Insel, Nathan

English

University of Montana

University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Syllabi Course Syllabi Spring 2-1-2017 PSYX 250N.01: Fundamentals of Biological Psychology Nathan Insel The University Of Montana, nathan.insel@umontana.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi Let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recommended Citation Insel, Nathan, "PSYX 250N.01: Fundamentals of Biological Psychology" (2017). Syllabi. 5254. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi/5254 This Syllabus is brought to you for free and open access by the Course Syllabi at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Syllabi by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu. PSYX 250N-01 – Fundamentals of Biological Psychology Spring 2017  Course Time and Location Tuesday & Thursday 12:30am - 1:50pm Room location: Natural Science 307 Instructor Information Instructor:  Nathan Insel, Ph.D. Email: nathan.insel@umontana.edu  Office:  Skaggs Rm 362 Office hours:  Mon. & Tues.  2:15-3:30 and by appointment Course Description This class offers an introduction to psychology from the perspective of biological mechanisms. Where many psychology classes focus on “What do humans and other animals do?” we will be asking “How is it done?” This includes basic questions like “How do we see, smell, hear?” and “How do we move?” It also includes more complex questions like “How do we remember?” and “How do we become motivated or feel emotion?” These are tricky topics, because although we know many details about the biology of animals and their nervous systems, we often don’t know which details are important for generating (or “computing”) mind and behavior. This class will be an introduction to the basics of how biological parts interact with one-another to make neurons, neuron circuits, and behavior do what they do. While you may leave this class with more questions than answers, my goal is that you will also leave with basic knowledge about brain biology and a basic understanding of the principles of its operation. Reading Material First (and foremost): read, understand, and think about your lecture notes.  This also means you should take good notes during lecture and ask questions about concepts that are unclear. This also means you should attend every class, or if you have to miss a class, to get notes from another student. Textbook: Kalat, Biological Psychology, 11th edition (Available as an Ebook).  Course Evaluation In this course, you will be evaluated by four tests, each worth 25% of your final grade. Each test/exam will be based on lecture material, the last test will take place during the final exam period and be cumulative. All tests will contain multiple-choice and a handful of short-answer questions; the final may additionally include longer-answers.  Course Policies Disability Modifications The University of Montana assures equal access to instruction through collaboration between students with disabilities, instructors, and Disability Services for Students. If you think you may have a disability adversely affecting your academic performance, and you have not already registered with Disability Services, please contact Disability Services in Lommasson Center 154 or call 406.243.2243. I will work with you and Disability Services to provide an appropriate modification. Academic Misconduct All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the University. All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. Drop Date Policies on dropping can be found on the Registrar’s webpage.  Beginning the 46th instructional day of the semester through the last day of instruction before scheduled examinations, students must petition to drop. Make-up Tests If you have to miss a scheduled test, please contact me before the test to discuss the situation. There will be NO makeup tests, and if there are compelling circumstances beyond your control that require you to miss a test, the weighting of that test will be redistributed to the other tests.   Course Outline Please note that this outline is subject to change depending on the needs of the class. Any changes to the syllabus will be announced in class beforehand. The assignment and test dates are fixed.  Date Topics Readings Jan 24th  Mechanisms & levels of analysis Kalat 1.1 (p1-7) Jan 26th  Nervous system overview Kalat 4.1 (p86-108) Jan 31st From molecules to cells Kalat 2.1/2.2 (p27-49) Feb 2nd  Neuron communication Kalat 3.1/3.2 (p51-70) Feb 7th  Neuron circuits & neuromodulation TBA (possible handout) Feb 9th  Neuromodulation & drugs  Kalat 3.3 (p71-83) Feb 14th  Test 1  Feb 16th  Vision part 1 Kalat 6.1/6.2 (p153-167) Feb 21st  Vision part 2 Kalat 6.3 (p182-189) Feb 23rd  Touch & sound Kalat 7.1/7.2 (p194-213) Feb 28th  Vestibular, taste, smell Kalat 7.3 (p215-229) Date Topics Readings Mar 2nd   Movement  Kalat 8.1 (p231-239) Mar 7th  Reward  TBA Mar 9th Decisions Kalat 8.2 (p240-253) Mar 14th  Test 2  March 16th  Visceral system  Kalat p356 Mar 21st & 23rd   SPRING BREAK—NO CLASS  Mar 28th  Emotion  Kalat 12.1/12.2 (p355-379) Mar 30th    Memory  Kalat 13.1/13.2 (p389-419) Apr 4th  Stress  Kalat 12.3 (p381-387) Apr 6th  Sleep  Kalat 9.1-9.3 (p265-295) Apr 11th  Test 3  Apr 13th  Eating & Drinking  Kalat 10.1-10.3 (297-325) Apr 25th  Social behaviors 1 TBA Apr 27th  Social behaviors 2 Kalat 11.1/11.2 (p327-351), Kalat 14.2 (432-444) May 2nd  Nervous system disorders 1 -- May 4th    Nervous system disorders 2 Kalat 15.1/15.2 (p459-485) TBD (May 9th-12th) Final exam*  *Final exam: Exam period is May 9th-12th.  It is the student’s responsibility to be available for the exam period.   

PSYX 250N.01: Fundamentals of Biological Psychology

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PSYX 250N.01: Fundamentals of Biological Psychology

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