Psychology 384: Behavioral Neurobiology (Fall 2009)

Instructor: Christopher M. Lowry, Ph.D.

Office:  110L RKS

Office Hours:  MWF 2-3 PM (other times by appointment)

Phone:  208.496.1352

Email:  lowryc@byui.edu  (please note that there is not an “e” in my last name; emails fail to reach me due to this spelling error)

Required Texts:

Kalat, J.W. (2007). Biological Psychology. (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thompson Wadsworth.

From time to time, we may review articles. Details will be announced in class.

Course Objectives

In this course you will learn the key relationships between brain, body, and behavior. You will also learn neuroanatomy. It is expected that your ability to think critically and your ability to study effectively will be improved.

Course Requirements

1) Exams: there will be 5 midterm exams and a comprehensive final exam. Each midterm will be worth 100 points. One of the 5 midterms will be a neuroanatomy test; there will also be neuroanatomy included in the other midterm exams. The final exam will be worth 300 points; 100 of those points will come from a neuroanatomy portion of the exam. The final exam will have a section covering chapters 13-15 and a comprehensive component. The final exam must be taken; failure to take the final at the scheduled times and on the scheduled days will result in automatic failure of the class. See the tentative schedule for dates.  Exams will be weighted to be worth 80% of your grade.

Exams will be curved to produce a minimum class average of 74%.  Because I make adjustments to each exam to make up for questions that do not function properly, I will not discuss adjusting scores. However, I am very interested in suggestions for improving future versions of the exam and in helping you to understand the concepts better. If you have suggestions for future versions of the exam, please send me a written explanation that details which test item, your concerns with the question, and possible wording I could use to improve the question. I encourage you to review your exams to learn from your mistakes. This will help you on the comprehensive final. Exams will be available for review in my office (during office hours or at scheduled appointments) for the dates listed on the syllabus. After those dates, exams will no longer be available for review.

2) Quizzes: there will be a quiz over each chapter. The quiz will be online and is to be completed before coming to class on the assigned day (see the schedule; please note that all quizzes end 15 minutes before class on the day it is due). There will be no make-up quizzes. I will drop your two lowest quizzes at the end of the semester. The quizzes are open book and open note but they are timed, so don't start until you have studied the chapter. You will have 30 minutes to complete a quiz once it has been opened. Please keep track of your time so you can finish the quiz before it closes. Each quiz is worth 10 points. Please note that the quiz is named for the chapter we are covering.  The quizzes will be weighted to be worth 10% of your grade.

3) Class Participation: Class centers around discussion of the materials; therefore, preparation is of paramount importance. I will be calling on you to explain concepts and answer questions. You will need to be prepared enough to provide explanations for your classmates when called upon. Reading from the text is not considered an adequate response nor is reading from notes. I will grade you on your response using a simple scale of 0 for not prepared, 1 for adequate, and 2 for superior. I'm not sure how many times you'll be called upon in the course of the semester but your participation will be worth 10% of your grade. I will make sure that everyone has equal opportunities to participate. If you are not present when your name is called for participation, you will receive a zero for that day.  Your lowest participation score will be dropped.

I will also give pop quizzes in class.  These will generally be worth 5 points.  You must be in class when a pop quiz is given in order to obtain credit.

There are no make-up exams, quizzes, or assignments. There is no extra credit.

Caveats

This syllabus is my best estimate of how the class should proceed. My objective is to facilitate your learning. Therefore, I may modify the syllabus to help the learning process. All the times and dates of assignments as well as the assignments themselves may need to be modified. I reserve the right to make changes, deletions, corrections, or additions during the course. You will be given notice in advance of any changes. It is your responsibility to be in class so you are aware of changes. Failure to complete an assignment, quiz, paper, case study, or exam because of changes that were announced in class that you were unaware of will result in a zero. You are encouraged to have members of the class that you can contact for information if you miss class. Please do not call or email me; there is only one of me and my time can be adversely affected if I am receiving inquiries regarding class from those who miss.

