PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY: PSB 4004C-521 Fall 2014
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee
Instructor: Kimberly A. Badanich, Ph.D.
E-mail: badanich@sar.usf.edu
Phone: 941-359-4451
Mailbox: SMC C263
Office location: SMC C242
Class Time: Tues &Thurs 11am – 12:15pm
Campus: Sarasota-Manatee
Classroom: A203A
Office Hours: Tues 2:00 -3:00pm
Also by appointment
Prerequisites:
(1) Psychological Science (PSY 2012) with a grade of C or higher and (2) Research
Methods (PSY 3213) with a grade C or higher.
Required text:
“Physiology of Behavior” (11th edition). Carlson, N.R. (2013). Boston: Allyn & Bacon
Inc
B.A. IN PSYCHOLOGY MISSION STATEMENT
The curriculum for a Psychology degree from USF Sarasota-Manatee prepares graduates for the many
occupations (e.g., human services, community or public relations, administration, and advertising and market
research) and post-graduate degree programs open to Psychology majors. By the time our majors are ready to
graduate, they are equipped with two vital skill sets. First, our majors are familiar with numerous factors
influencing behavior and mental processes, and the interactions among them. These factors range from the
molecular (communication in the brain) to the cultural (human diversity). Second, our majors have developed
the critical thinking skills necessary for the consumption and production of psychological research. These skills
include writing and familiarity with the ethics of conducting psychological research. Students will have the
opportunity to take a capstone course that allows them to demonstrate these competencies.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLO)
1. Knowledge and Application: Knowledge of concepts and theories in at least 4 areas of psychology
(e.g., Clinical, Industrial-Organizational, Developmental, Addiction, Motivation, Psychology-Law,
Neuropsychology, Cognitive, Behavioral/Learning, Social, Physiological, and Personality), and relate
them to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, or to real-world problems.
2. Diversity: Recognition of the impact of human diversity (gender, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status,
sexual orientation, culture, age, religion, disabilities) on behavior and mental processes.
3. Ethics: Knowledge of professional ethics in the use of research subjects.
4. Critical Thinking: Ability to critically evaluate various research methods and designs, including their
strengths, weaknesses, and applications to psychological inquiry, and their role in causal hypothesis
testing.
5. Communication: Ability to write effectively by producing work in the APA style and standards.
COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES
This course is designed to provide students a basic understanding of how the brain works and how alterations
in brain chemistry affect behavioral states. The focus of the course is on the neurochemical basis of behavior.
and is designed to provide students an appreciation of the processes that underlie neuropsychiatric disorders.
By the end of the course, students should understand
(a)
electrical and chemical communication in the brain. Specifically, students will know how ion channels,
action potentials, synapses, receptors and neural networks are involved in brain function (SLO#1)
(b)
how alterations in neurotransmitters affect behavior (SLO#1)
(c)
the mechanisms which underlie “normal” processes such as movement, sleep, learning (SLO#1)
(d)
what physiological mechanisms are impacted in movement disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia,
depression, and addiction (SLO#1)
(e)
how drugs affect the brain and how drugs can be used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders (SLO#1)
(f)
the scientific method and rationale involved in scientific inquiry by critically reading research articles
(SLO#4)
COURSE MATERIALS
Before and after each class meeting, students are required to check their USF email account, check for
announcements in Canvas and access lecture materials. Lecture materials including PowerPoints, articles,
and instructions for assignments will be posted on Canvas at myUSF.
Review questions to prepare for exams will be posted as the second slide in each PowerPoint lecture
and will serve as the review sheet for exams (i.e., you do not have to wait until the week before class to
start preparing for the exam!!). In fact, if you wait until the week before the exam to start studying, you
will have great difficulty passing the exam. Study as you go!!!
Accessing USF email:
Go to the myUSF homepage at https://my.usf.edu. You will need to enter your net ID to sign in. If you do not
already have a net ID you can sign up for one by clicking on “create an account” on the myUSF homepage.
Signing in will bring you to your own homepage. Click on the tab labeled “Google mail”.
Accessing online lecture notes using Canvas:
Blackboard has been discontinued on USF campuses. All courses will now use Canvas. To access Canvas,
Go to the myUSF homepage at https://my.usf.edu, use your net ID to sign in, click on the tab labeled “Learning
tools” and select Canvas. Under “courses & groups” will be a list all of the classes you are participating in.
