SPLH 320 The Communicating Brain: The Ultimate Personal Computer
Fall 2014 Dole 2092 3:00-4:15 (MW)
University of Kansas
Instructor Information
Co-Instructors
Jonathan Brumberg, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Jeremy Burnison, B.S.
Doctoral Student
Email
Office Location & Hours
brumberg@ku.edu
3047 Dole, 4-1061, MW 10-11AM & by
appt.
jburnison@ku.edu
3023 Dole, W 4:15-5:00 & by appt.
General Information
Description
This course introduces the study of human neuroscience with a particular focus on human communication. The
course provides an overview of the relevant anatomical structures and function along with an introduction to the
basic methods used to investigate central nervous system function. Students are introduced to the study of
perceptual, motor, and language function in the nervous system.
Objectives
This course is designed to meet the requirement of ASHA Knowledge Standards (2014) IV-B Normal Processes
and IV-C Communication Disorders. After completing this course, students will obtain a basic understanding in:



To provide an overview of the topography and structural organization of the neuroanatomical structures of
the central and peripheral nervous system.
Have a basic understanding of neuroanatomical structures in health and disease, especially relating to
communication.
To obtain a basic understanding of the techniques used in investigating neuroanatomical function.
Course Materials
Required Text
Nolte, J. (2010) Essentials of the Human Brain. Mosby.
Recommended reading
Fix, J.D. (2008). Atlas of the human brain and spinal cord (2nd ed.). Jones and Bartlett: Boston, MA.
Gupta, K. (1997). Human brain coloring workbook: An interactive approach to learning. Random House Inc:
New York, NY.
Conversations with Neil's Brain; The Neural Nature of Thought & Language Copyright ©1994 by William H.
Calvin and George A. Ojemann. Free access at: http://williamcalvin.com/bk7/bk7.htm
Requirements
Participation
This class will include individual and group in-class activities. By actively participating in these activities, you will
engage in additional opportunities to learn and to demonstrate your knowledge. These activities are also the perfect
time to ask questions about topics that are unclear or difficult. Regular, active participation will be considered
toward your final grade.
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Assessments
This course will be based on 11 weekly at-home post-reading assignments, 4 in-class quizzes, three topic exams and
an optional cumulative final exam.

Weekly post-reading assignments are worth five points each and are designed to help introduce and / or
identify key concepts from the readings and lectures that will be covered in the coming week.
Assignments will be assigned on Monday and are due by the following Sunday at 8 PM. Students should
attempt to complete each assignment without referring to the course book or lecture notes, then verify
responses before submitting their responses. There will be no opportunities to make-up weekly
assignments for unexcused absences. Only 10 assignments will count toward your final grade (i.e., one
exercise may be dropped). Weekly assignments will be provided through Blackboard and must represent
students’ own work (i.e. completed individually). The use of a university-supported browser is
recommended for all Blackboard assignments.

Quizzes will assess student knowledge of key concepts using a mixture of objective (multiple-choice,
matching, true/false) and short-answer questions and administered in class. Each quiz is worth 20 points
and will be announced at least one week in advance (e.g., a quiz on a Wednesday will be announced the
previous Wednesday) and must be completed in 25 minutes.

