PS263OC – BIOPSYCHOLOGY - SYLLABUS
- SPRING 2015 -
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Welcome to Biopsychology! In this online course we will examine a variety of issues related to the biological
bases of behavior and consider topics such as how the nervous system is structured and functions, why we
need sleep, and how drugs produce their mind-altering effects.
The main objective of this course is to gain knowledge about four major themes related to the biological bases of
behaviour:
1) Thinking creatively about the science of biopsychology and how biopsychological research can be used
to gain insight into the brain and behaviour.
2) Evolutionary perspectives: Learning about environmental pressures that likely led to the evolution of our
brains and behaviour.
3) Clinical implications of biopsychology, especially related to brain dysfunctions.
4) Neural plasticity; that is, how the brain continuously grows and changes in response to an individual’s
genes and experiences.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
You will learn to identify, explain, and apply major concepts in biological psychology related to: neuroanatomy,
neural conduction and synaptic transmission, sensory and motor systems, and the biopsychology of motivation
including hunger and eating, sleep, dreaming, and learning & memory.
PREREQUISITES/EXCLUSIONS
Students must have completed PS100* or both PS101 and PS102; exclusions: PS228.
TEXTBOOK AND OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Textbook: Kalat, J.W. Biological Psychology (12th ed.), Cengage Learning. All readings, quizzes and exams are
based on material covered in the 12th edition. Because this is an online course with no lectures, students are
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strongly encouraged to purchase the 12 ed. textbook. There are major changes since the 11 edition. If you
choose to use an older edition you do so at your own risk. The instructor cannot provide a list of changes related
to older textbook editions.
Your textbook includes free access to an OPTIONAL online component called MindTap Psychology, which
provides a fully illustrated eText version of the textbook to view in a web browser, and interactive multimedia
tools to help you learn the course materials. This package is available separately for students who have
purchased a used textbook.
Your learning will be facilitated via communication with your instructor and fellow students using online tools
available at http://mylearningspace.wlu.ca. These include course information, lesson notes, assessments,
discussion forums, and links to topical course-related information and videos.
Revised Apr. 28, 2015
TOPICS TO BE COVERED
The following topics will be covered in the course. Refer to the weekly schedule at
http://mylearningspace.wlu.ca for specific assessment dates associated with each topic.
TOPIC
READINGS
ASSESSMENT
Overview and Major Issues + Nerve Cells and Nerve Impulses
Introduction + Chapter 1 +
online notes
Quiz A (online)
Synapses
Chapter 2 + online notes
Quiz B (online)
Anatomy and Research Methods
Chapter 3 + online notes
Quiz C (online)
Genetics, Evolution, Development, and Plasticity
Chapter 4 + online notes
Quiz D (online)
--- Online midterm 1 (multiple-choice) covering chapters 1 to 4 and associated notes --Movement
Chapter 7 + online notes
Quiz E (online)
Wakefulness and Sleep
Chapter 8 + online notes
Quiz F (online)
Internal Regulation
Chapter 9 + online notes
Quiz G (online)
Reproductive Behaviours
Chapter 10 + online notes
Quiz H (online)
--- Online midterm 2 (multiple-choice) covering chapters 7, 8, 9, 10 and associated notes --Emotional Behaviours
Chapter 11 + online notes
Quiz I (online)
The Biology of Learning and Memory
Chapter 12 + online notes
Quiz J (online)
Psychological Disorders
Chapter 14 + online notes
Quiz K (online)
--- Online final exam (multiple-choice) covering all course materials ---
ASSESSMENT
Your grade in this course will be calculated as follows:
Percentage
Assessment
10%
Online quizzes (best 10 out of 11 quizzes)
25%
Online midterm examination 1
25%
Online midterm examination 2
40%
Online final examination (held during regular exam
period)
+ Bonus points
Up to 2% (see below)
Quizzes
There are 11 online quizzes. The quiz with the lowest mark will be dropped, and the remaining 10 quizzes will be
weighted equally to comprise a total of 10% of your final grade. The quizzes can be taken anytime during the
period in which they are available. Most students choose to complete quizzes at a rate of about one per week,
but there is also some scheduling flexibility to permit early (but not late) completion of quizzes.
