PSY260 Fall 2012
University of Toronto
Learning and Plasticity
M 6-9 pm
Room MP103
Source: www.simpsonstrivia.com
Instructor:
Daniela Palombo, M.A., PhD Candidate
Tel. 416-785-2500 x3085
Daniela.palombo@mail.utoronto.ca
Office Hours: M 9-10pm MP 103 or by appt.
Assistant:
Course Website:
Amy Wilkinson, M.A.
amy.wilkinson@utoronto.ca
Kyra McKelvey
k.mckelvey@mail.utoronto.ca
Blackboard
https://portal.utoronto.ca/
Instructor:
I finished my BSc and Masters degrees at the University of Toronto. Currently I am a Ph.D.
Candidate working in Dr. Brian Levine’s cognitive neuroscience laboratory. My research
focuses on genetic and behavioral factors that relate to individual differences in episodic
memory. I am also studying neural correlates of traumatic memory in near plane crash
survivors. This research has important implications for posttraumatic stress disorder, which
is one topic we will discuss in class! I would like you to acquire a wealth of material as well
as develop analytical, interpersonal, and writing skills. I enjoy hearing from students about
course material in and outside of the classroom! Please call me Daniela. Learn more about
my research and my lab: http://www.rotman-baycrest.on.ca/index.php?section=432
Contact:
The best way to get in touch with me us is through e-mail (include “PSY260” in the subject
heading and send ONLY from your UTOR email). Questions about course content should be
emailed to me, while questions about grading should be emailed to your TA. You are also
welcome to visit my office hours. Before emailing the TAs or myself, please double check
that information is not already in the syllabus or other course documentation.
Synopsis:
This course will focus on the fundamentals of learning and memory at many levels:
behavioral, cognitive, neurobiological, and genetic. To gain insight into these processes, we
will also consider the principles of brain plasticity, to examine how behavior is acquired,
altered, and maintained as a result of various forms of experience. We will focus on learning
and memory in both humans and nonhuman animals. Theories will be related to a practical
understanding and applications such as drug addiction, PTSD and other disorders.
Prerequisite: PSY100H1/COG250Y1 (formerly UNI250Y)
Format:
Classes will consist of lectures and occasional videos. Lectures will be based on textbook
and extra material; hence students should attend lectures. Lectures will be available on
blackboard under course documents just before each lecture.
Objectives:
Students interested in pursuing cognitive psychology, behavioural neuroscience,
neuropsychology or neurology studies will find the course particularly useful. In addition to
acquiring knowledge in related to these fields of study, I hope that you will learn something
PSY260 Fall 2012
University of Toronto
Learning and Plasticity
M 6-9 pm
Room MP103
about how scientific research is conducted and presented. You will also develop critical
analysis skills allowing you to evaluate not only psychological studies but also studies from
other scientific fields. If you are not pursuing these fields, it is still useful to know a thing or
two about learning and the brain!
Textbook:
Gluck, M.A., Mercado, E., Myers, C.E. (2008). Learning and Memory: From Brain to
Behaviour. Worth Publishers. (First Edition)
Articles:
In addition to your course text, you will be assigned a few short articles. You will be tested
on these! These articles are posted on Blackboard, under course documents.
Readings:
You are encouraged to read the assigned readings before each lecture as this will facilitate
and extend your knowledge acquired in class. The Gluck et al. textbook is detailed and will
require you to remember and integrate information. You should pay close, but not exclusive,
attention to the material that overlaps with lecture material.
Grading:
Test 1
Short Paper
Test 2
40%
35%
25%
(Oct 22)
(Nov 19)
(Dec 3)
Any complaint about the tests or paper grading should be made in writing to your TA and
should detail the point of contention. Additionally, all complaints should be made within one
week of receiving the graded material. Written complains (and the graded paper) should be
handed in together (stapled) and given to the TA at her office hours or placed in her mailbox.
Electronic complaints are only accepted if the graded paper (with TA comments) is scanned
and attached to the email.
Tests/Exam:
Sample Qs:
All tests will be based on the material from the textbook, lectures, supplementary readings,
and videos. The tests will consist of multiple-choice questions, shorter and longer questions
and diagrams. You are required to integrate knowledge analytically. The second test is not
cumulative.
