PSY 320: BIOPSYCHOLOGY
Cheri L. Kittrell, M.A., M.A.T.
Spring Term 2002: January 22 - May 10
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 1:00 p.m. - 2:10 p.m.
Course Objectives
PSY 320 introduces the student to the biological bases of behavior. Emphasis will be placed on the ability of students to develop a working conceptual model of the relationship between brain and behavior. This knowledge will include the structure and function of the nervous system, including the biological bases of psychopathology and normal functioning. By the end of the course, students should be able to recognize and describe neuroanatomical structures, biochemical substrates, and physiological correlates of normal and abnormal behavior, understand current theoretical formulations, distinguish etiological considerations, and discern research-supported treatment approaches. In order to achieve the above skills, students will interact with the lecture and text material through class discussion, group tasks, laboratory participation, and written assignments.
Prerequisites
PSY 200 is mandatory.
Required Reading
Pinel, John P.J. (2000). Biopsychology (4th Edition). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Pinel, John P.J. & Edwards, M. (1998). A Colorful Introduction to the Anatomy of the Brain. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Lectures will correspond with assigned readings, but will not repeat the text. The assigned readings from the text should be read prior to the class period for which they are assigned to facilitate the student's understanding of the terminology commonly used in biopsychology. In addition, a thorough reading of the text should stimulate questions for the student, which can then be brought out during class discussion. Examinations will cover all information required to be read by students. Attendance at lectures will provide the student with a clearer picture as to which topics are the most salient and, therefore, likely to appear on the exam.
Office Hours and Contact Information
I am very interested in helping students learn the material for this course. I hope that you will utilize my office hours, class website, and/or feel free to e-mail me. If you have questions about course content or other problems related to the class, you are able to contact me in the following ways:
--Office hours (for which you do not need an appointment) are held on Tuesday and Thursday from 1 3 p.m in my office (PH 500). If you cannot make the office hours, you may make an appointment on the sign-up sheet outside of my office (PH 500).
--You may also e-mail me at ckittrell@ut.edu to discuss the problem or make an appointment.
-- Another option for students in need of help is to use the link from the class website at psychclasses.homestead.com to chat with classmates, post to the bulletin board, use help links, or check on assignments.
ADA Compliance
If there is any student who has special needs because of any disability, please go to Ms. Linda Ashburn in the Office of Student Disability Services in PH 415 (X 3302) to self-disclose and provide supporting documentation. Please feel free to discuss your disability with me in private.
Attendance Policy:
I do not have an "attendance requirement," but please note that in-class participation is worth a portion of the grade and, therefore, attendance at classes is essential. It has also been my experience that it is nearly impossible to receive a good grade in a course without consistent attendance. Be advised that if you must miss a class session for any reason, it is up to the student to make arrangements to obtain the notes, assignments, and/or handouts from that class from another student. Students will not be excused from correctly completing assignments or knowing material for the exams due to absence. Please carefully choose a classmate from whom to obtain your notes or send a tape recorder to class in your absence.
Grading
There will be three exams, each worth 20% of the final grade. Exams will be comprised of multiple choice, lab identifications, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and essay. There will also be several written assignments and homework from the Pinel & Edwards book, worth a total of 20%. In-class participation is worth the final 20%. Letter grades will be based on the following distribution:
A: 93 - 100A/B: 88 - 92B: 83 - 87B/C: 78 - 82
C: 73 77 C/D: 68 - 72D: 60 - 67 F: <60
Make-up exams will only be administered in the event of an emergency, as determined by the professor. In the event of an emergency, students should bring their excuse (i.e. hospital bill, doctor's note, etc.) to the next class meeting. Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. Late assignments will not be accepted. If you know in advance that you will be late to or absent from a class, you may turn your assignment in EARLY to Janet Hutto in the Psychology Department office (PH 324).
Laboratory Groups
Students will be divided into laboratory groups during the first class session. These groups will meet together during specified class periods for the duration of the term to identify brain structures on a sheep brain. Separate handouts will be given to students to guide them in the process of identifying neuroanatomical structures that are being discussed during the lecture portion of the class. Laboratory participation is REQUIRED. Any student who does not fully participate in labs will receive a grade of zero for the lab portion of the class (20% of the grade).
Plagiarism
Students are required to do their own work. No student should turn in any work done by someone else under the false pretense that it is his or her own work. In other words, credit should be given where credit is due. Students should not solicit ideas from other students, reproduce (even with adjustments) another student's work, copy source materials (without proper quotation and citation), or reuse materials from other classes. Students should turn in original work produced through good scholarship (i.e. utilizing research materials and texts to formulate one's own theories.) Students who plagiarize their assignments will fail the course and be referred to the Dean of Students for disciplinary procedures.
Guidelines for Homework Assignments
Even though the homework comes in the form of a "coloring book," students should complete their assignments with the same care and effort with which they would complete any college-level assignment.
--Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. Please make sure that all of your work is completed prior to class time.
