitate extinction of fear. Archives of
General Psychiatry, 61, 1136-1144
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/Ressler%20et%20al.2004.pdf
Oct 22 (Wed)
Pain I [Guest Lecture: Dr. Bart Manning, Zoetis Inc.]
Oct 24 (Fri)
FALL BREAK: NO CLASS!
Week #6:
Oct 27 (Mon)
Pain II
Oct 29 (Wed)
Sex & the Brain I: As Nature Made Him
Oct 31 (Fri)
Sex & the Brain II:
Roselli, C. E., Larkin, K., Resko, J. A., Stellflug, J. N., & Stormshak, F. (2004). The
volume of a sexually dimorphic nucleus in the ovine medial preoptic area/anterior
hypothalamus varies with sexual partner preference. Endocrinology, 145, 478483.
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http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/Roselli%20et%20al.2004.pdf
Nov 2 (Mon)
Test #3
SECTION #4: COGNITIVE & AFFECTIVE NEUROSCIENCE
Week #8: Cognitive/Affective Neuroscience
Nov 5 (Wed)
Physiological Substrates of Memory
Nov 7 (Fri)
Physiological Substrates of Memory
Squire, L. R. (2009). The legacy of Patient H. M. for neuroscience. Neuron, 61, 6-9.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/Squire,%202009.pdf
Week #9: Cognitive/Affective Neuroscience
Nov 10 (Mon)
Physiological Substrates of Memory
Nov 12 (Wed)
Physiological Substrates of Emotion
De Quervain, D. J-F., Kolassa, I-T., Ertl, V., Onyut, P. L., Neuner, F., Elbert. T., &
Papassotiropoulos, A. (2007). A deletion variant of 2B-adrenoceptor is related
to emotional memory in Europeans and Africans. Nature Neuroscience.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/de%20Quervain%20et%20al.2007.pdf
Nov 14 (Fri)
Neurogenesis I
Week #10: Neurogenesis & Early Life Stress
Nov 17 (Mon)
Neurogenesis II
Nov 19 (Wed)
Neurogenesis III
Erickson, K. I. et al. (2011). Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and
improves memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1073 1-6.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/Erickson%20et%20al.2011.pdf
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Nov 21 (Fri) Effects of Stress During Critical Periods
Entringer, S., Buss, C., Kumsta, R., Hellhammer, D. H., Wadhwa, P. D., & Wust, S.
(2009). Prenatal psychosocial stress exposure is associated with subsequent
working memory performance in young women. Behavioral Neuroscience, 123,
886-893.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/Entringer%20et%20al.2009.pdf
Evans, G. W., & Schamberg, M. A. (2009). Childhood poverty, chronic stress, and adult
working memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106, 65456549.
http://www.kzoo.edu/reserves/psych/425/Evans%20&%20Schamberg.2009.pdf
Week #11: TEST #4: Non-cumulative FINAL Date and time TBA