PSYC 2240 3.0 Section P Biological Basis of Behavior
Course Instructor
Dr. Susan Murtha
217 BSB
Office Hours: by appointment
Email: smurtha@yorku.ca (if you send anything to me via email, make sure you put your course
in the subject heading).
Phone: 736-5115 Ext. 66132
Class notes: www.psych.yorku.ca/smurtha click on your course on left column, find the lecture
notes you require, click on it. These are Word (.doc) files summarizing the text on my ppt
slides. They are not my ppt slides and therefore do not contain graphs, or any copyright
protected material. Downloading these notes does not make up for coming to the lectures.
Teaching Assistant (TA):
Secretary:
Randy Waechter
Rm: 065 BSB
Office hour: Monday 1:30-2:30
Email: randallw@yorku.ca
Zehra Bandhu,
Rm. 284 BSB
Phone: -5115 Ext. 66232
Class Time/location: Monday 2:30 – 5:30 in Room TEL 0006
Course prerequisite: Introductory Psychology (PSYC 1010 6.0) with a minimum grade of C.
Text Book: Kalat J.W., (2007). Biological Psychology (9th edition). NY: Brooks/Cole
Class Format
Lectures are designed to stimulate your interest in the field of Biological Psychology. Not
all the information presented in the text nor in each chapter will be covered in class. You are
responsible however, for covering the information in the chapters in their entirety. In addition,
some of the lectures will present information that is not in the text. Questions pertaining to such
information may appear on the exams, and it is in your best interest to borrow notes from a
classmate if you happen to miss a class. Films and/or videos may be shown from time to time
during classes and questions derived from such material also may appear on exams.
Evaluation
Tests: three tests will be administered (Test A = 35%, Test B = 30%, Test C = 35%).
These tests will be comprised of multiple choice questions and short answer questions. Questions
may be factual and/or require critical thinking skills.
Grading
Percentage
9080-89
75-79
Letter Grade
A+
A
B+
1
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
40-49
0-39
B
C+
C
D+
D
E
F
Missed Tests and Exams
According to University Policy, the only legitimate excuse for missing a test/exam is
because of medical problems or an emergency not because you have to work. If you miss one of
the tests because of a documented medical illness or emergency (see below), leave a message
with my secretary Zehra Bandhu at 736-5115 ext. 66232 within 48 hours of the date of the test.
You should be prepared to write the make-up within the week following the test. If Zehra does
not get back to you within 2 days of leaving your message please email the TA and cc to me so
that the TA can provide you with the appropriate information regarding the make-up test. Bring
your documentation at the time of the make-up. Although everyone will be given the
opportunity to write the make-up if your documentation is found to be invalid or falsely obtained
you will be assigned an F for the test.
Guidelines for Missed tests and Exams
1) A message must be left within 48 hours and it must clearly state the following:
-your name
-your student number
-course name and section
-phone number at which you can be reached
-time best to call you back
2) If you cannot contact someone during this 48 hour period, subsequent documentation
accounting for the delay must be provided.
3) Appropriate documentation verifying the circumstances for the missed test or
examination must be provided at the time specified by the instructor. Failure to provide
appropriate documentation will result in a grade of F on the missed test.
What is appropriate documentation?
a) medical circumstances – tests/exams missed due to medical circumstances must be supported
by an attending physicians statement or a statement by a psychologist or counselor. The
statement must include the following:
i) the full name, mailing address and telephone number of the physician.
ii) the nature of the illness and its duration (i.e., specific dates covered), and
iii) an indication of whether the illness and/or medication prescribed would have
seriously affected the students ability to study and perform over the period in question.
NOTE: the physician's office may be contacted to verify that the forms were completed by the
physician.
b) non-medical circumstances – tests/exams missed due to non-medical circumstances must be
supported by appropriate documentation, i.e., death certificates, obituary notice, automobile
accident reports, airline/bus ticket/receipt for emergency travel (with date of booking on ticket),
etc. Airline/train/bus ticket/receipts for emergency travel must indicate destination, departure,
and return dates.
4) The manner in which the missed test (which has been legitimately documented) will be
handled is at the discretion of the instructor.
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Eg., In the case of a make-up test/exam, the student must be prepared to write within the week
following the missed test (a date will be set by the instructor). Although the content to be
examined will be the same, the format may or may not follow that of the original test/exam. You
must check with the TA or course instructor or her secretary for the date and time of the makeup. A conflict in another course during the time of the make-up is not an acceptable reason for
missing the make-up (unless there is an examination in the other course at that time).
-if you miss the make-up (again supported by appropriate documentation), then the
situation will be dealt with on a case by case basis depending on the circumstances.
Cheating/Plagiarism/Impersonation
The University does not look favorably on cheating of any kind and the penalties for
doing so are very harsh. Become familiar with the rules and regulations regarding
cheating/plagiarism. You can find them listed in the course calendar.
In summary, you can avoid problems by following some simple rules:
a) Do your own work and present your own ideas in your own words. Do no merely repeat or
reword whole sections from other sources.
b) Always identify your sources of information or ideas and properly reference them.
c) Don’t copy from friends or neighbors and don’t let friends or neighbors copy from you.
d) If you have any doubts about the appropriateness of what you are doing -- ASK.
Bad Weather
Classes will be held unless York University is officially closed. If the University closes
on the day of a scheduled test, the test will be held during the next class meeting. Otherwise tests
will be held as scheduled. If you think the university may be closed due to bad weather, call the
university “weather emergency” number 736-5600, or the main switchboard at 736-2100.
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Expected Date
January 8
January 15
January 22
Lecture Topic & Associated Chapter (material)
Introduction (Chapter 1)
Nerve cells, impulses & synapses (Chapters 2 & 3)
Anatomy and Development of the brain (Chapters
4 & 5.1)
January 29
Test A (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, unit 5.1)
February 5
Brain Damage and Recovery of Function (Unit
5.2, plus extra material)
February 12
Reading week – no classes
February 19
Vision (Chapters 6)
February 26
Wakefulness & Sleep (Chapter 9)
March 5
Test B (Chapters 5.2 [plus extra material], 6, 9)
Last day to drop Winter term courses with out receiving a grade is March 9
March 12
Reproductive behaviors (Chapter 11 & pgs 224225)
March 19
Learning and Memory (Chapter 13)
March 26
Other Cognitive functions (Chapter 14)
April 2
Psychological Disorders (Chapter 15)
April 11– April 30th exam time period: Test C will take place during the final
exam time period on chapters 11, 13, 14, 15)
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