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Department of Speech-Language Pathology
College of Health Professions
Sacred Heart University
Syllabus
SLP 340/440: Neurological Bases of Communication and Swallowing
Instructor: Prof. Carolyn Falconer-Horne M.S.,CCC-SLP
Phone: (203) 365-4517
E-mail: falconer-hornec@sacredheart.edu
Office: E-02-12 Cambridge
Office hours: M 2-4, Th 10:30-12:30, F 1:30-3:30
Class Time/Place: Mondays and Wednesdays, SLP Lab (1-E-01)
Place of Course in Program: This course will provide students with experiences to master the
neuroanatomical and neurophysiological bases of communication and swallowing. It provides a
continued foundation for practice of the evaluation and remediation of speech and swallowing
disorders. Prerequisite: SLP 300/400: Anatomy and Physiology of Speech, Swallowing and
Hearing
Course Description: This course presents the foundations of the neurosciences to speech,
language, and hearing at an undergraduate level. Students will become familiar with the
neuroanatomical and neurophysiological bases of human communication and swallowing. Both
normal and abnormal neurological systems in communication disorders are discussed as well as
the basic science foundation of the neurosciences.
Text
Bhatnagar, S.C. (2013). Neuroscience for the study of communicative disorders. Point:
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. ISBN-13: 978-1609138714 ISBN-10: 1609138716
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COURSE REQUIREMENTS
 Course Objectives
Upon completion of
this course, students
will be able to:
Have a theoretical
and practical
knowledge of the
neuroscience
foundations in
communication
disorders
Understand the
contributions of the
neurosciences to
communication
disorders in the field
of speech, language,
hearing and
swallowing
ASHA Standard
Learning Activities
Evaluation
IV-B Basic Human
Communication
Lectures, Readings,
Exams, Quizzes and
Laboratory Activities, Student Presentations
Student Presentations
IV-B Basic Human
Communication
Lectures, Readings,
Exams, Quizzes and
Laboratory Activities, Student Presentations
Student Presentations
 Assignments
**All Exams and Quizzes will be completed during class time unless otherwise specified.
Exams I and II: These exams will cover the materials in lectures and readings as described in
the course outline (above). Questions may be posed in one or more of the following formats:
multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, picture labelling/identification, True/False, short
answer and/or essay.
Final Exam: The final exam will be cumulative (cover all material reviewed during the course
of the semester). Questions may be posed in one or more of the following formats: multiple
choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, picture labelling/identification, True/False, short answer
and/or essay.
Quizzes: All quizzes will consist of 10 multiple choice questions, short answer or labeling of
diagrams. There will be thirteen total quizzes over the course of the semester. If you miss a quiz,
no makeups will be given unless arranged in advance.
Student Presentations: Each student will be responsible for one group review presentation
reviewing the material from in preparation for an upcoming exam. Groups and the date due will
be assigned by the instructor. See Appendix A for additional details.
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Graduate Student Assignment (if you are taking the class as SLP 440):
Please see pages 7-8 for the full assignment. Videos that are referenced will be located on the
Blackboard course site under the Content section.
 Available Points
Assignment
Exam I
Exam II
Final Exam
Student Presentation
Quizzes (13)
Total Available Points
Maximum Available Points
100
100
150
50
100
500
Your Final Grade will be the cumulative total of grades on all assignments divided by the Total
Available Points to arrive at your percentage grade. Your percentage grade will determine your
letter grade as described in the table below.
 SHU Grade Criteria
Letter Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
F
Grade Range
93-100
90-92
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79
73-76
70-72
67-69
60-66
0-59
Grade Points
4.0
3.67
3.33
3.00
2.67
2.33
2.00
1.67
1.33
1.00
0.00
For example, Student S receives the following grades on her assignments:
Exam I
Exam II
Final Exam
Student Presentation
85
92
138
45
4
Quizzes (11)
Cumulative Points Total
95
455
Student S received 455 out of a maximum of 500 points available during the course, which
corresponds to 91% (455/500=.91). Per the Grade Criteria chart, that corresponds to a letter
grade of A-.
Course Policies
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Academic Honesty: A standard of honesty, fairly applied to all students, is essential to a learning
environment. Students abridging a standard of honesty must accept the consequences; penalties
are assessed by appropriate classroom instructors or other designated people. Serious cases may
result in discipline at the college or University level and may result in suspension or dismissal.
Dismissal from a college for academic dishonesty, constitutes dismissal from the University.
(University Student Handbook)
Attendance and Class Participation: Students are expected to attend each class; attendance will
be taken. If a student misses more than four classes over the course of the semester, their final
grade will be dropped by a full letter grade (e.g. B- becomes C-). Each student is expected to
read assigned material prior to class and participate in class discussions. Students may be called
on to answer questions and provide opinions during discussions. Students who miss class are
responsible for content. Any student who misses a class has the responsibility for obtaining
copies of notes, handouts, assignments, etc. If additional assistance is still necessary, an
appointment should be scheduled with the instructor. Class time is not to be used to go over
material with students who have missed class.
Submission of work taken directly from another source (e.g. lesson plan copied from a book,
the internet, or material developed by another student) will be considered plagiarism and grounds
for no credit on the assignment. Students are encouraged, however, to use a variety of resources
in obtaining ideas and illustrations that will help them complete assignments independently. See
the APA Guide for the correct method to cite other authors' work.
University policy dictates that students must seek the instructor's permission to record class
lectures.
All cell phones/pages must be turned off during class time.
Students are required to show conduct consistent with professional standards as discussed in
class when conducting on-site observations.
Work done outside of class must be reasonably correct in mechanics (e.g. spelling, grammar,
punctuation, etc.). Points will be deducted for inadequate work.
