BIOL/NEUR/PSY 240: Introduction to Neuroscience
Lecture & Lab: Mickle 202
MWF 11am M 1pm
Instructor: Dr. Greg Q. Butcher
Office: 205 Mickle Hall
Office hours: TR 9-12, WR 1-2:30p
Office phone: 869-5545 (leave a message if necessary)
e-mail: gbutcher@centenary.edu (best way to reach me)
Course Summary
Neuroscience is the study of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system. It is an ever growing field that encompasses
the techniques and methodologies of a broad range of disciplines including Psychology, Philosophy, Cellular &
Molecular Biology, Genetics and, more recently, Economics, Marketing and even Law. This interdisciplinary nature
allows for the examination of the nervous system at multiple levels, quite literally from molecule to mind. The main
text book (Bear et al.), addresses many more topics than we will have time to cover in a single semester. Material
will be presented at a much faster pace than in the prerequisite courses. I strongly encourage you to form a study
group and to keep up on the reading. I will hold you accountable for all materials covered in lecture, lab, and the
portions of the readings we discuss in class. This material is difficult and you should plan on an average of 6-12
hours work outside of class each week.
Course Objectives: Upon finishing this course successfully, student will:
 Have a solid foundational understanding of neuroscience
 Have an introductory understanding of basic lab techniques common to molecular neuroscience
 Be able to generate, analyze and interpret data
 Be able to communicate complex topics in neuroscience to a public audience
How does this course contribute to my overall biology education?
In 2011, a group convened by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the National
Science Foundation (NSF) developed a description of five core concepts and six competencies that all biology
students should master (Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action at
www.visionandchange.org). This course provides an introduction to two core concepts and three of those
competencies:
Concepts
 Structure & Function: Basic units of structure define the function of all living things.
 Pathways and Transformations of Energy and Matter: Biological systems grow and change by processes
based upon chemical transformation pathways and are governed by the laws of thermodynamics.
Competencies
 Ability to apply the process of science
 Ability to tap into the interdisciplinary nature of science
 Ability to understand the relationship between science and society
Texts
Neuroscience Exploring the Brain 3rd Edition; Bear, Connors & Paradiso
The Tell-Tale Brain, Ramachandran
Plus assorted readings to be distributed through Blackboard
Assessment
Three Exams
Lab
Vlog discussions
Brain Model Project
Brain Awareness Week Project
Grading:
60%
17.5%
8.5%
10%
10%
Point Breakdown
Exams (2 @150pts & 1 @ 250pts)
Lab
Vlogs
(15 @ 5pts each)
Brain Model
Outreach
Total
550
175
85
100
100
1010
Although 1010 points are possible in the course, your final grade will be taken out of 1000
A = 90-100%
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
Exams
The three exams will consist of short answer & essay questions. Their purpose is to test your knowledge of the
material and your ability to apply the information, not simply regurgitate or copy the work of others. The first two
exams will cover only material from that unit. The third exam will be held during the scheduled final exam period
and will be comprehensive. You are expected to following the Honor Code for these and all other assignments.
Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be immediately turned over
to the Honor Court for investigation.
Lab
The lab portion of this course is designed to reinforce the lecture materials and present related topics only partially
covered in lecture. Several of the labs will have data sheets and/or mini-reports for you to complete during the lab.
Twice during the course, labs will extend over several weeks. In these instances you be required to prepare a formal
lab report or a poster that covers the entire experiment. You will conduct these experiments and prepare the
report/poster as a group, but each student should contribute to all parts of the assignment. Failure to contribute
will result in a lower grade.
Vlog discussions
This semester we will explore some interesting (and in some cases controversial) topics in neuroscience. The
Ramachandran book and other assigned readings will be the primary source material for these discussions. Each
week you will prepare a video blog (vlog), in which you discuss your opinion of the reading or comment on another
student’s submission. Although your submissions should be conversational in style, you will need to defend
positions you take. For example, simply stating that “a reading is stupid” will not be adequate. If you disagree with
the reading, tell us why and offer opposing evidence that supports your perspective. Your view on a topic will not
affect your grade (i.e. I won’t deduct points if you disagree/dislike a reading), but the quality of your submissions
will. You will start the semester with a perfect score (85pts) for this portion of the class.
 Post a new video each week that comments on a reading or responds to one posted by another student,
 Each submission should be at least one minute in length, although they may certainly be longer.
 Submissions must be available for viewing no later than noon on Wednesdays so that we can use the
content during in-class discussions on select Fridays. Depending on the length of the video and the speed of
your connection, uploading may take some time. It is your responsibility to plan for technical delays.
Waiting until 11:55 on Wednesday is a bad idea and will likely result in late penalties. In general, I would
suggest you try to upload videos by Tuesday to avoid this issue. The one exception to this rule is the first
week of class. Everyone has until Wednesday the 16th to post your first (and second) videos.
Failure to meet these requirements will result in the loss of 5 points for each instance (up to the full 85pts). I will
evaluate each submission, although they will not be graded for content. I will not deduct points for weak posts in
your early videos, but I will point out areas that need improvement (poor lighting, inadequate defense of an
argument, etc.). If you ignore these warnings, later videos will not count toward your total and will cost you points.
The style of each video is up to you. However videos that are too dim to see, or have too much background noise,
will not be acceptable. We want to hear what you have to say. Recording your video in the caf during lunch or in a
closet without enough light, won’t allow us to do this. There are numerous online guides to help you as you learn
how to record and post videos. Chances are also pretty good that others in your group have far more experience with
this medium than I do and will likely be able to help those of you who are new to YouTube. However, if you do
have questions, or aren’t certain how to post entries, let me know.
