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PSYC2190
Physiological Psychology
2014-2015 Term 2
Department of Psychology
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
1. Course Description: What is the course about?
This course introduces students to the biological bases of behaviour, including central
nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and the internal chemical environment.
The relationship between psychological processes, such as motivation, states of
consciousness, memory, emotions, and learning, and underlying physiological and
neurophysiological events.
2. Learning Approach: How does the course help you learn about psychology?
Major concepts and theories in physiological psychology will be acquired from the
textbook of the course. Important concepts will be highlighted and elaborated with
latest scientific findings and examples in the lectures. Students will also engage in
learning activities in the tutorials and research project to further their understanding of
the subject matters.
3. Prerequisites: What knowledge do you need before taking this course?
Students should have completed PSYC1000 or UGED2581 with satisfactory grades
before taking this course.
4. Contact Information of Teaching Members
Lecture:
Tue 8:30am - 10:15am (FYB LT4)
Lecturer:
Prof. Chun-Yu TSE
Office:
Sino Building 352
Tel:
3943-6195
Email:
cytse@psy.cuhk.edu.hk
Office Hours:
Tue 3:00-5:00pm (SB352/323) or by appointment
Tutorial:
Thu 12:30pm - 01:15pm (CKB LT3)
Teaching
Assistants:
Office:
Tel:
Email:
Office Hours:
Kunyang ZHAO, Young
Qinghong ZENG, Ginger
Sino Building 348/323
3943-6742/8143
kunyang.zhao@cuhk.edu.hk
Thu 2:00–4:00pm (SB348/323)
or by appointment
Sino Building 348/323
3943-6742/8143
qhzeng@psy.cuhk.edu.hk
Thu 2:00–4:00pm (SB348/323)
or by appointment
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5. Course Content
Topics
Contents/fundamental concepts
1.
Introduction
What is physiological psychology?
2.
What is Neuron? How do Neurons communicate?
4.
Cells of the
Nervous System
Structure of the
Nervous System
Methods
5.
Vision
How do we see?
6.
Audition and
Other Senses
Sleep and
Biological
Rhythms
Attention and
Executive Control
How do we hear and know the world?
3.
7.
8.
9.
How is the nervous system organized?
What are the methods used in studying the nervous
system?
What is the mechanism of sleeping and waking?
How is the brain involved in attention and executive
control?
Reproduction
Behavior
10. Emotion
What is the biological basis of sexual behaviour?
11. Learning and
Memory
What is the physiological mechanism in learning and
memory?
12. Human
Communication
13. Biopsychology of
Disorders
How is the brain involved in human communication?
How is the brain involved in experiencing emotion?
What is the biological basis of psychological disorders?
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6. Expected Learning Goals
Learning Goals:
1. Understand major theories and concepts in physiological psychology
2. Develop and master scientific and critical thinking skills
3. Apply and relate physiological psychology to daily issues
4. Develop skills in biopsychological research
7. Expected Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes:
Matching of learning goals:
Upon completion of this course, students will be Each learning outcome matches
with the following learning goals:
expected to:
Learning Outcome 1

Understand, relate, and apply key
physiological psychology concepts
in daily circumstances
√
Learning Outcome 2

Examine and criticize information
or findings related to
biopsychological issues
√
Learning Outcome 3

Develop insight to student's own
and other's behavior
√
√
√
√
√
√
Learning Goal 1
Learning Goal 3
Learning Goal 1
Learning Goal 2
Learning Goal 3
Learning Goal 4
Learning Goal 1
Learning Goal 3
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8. Learning Activities
Interactive
Lecture
Time
per week
Venue
No. of sessions
in total
Attendance
Teaching
Member(s)
Matching with
learning goals (LG)
Matching with
learning outcomes
(LO)
2 hours in-class
Tutorial/
Research
Project
1 hours in-class
Tue:
08:30 - 10:15am
Thu:
12:30 - 01:15pm
FYB LT4
CKB LT3
Out of class
12 lectures
12 tutorials
--
Expected
Expected
--
Teaching
assistants
√ LG 2
√ LG 3
√ LG 4
Self-initiated
by students
√ LG 1
√ LG 3
√ LG 4
Lecturer
√
√
√
√
√
LG 1
LG 2
LO 1
LO 2
LO 3
√
√
√
LO 1
LO 2
LO 3
Self-directed
Study
3 hours out-ofclass
√
LO 3
Four different types of learning activities will be adopted in this course:
I. Interactive Lectures
• Present biopsychological concepts, theories, and experimental findings
• Introduce the scientific approaches adopted in physiological psychology
• Engage in class activities to consolidate understanding
II. Tutorials/Research Project
• Engage in class activities to consolidate understanding
• Present a recently published research paper on specific issues in
biopsychology/cognitive neuroscience
III. Self-directed Studies
• Acquire knowledge on physiological psychology from textbook
• Reflect on personal development
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9. Assessment Scheme
Assessment Mode:
Students will be assessed in the form of:
1.
