Psychology 209
Section 001
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
Fall 2013
118 Psychology
TuTh 8:30-9:50
Course Description: This course will cover the biological basis of behavior. We will examine
the physiological, developmental and evolutionary mechanisms of behavior. The basic structure
of the nervous system, its components, circuitry and organization will also be discussed. In
addition, the course will cover major behavioral deficits that result from brain damage or
neurochemical imbalance.
Instructor: Dr. Sharleen Sakai
Office: 218 Giltner Hall
Phone: 353-8889
Office Hours: 10:00-11:00 a.m. Thursday and by appointment
E mail: sakai@msu.edu
Graduate Assistant: Jenny Kim
E mail: kimjen14@msu.edu
Office: 309 Giltner
Office hours: 11:00-12:00 Thursday and by appointment.
Required Textbook: Biological Psychology, Breedlove, Watson and Rosenzweig, Sinauer
Publishers, 7th edition, 2013 .
The companion website to this textbook: http://7e.biopsychology.com/
This website features chapter summaries, tutorials, flash cards and other study aids as well as
links to recently published news articles on topics relevant to each of the chapters in the text.
Attendance and Readings: It is expected that you attend each lecture. You are responsible for
all information presented in class, including any announcements and class discussions. Lectures
will also include material not presented in the book. You should prepare for each class by
reading the assigned chapter prior to class. Course information, syllabus, review guides,
announcements will be posted using ANGEL. Course notes and power points will NOT be
posted on ANGEL.
Questions and Exam Preparation: ALL E mail inquiries should be directed to Jenny Kim.
If you are having difficulty with the material, have questions or other concerns, you may come
to office hours or make an appointment. You are encouraged to ask questions and utilize the
service of the assistants who are available to help you learn.
Grading:
Exams: 4 Exams: 150 points/exam- 600 points total.
There will be a total of 4 exams in this course. The exams will cover the material from lectures,
discussions, videos and assigned readings since the preceding exam. Each exam consists of 50
best answer, multiple-choice or matching questions. The exams begin at 8:30. Be on time. No
exam will be given if you are late and a completed exam has already been turned in. Each
exam question is worth 3 points.
1
Class Discussion: 20 points/discussion period- 80 points total.
There will be 5 discussion sessions during which an issue in neuroscience with social
implications will be presented. Following a brief presentation of the issue, groups of 4-6
students will discuss the both sides of the issue and each student will provide a brief written
response to selected discussion questions. This assignment is due at the end of the class
discussion period. The dates of these sessions will not be announced ahead of time. Sometimes
they will be held at the beginning of class and sometimes at the end. No late or make-up
reports will be accepted. You may drop one discussion assignment. Only 4 discussions will
count toward your final grade.
Newslink critique- short paper: 20 points total.
Articles on the brain or neurosciences can be found nearly everyday in the newspaper or in
magazines. These reports are often catchy and provocative. The book website includes a link to
Newslink featuring popular articles: http://www.biopsychology.com/news/ Select one of the
articles highlighting a new finding in the biological psychology. Follow the article back to the
primary reference, the original scientific report. Our library has most of the relevant journals and
most are available online. Read this report and provide a brief overview of the study. Why was
the study done? How was the study conducted? What is the new finding? How does it impact
the field? What did you learn? This short paper should be about two pages typed, double spaced
12 point Times New Roman. Due: in class Nov. 26 No late papers will be accepted.
Overall grade:
600 points: Exams (4 exams/150 points each)
80 points: Discussion participation (4 discussions/20 points each)
20 points: Newslink brief report-due Nov. 26
Final grades are based on the following scale:
Percent
90-100
85-89
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
Less than 60
Grade
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.0
Exam review policy: Your exam result will be made available to you through e mail. The
exam booklet will not be returned to you but a copy of the test booklet will be made available for
review for one week following the exam during TA office hours. You may not copy these test
questions although you may take notes summarizing the main point being tested. Students are
encouraged to make an appointment with the instructor to discuss their performance.
2
Makeup Exams: Make-up exams will only be given in case of: 1) a documented medical or
family emergency, or 2) a documented scheduled conflict, such as a religious holiday or required
participation in a university-sanctioned event. No makeup exams will be given unless you have a
valid, documented excuse (e.g., a note from the dean, a note from your doctor recommending
that you not attend class). If you cannot get a note or if your excuse involves something that is
personal and that you want to keep private, you must get a note from the Dean. If you cannot
take the exam because of a university-scheduled event (e.g., a commitment for a sports team), a
religious holiday, or some other acceptable event that you could have foreseen, you must notify
the TA at least one week before the exam. If you cannot take the exam because of a sudden
illness or because of a family emergency, you must notify the TA by the end of the day of the
exam. Absence from an exam for any other reason will result in a grade of 0 for that exam.
There are no make-up exams without a written valid excuse AND permission from TA.
Permission must be obtained immediately before or after the missed exam (within 1 day).
All make-up exams will be given on TUES. Dec. 10 at 7:45 A.M. in 118 Psychology. You may
take only one make-up exam. The form of this make-up exam is short answer/essay.
Other issues:
Problems: Your TA can help deal with any special problem related to exams and/or grades.