Late assignments will automatically be docked 10%. No assignments will be accepted after the end of the class hour in which they are due. Please read those lines again. Memorize them!

Cell Phones/PDAs/Laptops/other electronics

Cell phones are disruptive to your classmates and to me. Please turn them off when you enter the room. Texting is also prohibited. Similarly, if you are using a PDA or laptop, make sure that the sounds are disabled in class. These technologies should only be used for class purposes. Disruption of class through these devices will lead to a 5% reduction in your grade each time it occurs. If you leave the class to make or take a phone call, please do not return to class that period. Take your things with you when you leave for a phone call. The only exception to this policy is for those who may need to receive an emergency call due to a health concern. Please make arrangements for this with me before the time when you expect the call.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all qualified students enrolled in this course are entitled to "reasonable accommodations." It is the student's responsibility to disclose to me any special needs she/he may have before the end of the first week of class.

Preventing Sexual Harassment

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an educational program or activity that receives federal funds, including federal loans and grants. Title IX also covers student-to-student sexual harassment. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender based discrimination, please contact the Personnel Office at 496-1130 (available 24 hours per day).

Dress and Honor Code

I completely expect you to abide by the honor code and the dress and grooming standards. If I notice violations of the dress and grooming standards, I will make a note and give you a 0 for participation that day. Just to make myself clear, I will not tolerate unshaven faces.  Multiple violations will result in being referred to the Student Honor Office.

The honor code also covers academic honesty. Please review the policies at http://www.byui.edu/studenthonor/academic honest.htm. Discussing quizzes and tests with those who have not taken them is a violation of academic honesty. Please don't ask others about such assessments. If you are asked, please remind your classmate that you cannot discuss them and maintain your academic integrity. Violation of academic honesty policies will result in a failing grade for the assessment and a referral to the Student Honor Office. Multiple violations will result in failing the course.

Grades

You are expected to keep a record of your scores and to keep track of your standing in the class. It is not my responsibility to keep you informed of your current standing in the class; you are the steward in terms of your class standing. I will post scores on I-Learn in a timely fashion. You should check the accuracy of the scores. If there is a discrepancy, bring your record of the score to me and I will make the change on I-Learn. You are not graded on a curve. The breakdown of grades follows.

A=93% and above; A-= 90%; B+=86%; B=83%; B-=80%; C+=76%; C=73%; C-=70%; D+=66%; D=63%; D-=60%; F= below 60%.

Tentative Schedule

Date	Reading	Assignments/Exams/Quizzes
9.10	chp 1	Divisions of the Nervous System (Fig 4.1, p. 82); Anatomical Directions Terms (Table 4.1, p. 83)
9.15	chp 2	quiz 1; quiz 2; Parts of the Nervous System (Table 4.2, p. 84); Major Divisions of the Vertebrate Brain (Table 4.3, p. 84)
9.17	chp 2	Cranial Nerves (Table 4.4, p. 88)
9.22	chp 3	quiz 3; Lobes of the Brain (Fig 4.23, p. 99)
9.24	chp 3	Exam 1:  chapters 1-3 (9.24-9.25); Surface Anatomy
9.29	chp 4	quiz 4
10.1	chp 4
10.6	Neuroanatomy test in class
10.8	chp 5	quiz 5
10.13	chp 6	quiz 6; Exam 2:  chapter 4-6 (10.13-10.14)
10.15	chp 6
10.20	chp 7	quiz 7
10.22	chp 7
10.27	chp 8	quiz 8
10.29	chp 8
11.3	chp 9	quiz 9; Exam 3:  chapters 7-9 (11.3-11.4)
11.5	chp 10	quiz 10
11.10	chp 11	quiz 11
11.12	chp 11
11.17	chp 12	quiz 12; Exam 4:  chapters 10-12 (11.17-11.18)
11.19	chp 13	quiz 13
12.1	chp 14	quiz 14
12.3	chp 14
12.8	chp 15	quiz 15
12.10	chp 15
12.15	Review for Final Exam
Final Exam in Testing Center 12.17-12.18