All typed assignments completed outside of class must be double-spaced, using Times, Times
New Roman, or Arial font. All font sizes for typed assignments must be size 11-12. Any font size
less than 11 or larger than 12 will be returned for re-typing to required font size.
APA style is required for written papers, including table, figure, and graph formats, references
and citations, and appropriate professional language use.
In ALL work, use person-first language to be consistent with IDEA. Emphasize the person more
than the disability (i.e., a child with Down syndrome, NOT a Down syndrome child).
Student work will be returned as promptly as possible.
All assigned work is due at the beginning of class on the due date designated in the course
syllabus. Work submitted late will receive an automatic 5-point reduction per day late from the
earned grade. Students are encouraged to submit all assignments on time.
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If classes are cancelled by the University due to inclement weather, please check your email for
information from the instructor regarding any make-up assignments
ADA Policy
Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should register with and provide
documentation to Jandersevits Learning Center; no accommodations can be provided without
written recommendations from JLC.
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TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE:
DATE
Jan 12, 15
Jan 22
TOPIC
Introduction to Course, Planes/Directional terms
Principles of Neuroscience
QUIZ
Gross Anatomy of the CNS II
Jan 26, 29
QUIZ
Gross Anatomy of the CNS III
Feb 2,5
QUIZ
Nerve Cells
EXAM I
Embryology
QUIZ
Spinal Cord, Brain Stem/Cranial Nerves, Cerebellum,
Circle of Willis
Feb 9,12
Feb 16,19
Feb 23, 26
March 9, 12
March 16, 19
March 30
April 9
April 13, 16
Bhatnagar: Chs. 2, 3
Bhatnagar: Chs. 2, 3
continued
Bhatnagar: Ch. 5
Bhatnagar: Ch. 4
Bhatnagar: Chs. 17
QUIZ
Catch Up and Review
Break
Vascular System
Ventricles and CSF review from GA slides
Bhatnagar Ch. 7, 186195
Cranial Nerves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU8-PLsdJ-w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrKbOF3vHo8
Duffy Chapter
(Blackboard)
Bhatnagar Ch 17
Cranial Nerve Lecture
Slides
Cranial Nerve Exam
Slides
Cranial Nerve Video
(Bb)
Bhatnagar. Chs. 11,
16
Exam II
March 23, 26
READINGS
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QUIZ
Somatosensory System and Motor Cortex
QUIZ
Auditory and Vestibular Systems
Visual System
QUIZ
Neural Substrates of Language
April 20, 23
QUIZ
Neural Substrates of Memory & Attention
April 27, 30
Presentations and Review
Bhatnagar Ch. 7
Bhatnagar Ch. 8
Bhatnagar Ch. 9,10
Bhatnagar Ch. 12
Bhatnagar Ch. 19,
441-450
Further readings TBD
Bhatnagar Ch19, 451455.
Further readings TBD
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Review and Final
May 4, 7
SHU SLP 440 Spring 2015
Graduate Student Assignment
Name __________________________________________________________________________
Make sure to answer all questions in the following order so that your grade will not suffer due to
answering out of order. Some questions are embedded in the videos. Others are listed here.
In the Neural Cells and Signals Folder
Video 1-2 Microanatomy of Neurons
1.
2.
Video 1-3 Non Neural Cells
1.
Video 2-1 Overview of Neural Signaling
Video 2-9 Action Potentials
1.
Video 2-10 Synaptic Transmission
1. Which is true regarding synaptic transmission?
a. The synaptic cleft is where pre and post synaptic neurons physically connect to each other.
b. The neurotransmitters in the presynaptic cell fuse to the axon hillock.
c. Synaptic transmission is the electrical part of the electro-chemical transmission of neural
impulses.
d. Synaptic transmission is the chemical part of the electro-chemical transmission of neural
impulses.
In the Neurodevelopment folder
Video 5 - Embryologic Structures as seen on Adult Brain
1. The cauda equina is located:
a) in the brain stem
b) at the caudal end of the spinal cord
c) at the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord
d) at the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord
Video 5-1 Early Brain Development
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1. At approximately the 4th week of development neurulation occurs. Which is NOT true about this
phase? a. the neural plate comes together
b. the neural tube begins to form
c. the notochord opens and unfolds
d. the walls of the neural tube begin to form the neural crest
Video 5-3 CNS Development
1.Which of the following statements about the notochord is MOST accurate?
A. The notochord is derived from the ectodermal germ layer.
B. Formation of the notochord is the principal developmental achieve of neurulation.
C. The notochord provides a migratory pathway for neural crest derivatives as they migrate
toward their final locations in the developing embryo.
D. The notochord is an important source of inductive signals that induce the formation of the
neural plate in the overlying ectoderm.
E. The spinal cord of the mature the nervous system is derived from the cells of the embryonic
notochord
Video 5-19 Synaptic Plasticity over the Lifespan
1. In this video it was postulated that some developmental disorders may be due to differences in
synaptic growth. Which of the following is true?
a. Autism was not mentioned in this video
b. Autism and ADHD were posited to stem from overgrowth in the frontal lobes
c. ADHD was not mentioned in this video
d.ADHD was posited to stem from undergrowth in the frontal lobes
Video 1-2 Microanatomy of Neurons
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Define interneurons and give examples
Name 3 different classes of neurons
What part of the neuronal output zone is considered white matter/gray matter?
Define dendritic spines, what are their importance, what does a lack of them indicate about that
dendrite?
Video 1-3 Non-neural Cells
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Define phagocytosis
Explain the Blood-brain barrier
What is the difference between ramified and amoebic microglial cells
Define cytokines
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What are stem cells and precursor cells as discussed in this video?