Click on “Physiological Psychology”. This is where I will post the syllabus, announcements, PowerPoint
lectures, articles, assignment instructions, grades, ect. All lecture materials will be listed under “Modules”.
Online lecture notes should NOT be used as a substitute for coming to class. Notes and tapes are not
permitted for sale. You can also use Canvas to contact me by e-mail. If you have any trouble accessing or
using Canvas, please contact USFSM E-Learning staff from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday. The USF
Tampa IT Helpdesk provides 24 hour support for CANVAS. Please call 813-974-1222 or email: help@usf.edu
if you need assistance outside of USFSM’s E-Learning hours. Additionally, CANVAS tutorials can be found in
the Student Quickstart Guide at http://guides.instructure.com/m/8470.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
There will be 3 exams, 1 written essay, 1 group presentation, and a participation grade.
Exams:
There will be 3 exams (100 pts/exam). Exams will include multiple choice (~40-50 questions, 2pts each) and
sometimes short answer (1-2 questions, 5-10pts each) questions. Exams will cover all lectures and assigned
readings. Students are required to bring their student ID and a #2 pencil to class. During exams, students
will only be allowed to have a pencil at their desk. All books, bags, purses, cell phones, laptops, headphones,
drinks, coffee cups (sorry Starbucks lovers), hats and any other items ect., must be placed at the front of the
room until the student has completed the exam. Under no circumstances will a student approach or handle
any item other than a pencil during an exam. Please be sure to pick up YOUR belongings (not your peer’s)
after handing in your exam. For safety purposes, please leave your valuables at home on the exam day. If a
student talks or looks at another student during the exam, both students involved will be stopped from finishing
the exam. Students cannot leave the room until they have completed and handed in their exam. No student
can enter the room after the first student has completed the exam. Some students are fast test takers so I
advise never being more than 15 min late for an exam. Students may not take an exam in place of another
person.
Make-up exams: Students are required to take exams on the designated exam dates listed in the syllabus. If
you do not take an exam on the designated exam date, you will receive a zero. The ONLY exception is if you
notify me of your absence 24 HOURS BEFORE THE EXAM. Only students with an EXCUSED ABSENCE will
be allowed to take a make-up exam (see excused absence section below). Vacations do not count as
excused absence. Students with an approved excused absence MUST schedule a make-up exam on a date
designated by USF Sarasota-Manatee. There are 4 predetermined make-up exam dates this semester and
these dates are always on Fridays from 1-3pm. Make-up exam dates cannot be altered to fit a student’s
schedule. Students missing an exam and having an approved excused absence will be required to take the
make-up exam on the date closest to the missed exam (i.e., you only get one chance to make it up). Please
note that all make-up exams will include essay questions. No exam can be taken early. Furthermore,
there are no available make-up exam dates after our final exam so there will be no chances to make-up the
final exam.
Neuro Essay:
Each student is required to write an essay detailing the process of communication within (action potential) and
between (neurochemical release) neurons. This essay (100 pts) will help you review the foundations of
Neuroscience. Specific instructions for the essay will be posted in advance on Canvas. Essays must be typed
in APA format according to the APA publication manual (6th edition) standards. “A” reports will complete all
necessary requirements for the assignment as listed in the instructions AND will demonstrate a high level of
professionalism, excellent writing style, exceptional critical thinking skills and perfect APA formatting.
Specifically “A” papers will demonstrate flawless readability and clarity, no grammatical errors, and adherence
to the standards for academic honesty including proper citation and referencing of sources.
Submission of essays: Completed essays (one hard copy handed to me and one identical electronic copy
submitted to Turn-it-in, a plagiarism website) must be turned in at the beginning of class on the designated due
date (see due date in schedule below). Hard copies must be stapled before submission. No assignments
can be emailed or placed in my mailbox. No exceptions. If you plagiarize, you will receive a zero for the
assignment. It is wise to submit your essay early so that you have time to revise and resubmit before the
deadline. One letter grade will be deducted from the written assignment grade for each day that the
assignment is late. Reports that are 4+ days late will receive a zero. No exceptions. Note: I am not on
campus on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays so it’s really best to simply turn the essay in on time.
Warning: I am a fair but tough grader with high expectations.
