Psychology 480

Behavioral Neuroscience

Spring 2014


 
Dr. Richard Miller
GRH 3048, 745-2450
email:  (richard.miller@wku.edu)
URL:  http://people.wku.edu/richard.miller/SYLL480.htm

 

TEXTBOOK: Physiology of Behavior, 11th edition by Neil R. Carlson (If money is tight, look for e-editions at Coursesmart.com or bn.com)

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES: This behavioral neuroscience class examines the relationships between the nervous system and behavior. The primary objective is to learn the cause and effect relationships which exist between the two. To fully understand this area will necessitate understanding the rudimentary electro-chemical processes of the brain as well as the overall structural anatomy of the nervous system. 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance is expected and required. Three or more unexcused absences could adversely affect your grade. Six or more absences may result in a recommendation to the registrar to drop you from the rolls. 
 

STUDENT DISABILITY SERVICES:  In compliance with university policy, students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this course must contact the Office for Student Disability Services. Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor without a letter of accommodation from the Office for Student Disability Services.

 

COURSE GRADE: This course will be evaluated by a series of four non-cumulative exams and one paper, each weighted equally. The exams will be multiple choice and/or matching questions with an occasional schematic to be labeled. Each exam will be curved. You will be given interim feedback throughout the semester as to the approximate letter grade equivalent of your point total to that date.  The paper will allow you to look in-depth at a topic of interest. Details of the paper will be provided shortly.  Points possible: 4 exams @ 100 points each plus one paper worth 50 points = 450 possible points. (Remember the 20 extra credit points that are possible. That effort is added in as well.) 

 

Your Current Grade (click)      Final grade based upon total points earned.  A: 405 or more    B: 360-404      C: 315-359     D: 270-314

 

EXAMS:  The following chapter groups will constitute the four exams to be administered in the class. Dates are tentative and subject to change.
  • Exam 1: Chapters 2, 3     ................................................... February 17th      (Sample questions)
  •       (possible figures for Exam 1:  2.5, 2.18, 3.13, 3.15)
  • Exam 2: Chapters 4, 6     ................................................... March 24th
  •       (possible figures for Exam 2:  6.4, 6.6, 6.34)  THESE SELECTED FIGURES ARE WRONG. THERE WILL BE NO FIGURES ON THE TEST.

                                          PAPER FOR THE COURSE:  DUE MAY 7th   (Link for Paper Topics)

  • Exam 3: Chapters 7 (only on auditory sense), 8 (pp. 264-285), 10 ...................... April  16th               
  • Adobe Recorded lecture #1 on Chapter 9        Adobe recorded lecture #2 on Chapter 9
  • On Exam 3:  Chapter 7 (Auditory only)
  •                        Chapter 8 (Pages 264-285)
  •                         Omit Chapter 9
  •                         Chapter 10 Begin on page 326 with Internal Organs
  •                                             Skip from 328 (Sexual Maturation) to end of 330)
  •                                             Start again on bottom of 331 and focus on bold print and italics
  •                                             Understand Estradiol-Progesterone relationship and impact
  •                                             Understand the pheromone material and VNO connections
  •                                             Strong emphasis on material related to humans
  •                                             Know neural control of sexual behavior
  •                                             Know pair bondings in humans
  •                                             Skip parental behavior 
  •                       THERE WILL BE NO FIGURES ON THIS TEST EITHER.
EXTRA CREDIT (20 POINTS: 1/3 POINT FOR EACH CORRECT ANSWER) THIS IS EXAM 2 AGAIN. USING YOUR BOOK, DETERMINE THE CORRECT ANSWER TO ALL QUESTIONS AND MARK THE SCANTRON WHICH WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU.  HERE IS THE EXAM.  IT IS DUE BY THE WEDNESDAY OF THE LAST WEEK OF REGULAR CLASSES.
  •  Exam 4:  16, 17 (Skip pp. 609-612)..................... May 14th at 10:00 am  
  •    (You are encouraged to read the chapter on Memory but it will not be included on the exam.)

 

LINKS:

 

  • PowerPoints for the text

           Chapters   2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  11,  13,  16,  17