1. Discuss evidence for genetic and environmental contributions to some of the cognitive
deficits found in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (8 marks).
2. Rocco Palombo was in a car accident and hit his head. The doctor told him he has damage
to his hippocampus. Which of the following best describes his cognitive deficit (2 marks).
a. Rocco has trouble remembering how to ride his bicycle
b. Rocco cannot remember his sister’s wedding day
c. Rocco cannot remember how to get to his girlfriend’s house
d. Rocco has trouble remembering a phone number a few seconds later
e. b and c
Short Paper:
Write a 1200 word paper, critiquing the article posted on blackboard - 150 words will be a
summary of the article (do not copy the abstract) and the remaining text will be a critique of
the work. This paper must follow APA formatting guidelines. Since you are critiquing an
article, you do not need an abstract. You should reference additional articles to supplement
PSY260 Fall 2012
University of Toronto
Learning and Plasticity
M 6-9 pm
Room MP103
your critique. These must be included in a reference list. There is a 10% penalty per day for
late papers and the paper cannot be handed in 7 days past the deadline. A guideline is
posted on portal. This will give you more detail on what is expected. A lecture will be given
outlining the details of this assignment.
Make-ups:
For this course, there will be NO make-up tests. If you miss the first term test without a
legitimate excuse, you will receive a mark of zero for that test. If you do have a legitimate
excuse (e.g., doctor’s note; please see Calendar), your second test will be worth 70%.
If you submit medical documentation, it must contain: "This student was unable to write the
test on (date) for medical reasons". You are advised to see your physician within one
day of the missed test. Many physicians will not provide documentation retroactively.
Contact me (Daniela) prior to or within one week of a missed test. The form for medical
documentation can be found at: http://www.utoronto.ca/health/medcert.htm.
.
Accessibility: The University of Toronto is committed to accessibility. If you require accommodations for a
disability, or have any accessibility concerns about the course, the classroom or course
materials, please contact Accessibility Services as soon as possible:
disability.services@utoronto.ca or http://studentlife.utoronto.ca/accessibility.
Portal:
In this course, we use Blackboard. Please ensure that you have your utoronto email address
updated in ROSI, otherwise you will not receive emails sent through Blackboard. Occasionally,
I will be sending out emails or announcements through this portal. You are responsible for
checking your email and portal frequently for important announcements.
PSY260 Fall 2012
University of Toronto
Learning and Plasticity
M 6-9 pm
Room MP103
Schedule of Lectures and Readings
Week
Date
Agenda
Readings
1
10-Sep
Lecture 1: Neuroanatomy made fun!
Chapter 2; Baddeley, 2004
2
17-Sep
Lecture 3: Assessment of Learning
and Memory (Dr. Olsen)
No Readings (review neuroimaging
sections from Chapter 2)
3
24-Sep
Lecture 2: Declarative Memory
(Special Topic: Amnesias)
Chapter 3; Vargha Khadem et al.,
1997
4
01-Oct
Lecture 4A: Working Memory;
Lecture 4B: Non-Declarative Memory
(Skill Memory)
Chapter 4
08-Oct
No Class (Thanksgiving Holiday; no readings)
Lecture 5:How to write the term
paper
Read Maguire article for
assignment (Also study for Test
1!)
5
15-Oct
6
22-Oct
7
29-Oct
Lecture 6: Non-Declarative
Memory (Non Associative Learning)
Chapter 6
8
05-Nov
Lecture 7: Non-Declarative Memory:
Classical & Instrumental Conditioning
(Associative Learning)
Chapter 7 (ONLY pg 243-254, 271288); Chapter 8
12-Nov
Test 1 (2 h)
No Class (November Break; Work on Paper)
10
19-Nov
Paper Due
Lecture 8: Plasticity after Brain
Injury; TBI and Sports (Dr. Esopenko)
No Readings (finish off chapters
from last week)
11
26-Nov
Lecture 9A: Emotional Memory
Lecture 9B:Individual Differences in
Memory
Chapter 10; Chapter 12
11
03-Dec
Test 2 (2 h); Paper Returned