NSC/NEUR/PSYCH 105: Introduction to Neuroscience Semester: Spring, 2012 Meetings: MWF 8:30 AM‐9:20 AM Location: Main Campus, Parmer Hall, Room 005 Instructor: Bob Calin‐Jageman, rcalinjageman receiving mail from dom.edu Book An Introduction to Brain and Behavior by Kolb and Wishaw. ISBN: 978‐0716776918. Available from the campus bookstore and online (e.g. from Amazon). Course Resources Course notes, lectures, schedule: http://www.nsc105.homeip.net Textbook website has self‐tests, chapter outlines, and many other useful resources: http://bcs.worthpublishers.com/kolbintro3e/ Grades posted on myDU: https://jicsweb1.dom.edu/ics/ Term Project submitted to TurnItIn.Com: http://www.turnitin.com Office Hours Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9‐11am and Thursday from 9‐11am. Office Hours held in Parmer 210 or Parmer 224. Please check for me in both locations
Course Description The human brain is the most complicated machine in the universe. The scientific exploration of the brain is beginning to unravel how this incredible machine works. Our growing understanding of the brain has great social significance, as it is providing us with the power to monitor, influence, and even enhance brain function. This course has three goals: 1. To build a solid understanding of our current scientific knowledge of the brain. This includes knowledge of neuroscience methods, brain anatomy, neural communication, sensation, motor control, and the production of complex behaviors. 2. To build a solid understanding of the basic chemical and evolutionary principles of life. Specifically, an understanding of a) the basic building blocks of life and their inter‐relationships ('the central dogma'), and b) the principles of evolution. 3. To gain a thorough understanding of the scientific process. This includes an understanding of the fallibility of human reason, the scientific method, experimental design, and the social/institutional structures related to scientific endeavors. 4. Finally, to gain skills in reading and digesting neuroscience research reports This course is designed for motivated students from all backgrounds. However, as a natural sciences core, this course will be challenging—it will involve extensive reading, critical thinking, memorization, discussion, writing, and library work. Introduction to Neuroscience
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Assessment Grade Scale
A: 95‐100 A‐: 90‐95 B+: 87‐89 B: 83‐86 B‐: 80‐82 C+: 77‐79 C: 73‐76 C‐: 70‐72 D: 60‐69 F: 0‐60
All assignments must be completed to earn a passing grade. Late assignments will be docked 10%/day and scored a 0 after 3 days. However, you must still turn in all work (even if it is hopelessly late) to earn a passing grade.
Coursework Weights
Homework: 10% Quizzes: 5% Exams o Exam 1: 12.5% o Exam 2: 12.5% o Exam 3: 12.5% o Exam 4: 12.5% o Final: 22% Term Project: 10% Teamwork: Up to a 3% bonus on your overall grade.
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Coursework Components Quizzes For most assigned readings you will complete an IF‐AT quiz consisting of 10 multiple‐choice questions; quizzes are usually scheduled for Mondays, but not always. You will complete the quiz on your own for a regular grade and then again as a team, with team scores accumulating for possible bonus points (see below). Quizzes cannot be made up, and missing a quiz day will count as a 0 for that quiz. I will drop your lowest quiz score, providing a buffer for an unexpected absence. To help you prep for quizzes, you will have two resources: 1. I will assign reading guides several days prior to each IF‐AT, complete with sample questions. Use the reading guide to focus your reading and to test your knowledge. 2. Chapter self‐tests are available on the Kolb & Wishaw support website. Homework You will have an assignment due almost every week, usually on Fridays Unless otherwise noted, please type your homework assignments Homework work must be completed by the established due date. Late assignments will be docked by 10% per day, and after 3 days will be marked incomplete (0%). Exams
Exams will consist of a combination of multiple choice, matching and essay questions. I will try to make a practice exam available a bit before each exam for self‐testing. The Final Exam is comprehensive and will be given during Final Exam week.
Term Project: More details online and in a subsequent handout Teamwork Teams will compete for points via the IF‐AT quizzes. Bonus points will be awarded to based on team placement: o First‐place team: +1.5% o Second‐place team: +1% o Third‐place team: +0.5% o Fourth and below: +0.25% You will also receive feedback and evaluations from your teammates related to both the IF‐AT quizzes and in‐class team activities. Team evaluations will focus on cooperative learning, self‐directed learning, and interpersonal skills (see guide to teamwork). Your cumulative peer‐evaluation can also add bonus points to your overall course score: o First‐place team member: +1.5% o Second‐place team member: +1% o Third‐place team member: +0.5% o Fourth and below: +0.25%
Note that overall, your team work can have a significant impact on your course grade. The best team‐ member of the best team will earn a 3% bonus‐‐that's an entire grade mark (e.g. an A‐ would move to an A). The worst team member of the worst team, however, will only earn 0.5%, which is much less likely to alter your course grade.
