THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO
LONDON
CANADA
Department of Psychology
2010-2011
Psychology 3226B (formerly 326B) Section 001
Hormones and Behaviour
1.0 CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
An in-depth review of current research problems in the field and the biological mechanisms by
which hormones can affect behaviour. Topics may include hormones and brain development,
sexual differentiation, sexual and courtship behaviour, parental behaviour, aggressive behaviour,
stress, food intake, and endocrine disorders in humans.
Prerequisites: Psychology 2220A/B (223A/B) or 2221A/B (221A/B) and registration in third or
fourth year Honours Specialization in Psychology, Honours Specialization in Developmental
Cognitive Neuroscience, Honours Specialization in Physiology & Psychology or Honours
Specialization in Animal Behaviour. Other Psychology students and Special Students who
receive 70% in the prerequisite course may enrol in this course
3 lecture/discussion hours, 0.5 course
Unless you have either the requisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean
to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This
decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you
are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Yves Bureau, PhD
Office and Phone Number: SSC6336, ext. 65739
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: ybureau@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: Caroline Strang
Office: TBA
Office Hours: TBA
Email: cstrang@uwo.ca
Time and Location of Lectures: Tuesdays from 1:30 to 4:30 in UCC-67.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
R. J. Nelson (2005) An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology (3rd ed). Sinauer.
ISBN 0-87893-617-3
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course will examine how hormones modify behaviour. The format will be lecture based, but as
much discussion as possible is encouraged. Students completing this course will acquire a strong
foundation in behavioural endocrinology and will understand current research topics in the field on a
variety of species. There will be a strong emphasis on biological processes that regulate behaviour,
both physiological and ecological.
5.0 EVALUATION
The Psychology Department follows the University of Western Ontario grading guidelines, which are as
follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/general/grades_undergrad.pdf):
A+
A
B
C
D
F
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
50-59
below 50
One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
Superior work that is clearly above average
Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
Competent work, meeting requirements
Fair work, minimally acceptable
Fail
Final grade breakdown:
Two midterm examinations: 50% (25% each)
Final Examination 50%
6.0 TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE
Midterm Exam 1 January 25th
Midterm Exam 2 March 8th
Final Exam TBA (check Registrar web site)
7.0 LECTURE SCHEDULE
Lecture schedule is subject to change. Chapters will be assigned according to lecture schedule.
Lecture
Lecture 1
Lecture 2
Lecture 3
Lecture 4
Lecture 5
Lecture 6
Lecture 7
Reading Week
Lecture 8
Lecture 9
Lecture 10
Lecture 11
Lecture 12
Lecture 13
Date
January 4th
January 11th
January 18th
January 25th (Midterm exam 1)
February 1st
February 8th
February 15th
February 21-25
March 1st
March 8th (Midterm exam 2)
th
March 15
nd
March 22
March 29th
April 5th
Topic
Introduction
Endocrinology
Sexual Differentiation
Sex Differences
Sex Differences in Brain
Sexual Behaviour
Parental Behaviour
No Classes
Aggression
Stress (Part 1)
Stress (Part 2)
Homeostasis: Eating and Drinking
Biological Rhythms
Memory and Mood
8.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and
other scholastic offences. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offences because they
undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offence are
described at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholoff.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic
offences. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses
using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All
written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by
comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s
databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference
database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of
the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between The University of Western Ontario
and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).
Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment, failure of the course,
suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
9.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar web site: http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/index.cfm
Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergradresponsibilities.htm
- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2010 Calendar References
No electronic devices, including cell phones, will be allowed during exams.