Formative assessment
(measures what you have
learnt at different stages
during the course)
2.
Authentic assessment
(measures various abilities
that you can apply to
address real-life problems
or fictional scenarios)
Matching of learning goals:
Each assessment mode matches
with the following learning goals:
√
Learning Goal 1
√
Learning Goal 2
Learning Goal 3
Learning Goal 4
√
√
Assessment
Scheme
Description
Exams
Mid-term (30%): Week 1-7
Final (35%): Week 8-15
Closed book MCQ exams
[Group presentation (25%)] x
contribution factor
65%
25%
√
AM 2
This assignment (2 x 5%) provides a
chance for students to reflect on the
daily-life implications of theories or
findings in biopsychology/cognitive
neuroscience covered in the group
presentation
10%
√
AM 2
Group
Presentation
Reaction
Papers
Weight
Matching with
assessment
mode (AS)
√ AM 1
Note:
 Students are expected to attend all lectures and tutorials
 Absentees from a quiz for unjustified reasons will not be granted a make-up quiz
and will be given a “0” for that quiz. Students with justified reasons will be
given a closed book make-up quiz with essay questions. Make-up quiz request
to the lecturer have to be made at least 1 week before the original quiz date, or
the make-up quiz request will not be entertained, exemption may only be given
to situation with unforeseeable nature.
 Reaction Papers assignments should be submitted together with a signed
VeriGuide receipt (see session 14 below). Assignments without the receipt or
late submission, as indicated by the time of submission to VeriGuide, will
not be graded.
 All assignments should be submitted to the course mailbox on the third floor of
Sino Building outside SB LT1.
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

Mid-term and final exams are non-accumulative closed book and note exams.
The exams are consisted of multiple choice questions (MCQ). Materials covered
in the lectures, tutorials, textbook, and readings could be examined. Students
should attend all lectures and tutorials and review the course materials on weekly
basis.
Group Presentation
o All of the students in the class should be divided into 16 groups in the first
tutorial, i.e., 5-6 students in each group.
o Each group is required to present a research paper on the selected topic
from the reading list. The readings list could be found on the course
website.
o Students are expected to summarize and evaluate the research critically in
their presentation. One of the TA will be assigned as the main advisor for
each group. Students are encouraged to discuss the paper with the TAs and
lecturer.
o Each group is responsible for a 15-minute presentation and 5-minute
question and answer session of their topic and making enquires to the
presentations of at least two other groups (1 question each) during the
presentation sessions.
o Two groups will be presenting in each tutorial. The presentation date and
topic will be selected during the first tutorial.
o EACH member of the group should submit an individual peer evaluation
indicating the contribution of every member in the group to the
presentation within 1 week after the presentation. Students are welcome to
comment in the evaluation form or contact the instructors for unfair work
distribution. Members of each group are expected to contribute equally to
the group presentation. The peer evaluations will be used to determine the
contribution factor of each student and their final project grade. The
instructors reserve the right to make final decision on the contribution
factor.