The University of South Florida has an account with an automated plagiarism detection service which
allows student assignments be checked for plagiarism. I reserve the right to ask students to submit their
assignments to Turn-it-in through Canvas. Assignments are compared automatically with a database of
journal articles, web articles, and previously submitted papers. The instructor receives a report showing
exactly how a student’s paper was plagiarized. Pursuant to the provisions of the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), students are requested to maintain confidentiality as a way to keep
their personal contact information (i.e. name, address, telephone) from being disclosed to vendors or
other outside agencies. By your submission, you are also agreeing to release your original work for
review for academic purposes to Turn-it-in.
Group Presentation:
Students will give one group oral presentation on a Neuroscience research article of their choice. Articles must
be approved by Dr. B in advance- no exceptions. Groups (3-4 students) will be responsible for reading and
critically evaluating the assigned article as well as preparing a PowerPoint oral presentation to explain the
article to the class. Each presentation must be at least 5 min but not more than 10 mins long. Specific
instructions on the required content of the group presentation will be posted in advance on Canvas. Group
Presentations will be worth 50 points. Students must be present on their designated presentation date. No
make-ups. No exceptions. All students should work equally on the presentation and all students must
speak during the presentation. Please work together like grown-up ladies and gentleman ;-)
Participation:
During lecture, students are expected to ask insightful questions. Students are also required to write and
submit an exam review question for exam reviews (see due dates on schedule below). Students should use
this as an opportunity to find answers to concepts they may not understand. Participation points will be given
for asking questions, participating in class discussions and submitting exam review questions. A total of 50
possible participation points are available.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is mandatory for the first class meeting. Students who do not come to the first class meeting
without giving me prior notice will be automatically dropped from the class. Attendance after the first class is
encouraged but not required. Missing class will not cut grades. However you will be responsible for any
material covered in class for which you are not in attendance. Remember that students must be present to
turn in assignments, give presentations and take exams on due dates.
Excused absence: An excused absence must 1) be brought to my attention 24 hours before the absence and
2) be accompanied by a valid written and dated excuse. Examples of valid excuses are written doctors notes
with dates of illness, court papers or jury duty notices with dates of service, death of a family member with a
copy of the obituary, or a school function with a verification letter. Students who anticipate the necessity of
being absent from class due to the observation of a major religious observance must provide advance notice of
the date(s) to the instructor in writing. Students with unexcused absences will be given a zero for missed
exams and assignments. No exceptions.
EXTRA CREDIT
Each student has the opportunity to earn a total of 10 extra points!!! Bonus points will be added to your final
point total at the end of the semester. Students can earn points by any of the following:
a. Participating in psychology research experiments.
b. Attending the Student Research Symposium on Friday October 24th from 8am – 2pm in Selby
Auditorium. Students must sign in at the registration desk and attend for at least 2 hours.
c. Attending the Mathematical Association of America Conference on Friday December 5th at 3pm
in Selby Auditorium. Students must sign in at the registration desk and attend for at least 2
hours.
GRADING
Grading for this course will be on a point scale. Assignment point values are listed below:
Graded item
Total possible points
Your score
Exam 1
100
Exam 2
100
Final Exam
100
Neuro Essay
100
Group Presentation
50
Participation
50
Total points = 500 points for the entire course. Point values needed for final course letter grades:
Letter
Percentage
Points needed to earn letter grade:
grade
A+
97 - 100%
483-500
A
93 - 97%
463-487
A90 - 92%
448-462
B+
87 - 89%
433-447
B
83 - 87%
413-437
B80 - 82%
398-412
C+
77 - 79%
383-397
C
73 - 77%
363-387
C70 - 72%
348-362
D+
67 - 69%
333-347
D
63 - 67%
313-337
D60 - 62%
298-312
F
< 59%
0-297
USF Sarasota-Manatee Policies and Procedures
Academic Dishonesty
The University considers any form of plagiarism or cheating on exams, projects, or papers to be unacceptable behavior.
Please be sure to review the university’s policy in the USFSM Catalog and the USF Student Code of Conduct. Current and
archived catalogs may be found at: http://usfsm.edu/academics/ and the USF Student Code of Conduct can be found at
http://www.sa.usf.edu/srr/page.asp?id=88
Academic Disruption
The University does not tolerate behavior that disrupts the learning process. The policy for addressing academic disruption
is included with Academic Dishonesty in the USFSM Catalog and the USF Student Code of Conduct. Current and archived
catalogs may be found at: http://usfsm.edu/academics/ and the USF Student Code of Conduct can be found at
http://www.sa.usf.edu/srr/page.asp?id=88
Contingency Plans
In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USFSM to suspend normal operations. During this time, USFSM
may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Canvas, Elluminate, Skype,
and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Canvas site for each
class for course specific communication, and the main USFSM and College websites, emails, and MoBull messages for
important general information. The USF hotline at 1 (800) 992-4231 is updated with pre-recorded information during an
emergency. See the Campus Police Website for further information. The USF hotline at 1 (800) 992-4231 is updated with
pre-recorded information during an emergency.
