Physiological Psychology Lab
PSYC 373 Section 208
Fall 2015
Instructor: Meghann Smith
Class Time: Thursday 1:30- 3:20 pm
Class Location: DKH 2074
E-mail: msmith34@masonlive.gmu.edu
Office Hours: Thursday 10:30- 11:30 PM/by appointment
Office Location: DKH 2033
Goals of Lab: The primary goal of this lab is for students to learn brain and eye structure
locations with some understanding of related function. The class will start with a brief overview
of neuroscience topics, and then will move towards sheep brain and eye dissections. Students
will also have the opportunity to analyze and present on research theories and techniques that
have impacted the proceedings of neuroscience research and discovery today.
Recommended Text:
 Cooley, R.K., & Vanderwolf, C.H. (2001). The Sheep Brain: A Basic Guide. A.J.
Kirby Co.: London.
Attendance & Participation: Material covered in lab will be the basis of quizzes and exams, so
you are highly encouraged to attend lab. Attendance during dissections is especially essential
because these will be your ONLY chance to use the sheep brain and eye. It is not be possible to
repeat missed dissections during a later lab. If you know you will be absent for a class ahead of
time, talk to me and I may be able to arrange for you to attend another lab section.
Dress Code: You must wear close-toed shoes and pants, avoid baggy clothing/expensive
jewelry, and have hair pulled back on dissection days due to EHS standards. If you are not
appropriately dressed, I will not let you participate.
NOTE: You are responsible for all announcements and any syllabus modifications made in
class each week whether you are present or not.
Lab Practical Exams: These exams consist of identification and/or questions regarding pinned
brain structures. There are no make-ups for a missed practical unless you have obtained
approval prior to the date missed. Emergencies must be report ASAP. The nature of the exam
does not allow it to be reproduced or preserved. Practical exams are approximately 50% of your
grade in this lab. Practical 1 covers Brain Tours I & II, and is worth 50 points. Practical 2 is a
cumulative final and worth 100 points.
Quizzes: There will be 2 quizzes worth 30 points each, based on lecture material covered in
class. These quizzes will not require identification of brain structures. Questions will be in the
form of multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blanks, labeling a diagram, and/or short answer.
Quizzes will begin at the start of class and will be timed.
Foundations in Neuroscience Assignment: Each student will select an historical occurrence,
researcher, or technique that relates to the scientific field of psychology/neuroscience. Each topic
must be approved by the date specified for a total of 3 points. Papers must be 2.5 - 4 pages long
and contain information on the contribution’s importance, how it can be applied both inside the
lab and out in the real world, and how it has impacted the scientific field today. A rough outline
must also be turned-in, including APA formatted references by the date specified for an
additional 10 points. Students will present on their topics for 5-7 minutes at the end of the
semester (see below). A worksheet detailing the format of your paper will be passed out in class
and posted on Blackboard. Sources must be credible and cited in correct APA format. The
written assignment will be worth a total of 30 points. Any work that is not turned in on time will
not be graded.
Presentations: At the end of the semester, each student must give a 5-7 minute presentation on
the topic they chose to write about in their Foundations of Neuroscience paper. Be sure to
include all references. Each student will be required to provide some sort of visual aid (handouts,
overheads, PowerPoint presentation) to accompany the presentation. Part of your presentation
grade will be based on your presence at others’ presentations in class. The presentation will be
worth 40 points.
Policy Regarding Late Assignments: Unless the student has obtained my consent to postpone
an assignment, including quizzes, or has written medical documentation PRIOR to an absence
from a quiz or other assignment, there will be NO MAKEUPS. Permission to postpone a quiz or
to turn in an assignment late will only be given for very important and acute reasons. Any makeup quiz or assignment will be structured like the original, but the content may be different. Any
documentation required for excused absences MUST be turned in by the following lab period.
Extra Credit: I offer one extra credit assignment, which includes attending a university event
relating to neuroscience/psychology, or participating in a graduate student’s study. The student
must turn in a full one page review and critique of the event/study for a possible 5 additional
points.
The GMU honor code will be strictly enforced. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated
and will be reported to the University Honor Board &/or penalized. Information that must be
used from an outside source must be cited in correct APA format. I reserve the right to enter a
failing grade to any student found guilty of an honor code violation.
Official Communications via GMU E-Mail: Mason uses electronic mail to provide official
information to students. Examples include communications from course instructors, notices from
the library, notices about academic standing, financial aid information, class materials,
assignments, questions, and instructor feedback. Students are responsible for the content of
university communication sent to their Mason e-mail account, and are required to activate that
account and check it regularly. In the event that class is cancelled, then I will notify students via
email.
Technology Statement: Required knowledge of technology for this course includes ability to
retrieve handouts sent via email to your GMU address or posted on Blackboard. Occasionally I
may use computer programs or the Internet in class to present demonstrations of relevant
material. You may also wish to use websites provided by me to study for the lab practical exams.
Physiological Psychology Lab
PSYC 373 Section 208
Fall 2015
Students with Disabilities: If you are a student with a disability and you need academic
accommodations, please see me and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 703-9932474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through that office.
* This course does require participation in dissection of animal tissue. If you have a
concern about this, please meet with me as soon as possible.*
Add/Drop Deadlines: The last day to add a class is Sept 8th. The last days to drop a class are:
September 8th (no penalty), September 15th (33% tuition penalty), and October 2nd (67% tuition
penalty).
Grades:
Quizzes (30 pts x 2)
Attendance and Participation
Lab Practical 1
Lab Practical 2
Topic Approval
Foundations Outline
Foundations Paper
Presentation
Total
60 points
15 points
50 points
100 points
3 points
10 points
30 points
40 points
308 points
A+ (97%+); A (90-96%); B+ (87-89%); B (80-86%); C+ (77-79%); C (70-76%);
D (60-69%); F (59% & below)
September 3
Tentative Course Schedule:
Introduction/Neurophysiology (Lecture 1)
September 10
Action Potential/Postsynaptic Potential (Lecture 2)
September 17
QUIZ 1: Neurophysiology, Action
Potential/Postsynaptic Potential (Lectures 1 & 2)
September 24
Brain Tour Part I (Lecture 3)
Brain Tour Part II: Cranial Nerves (Lecture 4)
October 1
Study Session for Lab Practical 1 (Lectures 3 & 4)
October 8
Lab Practical I (Brain Tours I & II)
(Lectures 3&4)
NO CLASS- Society for Neuroscience
Conference
Visual system & sheep eyeball dissection
(Lecture 5)
October 15
October 22
Assignments Due:
Foundations Topic Due by
midnight (email)
Foundations of
Neuroscience Outline due
IN CLASS
October 29
QUIZ 2: Visual system (Lecture 5)
November 5
Coronal Dissection (Lecture 6, Part 1)
Midsagittal Dissection (Lecture 6, Part 2)
November 12
Study Session/Review for Lab Practical II
November 19
Lab Practical II (Final exam cumulative)
November 26
THANKSGIVING – NO CLASS
December 3
Presentations
5-7 Minute Presentation
December 10
Presentations
5-7 Minute Presentation
Foundations in
Neuroscience Paper: Due
on BB by 1:30pm