Reaction papers
o This individual assignment provides a chance for students to reflect on the
implications of theories or findings in biopsychology/cognitive
neuroscience covered in the group presentations. The word limit of this
assignment is 500 words (12-point Times New Roman, with double line
spacing).
o Each student should submit 2 reaction papers, one on the research paper
presented in the Group Presentations sessions 1-4 and the other one on the
paper presented in sessions 5-8. The first and second assignments are due
on 29th Mar and 16th Apr at 11:59 pm, respectively.

Grade Descriptors: Overall course
A- Outstanding performance on all learning outcomes. Generally outstanding
performance on all (or almost all) learning outcomes.
B- Substantial performance on all learning outcomes, OR high performance on
some learning outcomes which compensates for less satisfactory
performance on others, resulting in overall substantial performance.
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C- Satisfactory performance on the majority of learning outcomes, possibly with
a few weaknesses.
D- Barely satisfactory performance on a number of learning outcomes
F- Unsatisfactory performance on a number of learning outcomes, or failure to
meet specified assessment requirements.
10. Learning resources
Textbook required:
Purves, D., Cabeza, R., Huettel, S. A., LaBar, K. S., Platt, M. L., & Woldorff, M. G.
(2008). Principles of cognitive neuroscience. (2nd ed.). Sunderland, MA: Sinauer
Associates.
Other recommended readings:
Neil R. Carlson (2013). Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience: Pearson New
International Edition. Pearson.
Gazzaniga, M.S., Ivry, R. B., & Mangun, G. R. (2009). Cognitive Neuroscience: The
Biology of Mind. (3rd ed.). New York: W.W. Norton
Cabeza, R. and Kingstone, A. (2006). Handbook of Functional Neuroimaging of
Cognition. (2nd Ed.). The MIT Press
Kandel, E.R., Schwartz, J.H. and Jessell, T.M. (2000). Principles of Neural Science.
(2nd Ed.). McGraw-Hill Medical
Books and journals will be suggested for different topics in the class.
Lecture Recording:
•
•
•
•
Lecture recordings will be uploaded to the EchoCenter (on the left column of
course website).
The video can only be used to assist learning in this course. Any form of
reproduction and distribution of the videos are prohibited.
If there is any doubt about the content in the recordings, the students should
check the textbook and/or discuss with the instructor or the TAs. In other
words, the lecture video should not be used as the sole source of learning
material.
In case of disagreement with the suggested answers in the quiz or exam, the
instructor reserves the right of NOT adopting the content in the lecture video
as the final answers. There is no guarantee that lecture recording will be
successful for every lecture. It means that the students should attend the
lecture and only use the lecture recordings for revision. Interactions in the
lecture (e.g., class demonstration, Q&A during the break or after the class) are
very important for your learning experience and could not be replaced by the
lecture recording.
11. Course Updates
CU e-learning system (https://elearn.cuhk.edu.hk/) will be adopted in this course for
posting course notes, announcements, submitting on-line assignments, etc.
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For students who are not familiar with the platform of CU e-learning system, you are
recommended to read the instructions and guidelines of how to use CU e-learning
system once you logged onto CU e-learning system.
12. Feedback for evaluation
Students are welcome to give comments and feedback at any time during the class.
Stop by to talk to the instructor or teaching assistants. You can also send us emails or
post your comments on CU e-learning system.