Exams will be administered in class and will be completed in in a single class period. There will be three
topic exams for each of the main areas: Gross anatomy & motor control, Sensory processes in
communication, and Additional sensation, neuromotor and neurological disorder. Each exam is worth
100 points will consist of both questions in objective format (multiple-choice, true/false, matching) and
short answer.
o An optional final exam will be given on Thursday, December 18, 2014 from 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM.
The cumulative final exam will also be worth 100 points and will consist of questions in objective
format. If taken, the optional final exam may be used to replace one of your other exam grades. For
instance, if you earn a higher score on the final exam than on one of the three topic exams, the final
exam will replace your previous lower exam score. This exam is optional, and is not required if you
are satisfied with your prior exam scores.
Grading
Weekly assignments are worth 5 points each ([11 assignments – 1 dropped] x 5 points = 50 points total)
Quizzes are worth 20 points each (4 quizzes x 20 points = 80 points total)
Exams are worth 100 points (3 exams x 100 points = 300 points total)
Final grade is out of 430 points
Plus/minus grading will be used according to the following:
Letter Grade
Percentage Range
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
92.5-100%
90.0-92.5%
87.5-92.5%
82.5-87.5%
80.0-82.5%
77.5-80.0%
72.5-77.5%
70.0-72.5%
67.5-70.0%
62.5-67.5%
60.0-62.5%
below 60.0
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Additional Information and Resources
Academic Misconduct
Students are expected to observe all University guidelines pertaining to academic misconduct. As stated in the
University Senate Rules and Regulations (2.6.1):
“Academic misconduct by a student shall include, but not be limited to, disruption of classes; threatening an
instructor or fellow student in an academic setting; giving or receiving of unauthorized aid on examinations or in
the preparation of notebooks, themes, reports or other assignments; knowingly misrepresenting the source of any
academic work; unauthorized changing of grades; unauthorized use of University approvals or forging of
signatures; falsification of research results; plagiarizing of another’s work; violation of regulations or ethical codes
for treatment of human and animal subjects; or otherwise acting dishonestly in research.” Academic misconduct
will not be tolerated and will be dealt with in accordance with all University rules and regulations.
Accommodations
The Academic Achievement and Access Center (AAAC) coordinates academic accommodations and services for
all eligible KU students with disabilities. If you have a disability for which you wish to request accommodations
and have not contacted the AAAC, please do so as soon as possible. They are located in 22 Strong Hall and can be
reached at 785-864-4064 (V/TTY). Information about their services can be found at http://www.disability.ku.edu.
Please contact me privately in regard to your needs in this course within one week of receiving this syllabus so that
appropriate accommodations for this course can be discussed.
If a scheduled requirement is in conflict with a mandated religious observance, you must notify the instructor in
writing (e-mail is acceptable) within one week of receiving this syllabus so that an alternative arrangement can be
made in advance of the scheduled requirement.
Health Policy
Health: KU Pandemic Response Plan (http://www.pandemic.ku.edu/) and the “Personal Guide to Protect
Against Flu” (http://www.pandemic.ku.edu/pdf/tipSheet.pdf)
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used extensively in this course for announcements, lecture note archives and assignment
administration. Students should check the course site frequently for any announcements, additional course
documents and lecture notes. In addition, all email from instructors to students will be sent through Blackboard.
Please be sure to check the email account associated with your Blackboard account. See the instructor if you have
any questions.
Course Schedule (subject to change)
Date Topic
Readings
Assessments
M 8/25
Syllabus, Watch:
Syllabus, course intro,
organization of central nervous http://youtu.be/7h6Hwn9loVk
system
Ch 1
W 8/27
Intro to brain & gross anatomy Ch 3. pp. 13-19 stop at “Somatosensory
Pre-test
Inputs…”
M 9/1
Labor Day: No Class
W 9/3
Gross anatomy continued
Ch 4 (p. 25-26)
M 9/8-
Neurons & glia- – cell types &
functions, electrical and
Ch. 7(limited content), 8, ch1(p3-5)
Bb Assignment #1: Due Sun.
http://outreach.mcb.harvard.edu/a
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Date Topic
9/10
chemical signaling
Readings
Assessments
nimations/actionpotential_short.swf
http://outreach.mcb.harvard.edu/a
nimations/synaptic.swf
W 9/15
Movement overview – cortex,
motor neurons, spinal cord
and brainstem
Ch 11, 16, 18
Quiz 1: Gross anatomy, neurons, and
signaling
M 9/17
Motor Control - Basal Ganglia,
Cerebellum, Cortex
Ch 19 all
Bb Assignment #2: Due Sun. 9/14
Ch 20 p. 159 - 160
Ch 22 p. 171 - 174
W 9/17
Sensory receptors and the
peripheral nervous systems
Entry question: How are physical events
turned into information?
Ch 9 (up to p. 61)
M 9/22
Somatosensation, spinal cord,
thalamus
http://faculty.stcc.edu/AandP/AP/AP1page Bb Assignment #3: Due Sun 9/21
s/nervssys/unit12/reflexes.htm
Ch. 9 (p. 62-end), Ch 10
W 9/24
Exam 1 Review
M 9/29
Exam 1
Topic 2: Sensory processes for communication
W 10/1 Central processing of
information: reception to
perception. (PNS to CNS)
Entry question: Once a signal is encoded
how is it processed by the central
nervous system? Lecture slides
M 10/6 Intro to Cranial Nerves
Ch 12
Bb Assignment #4: Due Sun 10/6
Ch 15(select structures)
W 10/8 The auditory system - Hearing, Ch 14
hearing loss and cochlear
implants
M 10/13
W 10/15 Speech Perception and Balance
Quiz 2: PNS / CNS & Cranial nerves
Fall Break
lecture notes & Ch 14 p. 106 - 112
Exam 2
M 10/20
Topic 3: Additional sensory processes and neuromotor / neurological disorders
W 10/22 Vison
Ch 17
M 10/27 Olfaction & Taste
Ch 13
W 10/29 Multisensory integration McGurk effect
http://www.einstein.yu.edu/news/relea
ses/564/autism-research-findsempirical-link-between-multisensoryintegration-and-autism/
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Date Topic
M 11/3
Speech motor control;
dysarthria, apraxia, ataxia
Readings
Assessments
lecture notes
Quiz 3: Vision, olfaction,
multisensory
Bb Assignment #5: Due Sun. 11/2
W 11/5
Neuromotor disorders: ALS,
MS, CP
M 11/10 Meninges, CSF, blood supply,
stroke
lecture notes
Ch 4, 5, 6
W 11/12
Bb Assignment #7: Due Sun. 11/9
Exam 3
Topic 4: Cortical influences on communication / language
M 11/17 Cognitive systems overview
Lecture slides
W 11/19 Optional Review
ASHA!
Bb Assignment #8: Due Sun. 11/16
M 11/24 Language processing & aphasia http://neuroscience.uth.tmc.edu/s4/chapter0 Bb Assignment #9: Due Sun. 11/23
8.html
W 11/26
Thanksgiving Break: No Class
M 12/1
Development and aging
W 12/3
Memory
Ch 24
M 12/8
Neuroimaging,
electrophysiology
Lecture slides
Bb Assignment #10: Due Sun. 11/30
Quiz 4: language, aging & disorder
Bb Assignment #11: Due Sun. 12/7
W 12/10 Brain-computer interfaces
F 12/12 Stop Day
Lecture slides
Review
R 12/18 Final Exam
Exam Schedule
Date
Subject
9/29/2014
Exam 1: Gross anatomy, motor control
10/20/2014
Exam 2: Sensory processes in communication
11/12/2014
Exam 3: Additional sensation, neuromotor and neurological disorder
12/18/2014
Final Exam: Comprehensive acr
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