Spring 2001 Biopsychology (Psych 393)

Office Hours: Tuesdays 7.10-8 pm, Wed. 1-2.15 pm, and by arrangement.

Textbook: Cognitive Neuroscienc (1998Gazzaniga, Ivry, & Mangun, W W Norton

Course Objectives: In this course, we will examine recent approaches to understanding how the brain enables the mind. We will review how the brain and nervous system function, and current methodologies for understanding these functions. Then, we will cover specific topics, such as attention, perception, and memory in depth.

Papers: You are responsible for completing one 5-10 research paper. You must submit this by the end of the semester. The paper will be worth 25% of your grade.

Presentation: Groups will select one chapter from Cognitive Neuroscience to present to the class. This chapter should be supplemented by at least one chapter from another book. (25% of your grade)

Homework: There will be five homework assignments. (50% of your grade)

Extra Credit: Extra credit may be earned during every class period, and is strongly encouraged.

Grades: A = 95%, A- = 90%, B+ = 87%, B = 85%, B- 0 80%, etc.

Feb. 8-- Chapter 1 General Introduction HW 1

Feb. 15 ­ Chapter 2 Gross Anatomy HW 2

Feb. 22 -- Chapter 2 Anatomy and Physiology Ctd. HW 3

Mar. 1 --- Chapter 3 - Methods HW 4

March 8 - Chapter 3 - Methods HW 5

March 15 - Group Presentation

March 22 -- Group Presentation

March 29 -- Group Presentation

April 5 -- Group Presentation

April 12 -- Group Presentation

April 19-- Group Presentation

April 26 -- Group Presentation

May 3 Group Presentation

May 10 -- Group Presentation

May 17 -- Group Presentation

Homework:

Your book, on p. 11 says "All the work, especially when viewed in hindsight, argued for the importance of single neurons" Write a one-page paper describing this work, and explain why the authors claim that this work argued for the importance of single neurons.

Find a picture of a golgi stain and of a tissue stain. Explain what the stains are showing.