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13. Course Schedule
Week Date
Topic
Readings
1
6 Jan
L1: Introduction
Chapter 1
8 Jan
T1: Introduction (e-Learning, VeriGuide, Group presentation)
13 Jan
L2: Human Nervous System 1
15 Jan
T2: Group Presentation – An Overview
20 Jan
L3: Human Nervous System 2 & Methods 1
22 Jan
T3: Neuroanatomy
27 Jan
L4: Methods 2
29 Jan
T4: EEG/ERP Demo
3 Feb
L5: Vision
5 Feb
T5: Group Presentation 1
10 Feb
L6: Audition and Other Senses
12 Feb
T6: Group Presentation 2
17 Feb
Mid-term exam
19 Feb
No class – Lunar New Year
24 Feb
No class – Lunar New Year
26 Feb
Mid-term exam – Discussion
3 Mar
L7: Attention
5 Mar
T7: Group Presentation 3
10 Mar
L8: Memory
12 Mar
T8: Group Presentation 4
17 Mar
L9: Emotion
29 Mar
T9: Group Presentation 5
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3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
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Appendix
Appendix & Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 6 & 7
Chapter 8 & 9
Chapter 10
(submit reaction paper for presentation 1-4 by 11:59 pm)
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13
14
24 Mar
L10: Social Cognition
26 Mar
T10: Group Presentation 6
31 Mar
L11: Language
2 Apr
T11: Group Presentation 7
7 Apr
No class – Easter
9 Apr
L12: Executive Function
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
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T12: Group Presentation 8
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14 Apr
L13: Final exam
16 Apr
T13: Final exam – Discussion
(submit reaction paper for presentation 5-8 by 11:59 pm)
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14. Academic honesty and plagiarism
Information regarding the academic honesty and plagiarism policy in the University is located
at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/ . Some further advice is given below.
PSYC2190 General Psychology
2014-2015 Term 2
Guideline about plagiarism
Any assignment (i.e., project, essay, or paper) that shows evidence of plagiarism will
be marked down severely. In simple terms, plagiarism is copying passages and/or
ideas from other sources without referencing those sources. Moreover, when you
report someone else’s ideas/findings you must put it in your own words and not
merely copy full sentences or parts of sentences from the source article. It is your
responsibility as a scholar-in-training to cite the ideas and work of others correctly.
Please visit the following websites for discussions of how to recognize and avoid
plagiarism.
http://ec.hku.hk/plagiarism/introduction.htm
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml
http://www.hamilton.edu/writing/style/plagiarism/plagiarism.html
If you commit plagiarism in an assignment, and it is your first offence in the course,
the penalty will range from a minimum of a single letter grade reduction in score on
the assignment to a maximum of failure on the assignment. A second offence within
the same course will result in a minimum penalty of a single letter grade reduction in
the course grade to a maximum penalty of course failure. The specific penalty applied
is up to the discretion of the professor. In all cases of plagiarism, the student's name
will be recorded in a central database maintained by the general office. If a student is
referred for plagiarism in more than one course, or more than one instance in the same
course, the student's case will be forwarded to the university administration for
follow-up action.
Detecting plagiarism
The Senate Committee on Teaching and Learning requires that all student
assignments in undergraduate programmes should be submitted via VeriGuide. This
policy will only apply to assignments in the form of a computer-generated document
that is principally text-based (i.e., excluding calculations in science, brief laboratory
reports, drawings in fine arts and architecture, etc.).
•
•
•
•
Each student must upload a soft copy of the completed assignment to the
plagiarism detection engine VeriGuide, at veriguide1.cse.cuhk.edu.hk
The system will issue a receipt which also contains a declaration of honesty,
which is the same as that in
http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/p09.htm
The declaration should be signed, and the receipt stapled to a hard copy of the
assignment, which should be handed in before the assignment due date.
Assignments without the receipt will not be graded by teachers.
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(To be signed by students at the beginning of the semester)
I promise that all assignments submitted to this course across the entire
semester will be original except for source material explicitly acknowledged.
I also acknowledge that I am aware of University policy and regulations on
honesty in academic work, and of the disciplinary guidelines and procedures
applicable to breaches of such policy and regulations as contained in the
website http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/.
______________________
Signature
________________________
Date
______________________
Name
________________________
Student ID
PSYC2190
___________
Course code
Physiological Psychology
____________________
Course Title