Although the quizzes can be written during any time of the day when available, you may take each quiz only
once! So, when you do decide to take a quiz, be prepared to stay with it for 20 minutes (i.e., the duration of each
quiz). The quizzes each comprise 20 multiple-choice questions that are very similar to those that will be on the
midterm and final exams. Sufficient time is provided to complete the quizzes provided you have studied the
material well ahead of time. Please note that must not access your text, notes, or any other material during the
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online assessments. You must work alone and are not permitted to communicate with any other individuals. Any
form of collaboration on the quizzes and exams is considered academic misconduct and is a serious offence.
The online quizzes will always be available until Sunday evening (11:00 PM) of the due date. It is essential that
you begin your quiz no later than 11:00 pm on the closing date. MyLearningSpace will not permit you to
begin the quiz even 1 second after this firm deadline has passed.
Keep in mind that there is a scheduled MyLearningSpace maintenance window every fourth Sunday of the
month from 1:00 am to 7:00 am. You must not begin taking a quiz during this time, and it is your responsibility to
plan ahead of time to accommodate this scheduled maintenance window.
Examinations
There are two 45-minute online midterms, each comprising 45 multiple-choice questions. The material being
tested on the midterms is not cumulative and each midterm is worth 25% of your final grade. Midterm
examination dates and times are listed on the weekly schedule (found on http://mylearningspace.wlu.ca). You
must BEGIN each midterm examination within 10 minutes of the scheduled start time on the scheduled
exam day. If you have a midterm exam scheduling conflict, you must contact the instructor within the first two
weeks of the term.
There is also an online final exam covering all course material that will be worth 40% of your grade. The final
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exam date will be announced approximately the 5 week into the term. You will have 2 hours to complete 120
(multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank) questions on the final examination.
Use of Video Monitoring Technology
This online course is participating in a video monitoring pilot project run by Laurier’s Centre for Teaching
Innovation and Excellence. To help ensure academic integrity in this online course, all quizzes and midterms will
be conducted online and you will be required to use a webcam that will record you while writing your
assessments. There are no alternatives to writing quizzes/midterms in this manner. The video(s) of your quiz
and/or midterm will be saved, and may be reviewed by your instructor. Only the instructor and educational
technologies staff will have access to videos. Complete details and information will be posted in the course at
the start of term.
Bonus Points
Up to 2% in bonus marks will be awarded for completion of activities as described in the course content section
entitled “Assessment”.
INSTRUCTOR
Dr. P. E. Mallet, Associate Professor of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University
How to Contact the Instructor
My preferred means of communication is via e-mail at pmallet@wlu.ca. Please use this e-mail address instead
of the MyLearningSpace e-mail tool. I check my E-mail frequently and am usually able to respond within 48
hours.
About the Instructor
I am a full-time faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University. I completed my
graduate studies in behavioural neuroscience in the Department of Psychology at Queen's University. After my
doctoral studies I worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology at the University of Sydney in
Australia, and then moved to the University of New England in Australia where I served as a faculty member in
the School of Psychology.
After spending nearly a decade abroad I decided to return to Canada, and in 2006 I joined the Department of
Psychology at Laurier where I now teach PS263 online, and the on campus courses PS363 (Research in
Biopsychology), PS463 (Seminar in Biopsychology), and the graduate Research Seminar in Behavioural
Neuroscience.
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Of course, I find the material covered in this course nothing short of fascinating! The more I learn about the
workings of the brain, the more I realize how much remains to be discovered. I am therefore quite fortunate to
run my own behavioural neuroscience research laboratory at Laurier where my students and I conduct
experiments on the neural bases of learning and memory, and on the neural bases of drug addiction, with a
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focus on cannabinoid drugs such as ∆ -tetrahydrocannabinol--the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis.