Disabilities Accommodation
Students are responsible for registering with the Office of Students with Disabilities Services (SDS) in order to receive
academic accommodations. Reasonable notice must be given to the SDS office (typically 5 working days) for
accommodations to be arranged. It is the responsibility of the student to provide each instructor with a copy of the official
Memo of Accommodation. Contact Information: Disability Coordinator: 359-4714; email: disabilityservices@sar.usf.edu
and website: http://usfsm.edu/disability-services/
Fire Alarm Instructions
At the beginning of each semester please note the emergency exit maps posted in each classroom. These signs are
marked with the primary evacuation route (red) and secondary evacuation route (orange) in case the building needs to be
evacuated. See information available on the USFSM student and faculty webpages at www.usfsm.edu
Religious Observances
The University recognizes the right of students and faculty to observe major religious holidays. Students who anticipate the
necessity of being absent from class for a major religious observance must provide notice of the date(s) to the instructor, in
writing, by the second week of classes. http://generalcounsel.usf.edu/policies-and-procedures/pdfs/policy-10-045.pdf
Emergency Preparedness
It is strongly recommended that you become familiar with the USF Sarasota-Manatee Emergency Action Plan on the Safety
Preparedness See information available on the USFSM student and faculty webpages at www.usfsm.edu
Web Portal Information
Every newly enrolled USF student receives an official USF e-mail account. Students receive official USF correspondence
and Canvas course information via that address. Therefore it is the student’s responsibility to check their USF email
regularly.
Instructor Copyright
Students may not sell notes or other course materials.
Withdrawal date: The last day to withdrawal from the class without academic penalty is Nov 1st, 2014
Tentative Course Schedule:
I reserve the right to change dates. Any changes will be announced in class, on Canvas and will be updated
on the syllabus.
Day Date
Topic
Reading
Assignment Due Dates
T
8/26
Intro. to Physio, History & Ethics
Chapter 1
Th
8/28
Intro. to Physio, History & Ethics
Chapter 1
T
9/2
Internal Structure of Cells
Chapter 2
Th
9/4
Structure of Neurons
Chapter 2
T
9/9
Action Potential
Chapter 2
Th
9/11
Action Potential (cont.) &
Chapter 2
Chemical Release
***In class demonstration***
T
9/16
Chapter 2
Chemical Release (cont.)
Th
9/18
The Brain
Chapter 3
submit 1 review question
T
9/23
The Brain (cont)
Chapter 3
Exam Review
Th
9/25
EXAM 1
--------------- EXAM 1: Chapter 1-3
T
9/30
Psychopharmacology
Chapter 4
Th
10/2
Psychopharmacology
Chapter 4
T
10/7
Psychopharmacology
Chapter 4
Th
10/9
Physiological Research Methods
Chapter 5
Neuro Essay Due
T
10/14 Physiological Research Methods
Chapter 5
Th
10/16 Movement
Chapter 8
T
10/21 Movement
Chapter 8
submit 1 review question
Th
10/23 Movement (cont.)
Chapter 8
Exam Review
T
--------------- EXAM 2: Chapter 4,5,8
10/28 EXAM 2
--------------- Bring Powerpoint slides
Th
10/30 Group Presentations
Group Presentations (cont.)
T
11/4
Sleep
Chapter 9
Th
11/6
Sleep
Chapter 9
--------------- Thank a veteran for their service!
T
11/11 Veteran’s Day-no class
Th
11/13 Learning and Memory
Chapter 13
T
11/18 Learning and Memory
Chapter 13
Th
11/20 Schizophrenia
Chapter 16
T
11/25 Schizophrenia
Chapter 16
--------------- Eat turkey!
Th
11/27 Thanksgiving-no class
T
12/2
Depression
Chapter 16 submit 1 review question
Th
12/4
Depression (cont.)
Chapter 16
Exam Review
T
12/9
FINAL EXAM 11-1pm in rm TBA
--------------- FINAL EXAM: Chapters 9, 13, 16