Download Brain and Behavior

Brain and Behavior
Neuroscience 0080 (23339), Spring 2012
Tuesdays 6:00pm – 8:30pm
216 Cathedral of Learning
Instructor:
Telephone:
Email:
Dr. Nicole Edgar
412-624-5519
[email protected] (preferred method of contact)
Office hours: By appointment - please email me to arrange meetings.
Course Web Site: http://courseweb.pitt.edu
Log in, then click on the link to this course under “My courses.” Weekly quizzes
will be administered online through CourseWeb. Also check regularly for
announcements, lecture notes, and exam information.
Textbook: Recommended but not required.
An Introduction to Brain and Behavior, 3rd ed. Kolb, B. & Whishaw, I. Worth:
New York, 2011.
The text is available through the bookstore and an online or downloadable
version of the text is available with a subscription (180 days for $69.95) at
http://www.CourseSmart.com
Course Description: The goal of this course is to provide a broad overview of the
relationship between brain function and behavior. The course examines topics
including basic brain anatomy and function, how we perceive the world around
us, and what underlies complex behaviors such as emotion and learning.
Lectures will also focus on a discussion of how brain function and behavior are
altered through either injury (such as stroke) or disorder (such as schizophrenia),
and what this has taught us about normal brain function. By the end of this
course students should be able to evaluate claims made about brain research
and function, and have a richer understanding of how people behave the way
they do.
Class Format: The general format of the class will be lecture style. However, I
strongly encourage you to ask questions at any time about material that you do
not understand. If you have questions you prefer not to ask in class, feel free to
see me after class or email me. I will schedule in at least 1 ten-minute break
during each class period, approximately halfway through the class.
A note about classroom etiquette: please turn off and put away all cell
phones/smart phones and ipods during class. If you are seen with one of these
items during class I may: 1) ask you to put it away, 2) ask you to leave the
classroom, 3) if during an EXAM: collect your exam and take action based on
academic integrity violations.
Course Requirements:
Quizzes: Each week a quiz will be administered online through CourseWeb,
which you will have until the following Sunday at midnight to complete. These
are designed to encourage you to attend class, to pay attention, and to assess
your comprehension of the material. There will be a total of 12 quizzes. Your quiz
grade will be based on the average of your scores, dropping the two lowest
scores. If you miss a quiz, that quiz will be counted as a 0; you may NOT make
up a quiz, regardless of the reason.
Exams: Exams will be a combination of multiple choice, matching, fill-in-theblank, and short answer questions. All material covered in lecture is considered
testable material, unless indicated by the instructor. Review questions for each
exam will be posted on CourseWeb to help you prepare.
NOTE: CGS courses continue through finals week, so your last exam will be
during finals week at the normal course meeting time. If you have a conflict with
another scheduled final exam please let me know NO LATER than Tuesday,
April 10th in order to arrange an EARLIER exam date/time.
Grading: Your final grade will be calculated from your scores on the quizzes and
exams. The proportion each will contribute to your final grade is as follows:
Quizzes - 25 %
Exams - 75% (25 % per test)
Grading Scale
Letter
Grade
Percentage Range
Letter Grade
Percentage
Range
A+
A
AB+
B
B-
98.0-100
93.0-97.9
90.0-92.9
88.0-89.9
83.0-87.9
80-82.9
C+
C
CD
F
78.0-79.9
72.0-77.9
70.0-71.9
60.0-69.9
Below 60
Academic Integrity:
Please see the College of General Studies web page for details on academic
integrity: www.cgs.pitt.edu
Disabilities and Special Needs:
If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an
accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and
Disability Resources and Services, 216 William Pitt Union, 412-648-7890 or 412383-7355 (TTY) as early as possible in the term. Please go to the Student Affairs
website at http://www.drs.pitt.edu/ for more information.
Course Schedule
Note that the chapters provided below refer to textbook readings that will help you to
understand and integrate the lecture material. However, much of the suggested reading
includes information that I won’t have time to cover in class, or material that may come
up only in later lectures. You will ONLY be tested on material I present in class.
Lectures will be posted on CourseWeb at least 24 hours prior to each class.
Lecture
Date
1
January
10
2
17
3
24
4
31
Topic
Suggested
Reading
Introduction and background
Chapter 1
Anatomy of the brain
Chapter 2
Cells of the nervous system
Chapter 3
Cell structure and neurotransmission
Chapter 3 & 4
Neural communication
Chapter 5
Brain development
Chapter 7
Humans and animals in research
Chapter 6
February 7 Exam 1
5
6
7
14
21
28
Vision
Chapter 9
The auditory system and language
Chapter 10
Olfaction and gustation
Chapter 12
Somatosensation and movement
Chapter 11
Motivation and emotion
Chapter 12
Circadian rythyms and sleep
Chapter 13
March 6
8
NO CLASS – Spring Break
13
Learning and memory
Chapter 14
20
Exam 2
9
27
Cognition
Chapter 15
10
April 3
Drugs and behavior
Chapter 8
11
10
Neurological disorders
Chapter 16
12
17
Psychiatric disorders
Chapter 16
24
Exam 3