--Every aspect of your work must be neat and legible. Assignments that look like they were carelessly completed will not receive credit.
--Use colored pencils or crayons. Do not utilize markers, which will bleed through the pages, making subsequent assignments difficult to read.
--You must purchase your own homework manual. Photocopied assignments are not acceptable.
--Print your name (first and last) neatly and legibly on the inside of the front cover of the homework manual. Do not tear out homework assignments.
--Avoid plagiarism. Do not borrow or copy another student's work. Also, these are not group assignments. Do not work in groups or seek out other students for assistance. If you are having difficulty with the assignments, please make an appointment to speak with me directly.
--Homework that is turned in that does not comply with ALL of the above requirements will receive a grade of zero.
Written Assignments
The three written assignments for this course are designed to give students some experience with current issues and research in biopsychology. These assignments are also designed to allow students to gain some "depth" knowledge in a survey course.
--Assignment sheets detailing the specific requirements for each assignment are attached to this syllabus.
--It is up to the student to look at the course schedule, determine when each assignment is due, and pace him/herself accordingly.
--Students should carefully read the directions for each assignment and make certain that that they comply with all required steps.
--Students should make an appointment to speak with me, if they find that they are having difficulty with any of the assignments or if they simply wish to clarify some aspect of the assignment.
--These assignments are not to be completed in groups and students should avoid plagiarizing other students, the Internet, or other source materials.
Course Schedule
Please note: The professor reserves the right to reissue the course schedule with deletions, additions, or revisions during the term (based upon class progress or other mediating factors). Students are responsible for keeping up with revisions issued or discussed during class sessions.
Session:Scheduled Topic/Assignments:Assigned Reading:
Jan. 23 Introduction Chapter 1 and Section 3.3
Lab Introduction
Jan. 25 Nervous System Basics Chapter 3 (3.1 & 3.4)
Due: P&E Chapter 1 (Sections 1.1 - 1.5) and Chapter 2 (all sections)
Jan. 28 Gross Neuroanatomy Chapter 3 (3.5 & 3.6)
Jan. 30 Gross Neuroanatomy (continued)
Feb. 1 In-class Labs
Due: P&E Chapter 5
Feb. 4 Cellular Aspects of the Nervous System Chapter 3 (Section 3.2)
Feb. 6 Cellular Aspects of the Nervous System (continued)
Feb. 8 In-class Labs
Due: P&E Chapter 3 (all sections)
Feb. 11Neural Conduction/Synaptic TransmissionChapter 4
Feb. 13Neural Conduction/Synaptic Transmission (continued)
Feb. 15In-class Labs
Due: P&E Chapter 6
Feb. 18Research Methods Chapter 5 (Sections 5.1 - 5.4)
Feb. 20Research Methods (continued)
Feb. 22Exam One
Due: P&E Chapter 7
Feb. 25Organization of SystemsSections 8.1 & 9.1
Principles of Sensorimotor Function
Feb. 27Overflow
Mar. 1 In-class Labs
Due: P&E Chapter 8
Mar. 4 SensationCh. 7 and Ch. 8 (8.2 - 8.5)
Mar. 6 Sensation (continued)
Mar. 8 In-class Labs
Assignment Two Due
Mar. 11Spring Vacation
Mar. 13Spring Vacation
Mar. 15Spring Vacation
Mar. 18Motor FunctionChapter 9 (Sections 9.2 - 9.7)
Mar. 20Motor Function (continued)
Mar. 22In-class Labs
Due: P&E Chapter 9
Mar. 25Basic Functioning: Eating/Drinking Chapter 10
Mar. 27Basic Functioning: Eating/Drinking (continued)
Mar. 29In-class Labs
Apr. 1 Basic Functioning: Sex Drive Chapter 11
Apr. 3 Basic Functioning: Sex Drive (continued)
Apr. 5 Exam Two
Apr. 8 Basic Functioning: Sleep Chapter 12
Apr. 10Basic Functioning: Sleep (continued)
Apr. 12In-class Labs
Apr. 15Basic Functioning: Reward Circuits/Drugs Chapter 13
Apr. 17Basic Functioning: Reward Circuits/Drugs (continued)
Apr. 19In-class Labs
Assignment Three Due
Due: P&E Chapter 10
Apr. 22Higher Functioning: Memory Ch. 14 (14.1 - 14.5 & 14.8)
Apr. 24Higher Functioning: Emotion Chapter 17 (17.1 - 17.2)
Apr. 26In-class Labs
Due: P&E Chapter 11
Apr. 29Neuroplasticity and Learning Ch. 15 (p.408-409 & 15.4 - 15.5)
May 1 Lateralization and AsymmetryChapter 16 (16.1-16.3)
May 3 Neuropsychological Assessment Ch. 6 (6.1 & 6.2); Ch. 17 (17.3 - 17.6)
Issues and Abnormalities
May 6 Overflow
May 10Exam Three (1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