COURSE AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Please see the Course Content for PS263OC on http://mylearningspace.wlu.ca for important course and
university policies pertaining to:
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Quizzes and online exams
Instructor meetings/tutoring
Final exam
Grade rounding
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Extra credit
Privacy
Academic misconduct
Students with special need
KEY CONTACTS FOR HELP AND ADVICE
A list of key contacts can be found in the Course Content for PS263OC on http://mylearningspace.wlu.ca. These
include contact details and procedures for:
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The instructor
Textbook issues
MyLearningSpace technical issues
Help with studying, writing, or taking exams
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Enrolment issues
Exam scheduling issues
ITS help
LAURIER E-MAIL
From time to time, I will contact you via your Laurier E-mail account. It is a course requirement that you check
your Laurier E-mail at least once per day throughout the term.
FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS
Please see the Course Content for PS263OC on http://mylearningspace.wlu.ca for an updated list of frequentlyasked questions.
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Important Information for Students
New Course Drop Dates 2014/2015:
Please refer to the Undergraduate Academic Calendar - Academic Dates 2014-2015 – For details of course add/drop dates,
etc.
Examination Deferrals:
The Academic Date section of the Calendar (Web Site Version) clearly states the examination date period for each semester.
Students must note that they are required to reserve this time in their personal calendars for the examinations. The
examination period for the Sprummer terms: Intersession Term: June 18 – 22; Spring Term: July 31 – August 13;
Summer Term: August 20 - 22. Students who are considering registering to write MCAT, LSAT or GMAT or a similar
examination, should select a time for those examinations that occurs outside the University examination period. For
additional information that describes the special circumstances for examination deferment, consult the University calendar.
Student Awareness of the Accessible Learning Office:
Students with disabilities or special needs, are advised to contact Laurier’s Accessible Learning Office for information
regarding its services and resources. Students are encouraged to review the Calendar for information regarding all services
available on campus.
Academic and Research Misconduct:
Academic misconduct is an act by a student, or by students working on a team project, which may result in a false evaluation
of the student(s), or which represents a deliberate attempt to unfairly gain an academic advantage, where the student either
knew or ought reasonably to have known that it was misconduct. Please refer to the University Calendar Web Site for further
clarification of academic and research misconduct.
Plagiarism Detection Software:
Wilfrid Laurier University uses software that can check for plagiarism. Students may be required to submit their written work
in electronic form and have it checked for plagiarism.
Centre for Student Success:
Please go to the Learning Services webpage for detailed information at http://www.wlu.ca/homepage.php?grp_id=1397. The
Centre for Student Success office is located in the Dr. Alvin Woods Building, south entrance off the parking lot. They are on
the main floor, in room 1-102.
Laurier Email Account:
Students are expected to regularly check their Laurier email account for important notices from the university community.
Students are also expected to send emails to official members of the university community from their Laurier email account in
order to ensure delivery.
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May 11 June 1
June 1
June 2 - June 18 - June 18 15
17
22
July 8
July 13 31
July 31
Aug. 1 - Aug. 18 - Aug. 20 17
22
19
May 4 July 28
May 17
May 10
Intersession
May 4 June 15
May 5
Summer
July 6 Aug. 17
July 7
July 9 - 12
Administration/Course Outlines/Miscellaneous/Add Drop dates 14-15
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Exam Period
Last Day to
Drop without
Failure
May 6 May 7 - 10
Spring
Study Dates
Dropping at
55% Tuition
Charge
June 30 - July 29 30
July 28
Last Day to
Drop N/C
June 29
Last Day to
Add
May 18 June 29
Term Dates
May 11 17
Term
Dropping at
10% Tuition
Charge
Dropping with
a Failure
ADD/DROP Dates for Spring/Intersession/Summer 2015
July 31 Aug. 13