You will each be assigned to a YouTube account I’ve already established. Each member will have full access to this
account. Although you are welcome to view and comment to any of the videos your 15 posts must be submitted to
your assigned group’s channel.
Brain Model & BAW projects – see attached sheets
Attendance
You are expected to be in class and lab on time every day. I will close and lock the door at the beginning of class, if
you are not in class by that time you may be locked out for the day. If you miss a lecture, it is your responsibility to
obtain the notes and/or homework. The lab portion of this class will consist of computer simulations, hands-on
“wet-labs” and multi-week experiments. Therefore, in some cases, it will not be possible to make up a missed lab
experiment. If you are absent for a lab you are responsible for all material covered during that lab. If you are absent
for an exam, it is your responsibility to notify me within 24hrs of the absence or you will receive a zero. If you
have an athletic or academic event that will force you to miss class, you must make arrangements with me at least
one week in advance or any missed work will receive a zero. If you are ill you may be able to make up the missed
work provided you contact me within 24 hours of the missed class/lab and provide signed note from a doctor.
E-mail & Blackboard
I expect you to check your Centenary e-mail and Blackboard regularly for course information. I distribute
information about exams, assignments and readings via e-mail and/or Blackboard.
Lecture & Laboratory Guidelines
 Unless I explicitly state that an assignment is to be completed as a group, I expect all work to be
completed independently. Copying the work of others is cheating and will be immediately turned over
to the Honor Court. Use of online material without proper citation also constitutes plagiarism and will
also be turned over to the HC.
 Food and drink will be allowed during lecture as long as containers are disposed of properly and they do not
become a distraction.
 For your safety, food and drinks will not be allowed during certain labs. You may leave these items on the
table out side of the lab room
 Computers may be used to take notes during class. However, you will lose this privilege if you use the
computers for non-class activities (gaming, facebook, etc.).
 At the beginning of every class period you should place your phone in the receptacles located near the door.
They may not be used during class. If you are expecting an emergency phone call, please inform me before
class starts.
 Sleeping in class is also a distraction to others. If you fall asleep, your student colleagues and I will awaken
you as we see fit (Nerf gun, cold water, etc…).
Accommodations
It is the policy of Centenary College to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal law, state
law, and the College's commitment to equal educational opportunities. Any student with a disability who needs
accommodations, for example in seating placement or in arrangements for examinations, should inform the
instructor at the beginning of the course. Students with disabilities need to contact Disability Services (a
division of Counseling Services), which is located in the ground floor of Rotary Hall to obtain services.
Telephone 318-869-5466/5424.
Proposed Schedule
Dates
Jan 7-11
Jan 14-18
Week
Topic
Assignments
Lab
Text Chapters
1
NOTE: No class or lab on Monday Jan 7 th.
Bear 1 & 7
History of NS & Neuroanatomy
Posted on Blackboard
2
Cells of the Nervous System
Bear 2
Discussion of Brain Awareness Week Projects &
Sheep Brain Dissection
Readings for Youtube blogs
Ramachandran: No Mere Ape
Ramachandran 1
.
Jan 21-25
3
NOTE: Monday’s class is canceled for MLK day.
Ramachandran 4
Lab will meet on Friday afternoon from 2-5p.
Neuronal communication
Bear 4 & 5
BAW outreach activity: outline due Jan 21
Brain model structure list, finalized in class Jan 25
Tissue preparation & Introduction to literature searches
Jan 28 - Feb 1
4
Neuronal Comm. Cont. & Neurotransmitters
Bear 4, 5 & 6
Ramachandran 5
Toilet Talk Flyer idea summary due Feb 1
Bring background articles to lab
Immunohistochemical (IHC) labeling & Poster design
Feb 4-8
5
Neurotransmitters
Feb 11-15
6
Feb 18-22
Feb 25-March 1
7
Bear 6
Ramachandran 2
Microscopy – Bright-field / Fluorescent & Poster completion
BAW outreach activity summary due Feb 4
Draft of Toilet talk flyer due Feb 8
NOTE: Monday and Wednesday’s classes are canceled for Mardi Gras Holiday.
The exam will be held on Friday afternoon from 2-5p.
The Eye & Central Vision
Bear 9 & 10
Ramachandran 3
Exam 1 (covers material through neurotransmitters; 150pts)
Final draft of poster due & in-class poster presentation Feb 11
Final Toilet Talk Flyer due Feb 15
Auditory and vestibular system
Bear 11
Brain Model & Atlas due by Feb 22
Sensory lab
Somatosensory
Bear 12
Bring all supplies for your outreach activity to lab
Brain model critique & BAW trial run
Ramachandran 7
Ramachandran 8
Dates
March 4-8
Week
8
Topic
Motor control: Spinal
Assignments
Lab
Reading(s)
Bear 13
Blogs topics
Blackboard article
Motor Lab
March 11-15
9
Brain Awareness Week Sign up for time at Sci Port
Bring all supplies for BAW outreach activity
none
Blackboard article
March 18-22
10
Motor control: Central
Motor lab write-up due March 22
Bear 14
Blackboard article
March 25-29
Spring Break: No Class or lab
April 1-5
11
Motor continued / Language
April 8-12
12
Language / Sex & the Brain
BAW outreach activity reflection essay due April 12
April 15-19
13
Sex and the Brain
Blackboard article
April 22-26
14
Catch up OR Molecular Memory
Bear 25
SDN lab report due 5pm April 26
Sexually Dimorphic Neurons (SDN) II
Ramachandran 9
Final
Exam 3 given during scheduled final (Comprehensive; 250pts)
Bear 20
Ramachandran 6
Monday Exam 2 (covers material through Motor; 150pts)
Bear 17
Blackboard article
Sexually Dimorphic Neurons (SDN) I
Draft of SDN-Introduction & Methods sections due April 19
Blackboard article