Any questions pertaining to grades should be directed to your TA. If you have a disagreement
with your TA about how a question on an exam has been graded, you must bring it to the
attention of your TA within one week of the day that the exam was given if you would like your
concern to be addressed. To appeal the way that a question has been graded (within that week),
state in writing what you believe to be the correct answer and provide a written account of the
relevant support, (e.g. text page number, or lecture, or material that you have read elsewhere),
and e-mail this information to her.
Academic Honesty: Article 2.3.3 of the Academic Freedom Report states that "The student
shares with the faculty the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and
professional standards." In addition, the Department of Psychology adheres to the policies on
academic honesty as specified in General Student Regulations 1.0, Protection of Scholarship and
Grades; the all-University Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades; and Ordinance 17.00,
Examinations.
(See Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide
(http://www.vps.msu.edu/SpLife/index.htm) and/or the MSU Web site: http://www.msu.edu.).
At MSU, General Student Regulation 1.00 states in part that “no student shall claim or submit
the academic work of another as one’s own.” (For the complete regulation, see Protection of
Scholarship and Grades.) You are expected to complete all course assignments, including
homework, lab work, quizzes, tests and exams, without assistance from any source. You may not
assist anyone or be assisted by anyone on an exam, and you may not use the text or any notes during
an exam. Your written work must be your own and you are not authorized to use the
www.allmsu.com web site to complete any course work in this course. Any student caught cheating,
plagiarizing or otherwise violating the MSU academic integrity policy may receive the maximum
punishment, including a grade of 0.0 in the course.
Accommodations for Disabilities: Students with disabilities should contact the Resource
Center for Persons with Disabilities to establish reasonable accommodations. If you require a
3
testing accommodation as specified from RCPD, contact Jenny with the appropriate paperwork
at least one week prior to the exam date.
Drops and Adds: The last day to add this course is the end of the first week of classes. The last
day to drop this course with no grade reported is 10/16/13. You should immediately make a copy
of your amended schedule to verify you have added or dropped this course.
Observing a Major Religious Holiday: You may make up course work missed to observe a
major religious holiday only if you make arrangements one week in advance with the TA.
Commercialized Lecture Notes: Commercialization of lecture notes and university-provided
course materials is not permitted in this course.
Attendance: Students whose names do not appear on the official class list for this course may
not attend this class.
Disruptive Behavior: Article 2.3.5 of the Academic Freedom Report (AFR)
(http://www.vps.msu.edu/SpLife/acfree.htm) for students at Michigan State University states that
"The student's behavior in the classroom shall be conducive to the teaching and learning process
for all concerned." Article 2.3.10 of the AFR states that "The student has a right to scholarly
relationships with faculty based on mutual trust and civility." General Student Regulation 5.02
states that "no student shall . . . interfere with the functions and services of the University (for
example, but not limited to, classes . . .) such that the function or service is obstructed or
disrupted. Students whose conduct adversely affects the learning environment in this classroom
may be subject to disciplinary action through the Student Faculty Judiciary process.
Classroom behavior: Class begins on time. At that time, put away newspapers and other
distractions. Turn off cell phones, pagers and CD players, iPods etc. It is not appropriate to
answer phone calls or text message during lecture. If you arrive late or leave early, plan to sit
near the back and by an aisle to minimize the disruption to others. Please stop talking.
Please respect your instructors and fellow students by turning off electronic communication
devices during class. Laptop use is permitted. However, distracting activities such as instant
messaging, writing e-mail, social networking, or playing games is strictly prohibited during
class time. These behaviors are disruptive (see University policy above) and are not conducive
to the learning process.
4
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
Week
1
Aug 29
Course overview/ Intro to Biological Psychology
Chapter 1
2
Sep 3
Sep 5
Neuroanatomy
Neuroanatomy/Neurophysiology
Chapter 2
Chapter 2-3
3
Sep 10
Sep 12
NeurophysiologyChemical Basis
Chemical basis
Chapter 3-4
Chapter 4
4
Sep 17
Sep 19
Chemical basis/Hormones
EXAM I
Chapter 4-5
Chap 1-5
5
Sep 24
Sep 26
Evolution
Life-Span
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
6
Oct 1
Oct 3
Life-Span
Sensory Processing/Hearing
Chapter 7
Chapter 8 & 9
7
Oct 8
Oct 10
Hearing/Vision
Vision
Chapter 9 & 10
Chapter 10
8
Oct 15
Oct 17
EXAM 2
Motor Control
Chap 6-10
Chapter 11
9
Oct 22
Oct 24
Motor Control/Sex
Sex/Homeostasis
Chapter 11-12
Chapter 12-13
10
Oct 29
Oct 31
Rhythms and sleep
Rhythms and sleep
Chapter 14
Chapter 14
11
Nov 5
Nov 7
Emotion/ Stress
EXAM 3
Chapter 15
Chap 11-15
12
Nov 12
Nov 14
No class. Research article assignment in Library.
Learning and Memory
Chapter 17
13
Nov 19
Nov 21
Learning and Memory
Cognition and attention
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
14
Nov 26
Nov 28
Cognition and attention. Article paper due.
NO CLASS-THANKSGIVING BREAK
Chapter 18
15
Dec 3
Dec 5
Language
EXAM 4
Chapter 19
Chap 17-19
5
6