Download U29 Bio 436 01

Course Information- This will be updated 8/16 for Fall 2016
U 29 Bio 436 section 01- The Neural Basis of Behavior
Instructor- Dr. Thomas Peters ([email protected])- best way to reach me
Meeting times/location- Fall 2016, T.B.D. on Wed. 6:30-9 pm
Textbook- An introduction to Brain and Behavior, 5th edition, Kolb and Whishaw (2016)
Please make sure you have Launchpad online code for course.
Course Description
This course provides an overview of how the nervous system works from a biological
perspective. We will begin by studying how nerve cells function, focusing on how they
transmit signals and communicate with one another through specialized connections
called synapses. We will further examine the anatomy of the nervous system to discover
how nerve cells are organized into circuits and how these circuits develop. We will
investigate how the specialized properties of our nerve cells allow us to interact with our
environment through an in depth study of our motor and sensory systems. Finally, we
will take time to look at diseases, syndromes and disorders related to each of these topics
through current literature.
Lectures
Lecture materials (.ppt format slides, other handouts) will be provided online at the
course blackboard site at least 24 hours before the lecture. There will also be journal
articles and other recent papers posted to read for discussion in class.
Attendance Policy
Lecture attendance is strongly suggested, but is not mandatory. Keep in mind that class
discussions/projects in class will count for up to 10% of the grade (see below). There will
be no makeups on those in class projects/discussions. The start of each class will be a
socrative quiz (meant for review) and I will go over the answers in class only.
Students interested in more self-directed study should be well aware that NO appeals for
credit on exams or review papers will be considered based on lack of attendance of class.
Evaluation: (subject to change)
Students’ level of achievement will be determined by 2 written exams, one paper/project,
one abstract (250 words)/10 min presentation. We will also have scientific papers
discussions and in class projects. At the conclusion of the course, the expected grade
conversion below will be compared to overall class performance.
All student writing should be written in their own words and referenced appropriately.
Please see the academic integrity policy for student work at following:
http://ucollege.wustl.edu/faculty/academic_integrity . Plagiarism in any sense will not
be acceptable. The plagiarized assignment will receive a zero and be referred to the
campus as indicated in above policy according to WUSTL student handbook.
Grading
1 mid term exam (part take home)- 20% (100 pts)
1 final exam (part take home)- 20% (100 pts)
1 scientific project- T.B.D. 20 % (100 pts)
1 scientific project: abstract-250 words and 10 min. presentation- 20% (100 pts)
In class discussion/projects - 20% (100 pts)
Expected grade conversion (subject to change):
< 60%: Fail/Incomplete
60 – 61.9%: D- 62 – 67.8%: D 68 – 70%: D+
70 – 71.9%: C- 72 – 77.9%: C 78 – 80%: C+
80 – 81.9%: B- 82 – 87.9%: B 88 – 90%: B+
90 – 91.9%: A- 92 – 97.9%: A 98 – 100%: A+
Course Topics (subject to change)
8/31/16: Origins of Brain and Behavior (Ch. 1)
How nervous system functions (Ch. 2)
Including: Evolution, meningitis, encephalitis, stroke, Bell’s palsy,
TBI/PTSD
9/7/16: Units of nervous system function (Ch. 3)
How neurons transmit information (Ch. 4)- Part I
Including: brain tumors, MS, Huntington’s Chorea, epilepsy
Identify methods/process for project 1
9/14/16: How neurons transmit information (Ch. 4)- Part II
How neurons communicate/adapt (Ch. 5)
Including : Myastenia gravis, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Parkinson’s, addiction
9/21/16: How to study brain structure/function (Ch. 6)
Including: Mild head injury, depression, ADHD, Fetal alcohol syndrome
Mid-term exam review
9/28/16: How nervous system develops & adapts. Research methods Behavioral
Neuroscience. (Ch. 7)
Including: SIDS, Mild Head Injury, Cannabis use
10/5/16: How drugs/hormones influence brain/behavior (Ch. 8)
Including: Major depression, Schizophrenia, ASD
Project #1 due
10/12/16: Finish Chapter 8
Sensing/perceiving and seeing the world (Ch. 9)
Mid term exam
Identify methods/process for project 2- (abstract)/presentation)
10/19/16: Finish Chapter 9
Hearing, speaking, making music (Ch. 10)
Including: migraines, visual illuminance, CO poisoning, left hemisphere
dysfunction, cerebral aneurisms, synesthesia (15-5), language/music
Mid term exam take home part due
10/26/16: Nervous system response to stimulus/production movement (Ch. 11)
Including: spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, tourette’s, phantom limb
syndrome, neuroprosthetics, tickling
Causes of emotional/motivated behavior (Ch. 12)
Including: anxiety disorder, ALS, weight loss strategy
11/2/16: Finish chapter 12
Why we sleep and dream (Ch. 13)
Including: SAD, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea
11/9/16:
How we learn/remember (Ch. 14)
Including: dyslexia, Boswell’s amnesia, Alzheimer’s, Korsakoff’s syndrome
11/16/16: How the brain thinks (Ch. 15)
Including: mirror neuron dysfunction, split brain
Project #2 abstract due
11/23/16: No class- Thanksgiving
11/30/16: Student presentations- 6
Final Exam Review
12/7/16: When the brain misbehaves (Ch. 16)
Including: posttraumatic stress, brain repair, treating behavioral disorders
12/14/16: Final exam, including part take home due at this time.