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Policies Academic honesty
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Read the Psychology Department Course Expectations handout and the Psychology Department Guidelines on Plagiarism for specific details of DU and the Psychology department's policies. Students who demonstrate academic misconduct (i.e., cheating) will be disciplined according to Departmental and University Policies. This will include failure for the assignment and/or course and a referral to the dean's office. The assignments you hand in must be your OWN work. You can seek help for homework assignments, but must complete the work yourself. Written assignments must use your own words‐‐it is not acceptable to paraphrase; it is not acceptable to rely on extensive quotes; it is not acceptable to substitute/change a few words of a sentence in an article; it is not acceptable to copy the same paragraph structure of an article.
Attendance
Attendance policies follow the guidelines of the Dominican University Department of Psychology. Specifically: o Students are allowed 4 absences o Three late arrivals = 1 absence o Additional absences will result in a 1/3 letter‐grade reduction from your final grade In addition, course lectures may cover material not contained in your reading. It is up to you to make up the work covered during your absences
Communication
Please check your Dominican email regularly for updates, announcements, schedule changes etc. To ensure that your privacy is protected, DU policy is for faculty to communicate with students exclusively through DU email accounts. Please try to abide by this policy by writing to me using your DU email. If you email me an attachment, I will respond within 1 day to acknowledge receipt. If you don't get an acknowledgement within 1 day, the attachment was not received!
Accommodations
The Dean of Students coordinates providing services, necessary and appropriate, for students with special needs. Students are encouraged to meet with the Dean of Students office to determine where specific services and accommodations are needed. Regardless of disability status, any student who is having difficulty with the class materials, pace of the class, or exams/assignments is encouraged to contact his/her instructor for assistance as soon as possible. Do not wait until it is too late!
Subject to Change
We may need to adjust the schedule to ensure smooth operation of the class. I will inform you in class and via email of any changes.
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Schedule (Subject to Revision as Course Progresses) Date
Chapt
Topic
Assignments Due
Unit 1: Foundations Wed 01/11 ‐
Course Overview
IF‐AT1: Syllabus
Fri 01/13
Ch1
Origins of Brain and Behavior IF‐AT2:Ch1
Mon 1/16
‐
MLKjr Day ‐ No Class
Wed 1/18
‐
Origins of Brain and Behavior
Fri 1/20
‐
Origins of Brain and Behavior HW1, Brain Day in Chicago
Mon 1/23
Ch2
Nervous System Function
IF‐AT3: Ch2
Wed 1/25
‐
Nervous System Function
Book Selection Due
Fri 1/27
‐
Nervous System Function
HW2
Mon 1/30
S01
Neuroscience in Society I
IF‐AT4:S01
Wed 2/1
‐
Review for Exam
Fri 2/3
‐
Exam 1
MLKjr Day ‐ No Class
Exam 1
Unit 2: Neurons Mon 2/6
Ch3
Units of the Nervous System] IF‐AT5:Ch3
Wed 2/8
‐
Units of the Nervous System
Fri 2/10
‐
Units of the Nervous System
HW3
Mon 2/13
Ch4
Neural Transmission
IF‐AT6:Ch4
Wed 2/15
‐
Neural Transmission
Fri 2/17
‐
Neural Transmission
HW4
Mon 2/20
S2
Neuroscience in Society II
IF‐AT7: S02
Wed 2/22
‐
Exam 2 Review
Fri 2/24
‐
Exam 2
Exam 2
IF‐AT8: Ch5
Unit 3: Chemicals Mon 2/27
Ch5
Neural Communication
Wed 2/29
‐
Neural Communication
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Fri 3/2
‐
Neural Communication
HW5, Book Summary
Mon 3/5
‐
Spring Break
Spring Break
Wed 3/7
‐
Spring Break
Spring Break
Fri 3/9
‐
Spring Break
Spring Break
Mon 3/12
Ch6
Techniques
IF‐AT9: Ch6
Wed 3/14
‐
Techniques
Fri 3/16
‐
Techniques
HW6
Mon 3/19
S3
Neuroscience in Society III
IF‐AT10: S03
Wed 3/21
‐
Exam 3 Review
Fri 3/23
‐
Exam 3
Exam 3
Unit 4: Brain and Behavior Mon 3/26
Ch8
Psychotropic Drugs
IF‐AT11:Ch8
Wed 3/28
‐
Psychotropic Drugs
Chicago SFN on Thursday, Book Review Draft
Fri 3/30
‐
Psychotropic Drugs
HW7
Mon 4/2
S4
Neuroscience in Society IV
IF‐AT12:S4
Wed 4/4
‐
URSCI Expo ‐ Class cancelled
Book Review Feedback Due
Fri 4/6
‐
Easter Break ‐ Class cancelled Class Cancelled
Mon 4/9
Ch14
Learning and Memory
Wed 4/11
‐
Learning and Memory
Fri 4/13
‐
Learning and Memory
HW8, Book Review Final Draft Due
Mon 4/16
S5
Neuroscience in Society V
IF‐AT14:S5
Wed 4/18
‐
Review for Exam 4
Fri 4/20
‐
Exam 4
Exam 4
Mon 4/23
Ch16
Brain Malfunction
IF‐AT15:Ch16
Wed 4/25
‐
Brain Malfunction
Book Reviews Posted to Amazon
Fri 4/27
‐
Review for Final
HW9
IF‐AT13:Ch14
CUMULATIVE FINAL EXAM TO BE HELD DURING FINALS WEEK
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