Psychology  .
Department  .

Class:   Science Center 108
Lab:      Science Center 127

Office Hours:   M    1:00 pm
                        W    10:00 am
                        F     1:00 pm

Announcements

April 20
Here are the final presentations powerpoints.

March 10
There are updated dates for what is due for the paper.  Check the page about the final paper for these new dates.

March 8
The slides about control system theory have been posted.  Look at the schedule for this topic.

Feb 9, 2005
Two things:

1. Here is the lab handout for the lab on Feb 10.
2. Here is the link to the web notes and activities I used in class today.

Feb 8, 2005
Here is the links to the web pages I used in class today.  Remember, if the programs ask you do download something, the download is safe.  It is from Sun Microsystems.

Jan 24, 2005
Here is the link to notes where you can find the Nernst and Goldman Equations.

Here is a spreadsheet to do some problems related to the Action and Synaptic Potentials this week.  It does the Nernst and Goldmann  Equations.  Or if you are using a recent verion of Internet Explorer, you can use this web based version of the spreadsheet.

Jan 14, 2005
The tutorials for next week have been better indicated.  Check the schedule.
The dates for the first three exams have been posted on the syllabus below.  Check the class schedule.

Jan 10, 2005
Welcome to the beginning of Neuropsychology. I hope you have an enjoyable and intellectually stimulating term.

Look in this space on the syllabus for course updates and announcements.

Objectives:

Course Descriptions and Soapbox Standing: The central nervous system, composed of the brain and spinal chord, is the control center of the body; however, it is a jelly-like mass encased in fluid-filled sacks again encased in bone. How do these buried structures carry on the tasks of learning about the environment around us, controlling our movements so precisely, helping us survive individually and as a species, causing us to experience finely-tuned emotional reactions, learning, remembering, speaking so well? That is the goal of this class: To bring some light to this greatest of all human mysteries. Our answers are at best tentative, but we have learned much and the hints at the final answers are, I find, exciting.

Course Objectives: The goals of the laboratory portions of the class are: (1) to gain first-hand knowledge of neuroanatomy, (2) to gain experience in the handling, care, and proper use of laboratory animals, and (3) to acquaint you with some of the behavioral methods used to study brain-behavior relations.

Role of Course in Major: This course is a 200 level laboratory course.  As such it has several purposes: 1) to give you some exposure to the biological side of psychology.  As such this course is paired with sensation and perception.  If you do not take S&P, I give a good coverage of the biological aspects of that topic in this course, which happens to be the part of the central nervous system we understand the best. 2) To give you some basic laboratory experience to assist you in your 300 level psychology laboratory course.  You will be required to do an independent research project in that course so this course needs to give you some background in doing experimental research.

Role of Course in the Liberal Arts: There are many mottos that might be associated with the liberal arts.  "Know thyself" is certainly one.  In that sense, understanding that part of our body that most defines who we are is fundamental to knowing ourselves.  As such this course is designed to be course of self-exploration by examining what is known and the implications of what is known about ourselves.  In addition, this course is the second course in a LADR sequence as part of the Natural World.  As such, I want to expose you to the way that science asks and answers questions.

Expectations:

·         Read material before coming to class.  In class we will not simply recover what is in the text but examine the material to see if we can figure out what it means.  Thus, familiarity with the material prior to class is vital.

·         Attend Class.

·         Turn assignments in on time.  A letter grade is lost for each late day and nothing will be accepted more than three days late.

·         Participation in Class.  As much of this class will be an investigation into the meaning of the findings we discuss we need all of you to ask questions, suggest ideas and critique other people's ideas, including mine.

·         Seek help as you need it.  Unfortunately my training in  psychology has not made me a mind reader.  If you are having troubles seek help from me and/or fellow students before the latter part of the term.  Seek the help as soon as the trouble begins.  That requires you thinking about the material and not just memorizing so that you know if you really understand it.

Class Schedule:

Class Assignments:

There will be four examinations. In a course of this type, all later information builds upon the foundation developed in earlier parts of the course. Therefore the course is cumulative and so are the examinations. Each examination will cover material from all previous sections of the course. Since later examinations will be covering more material they will be worth more points. The value of the examinations are as follows:

The first three examinations will be one hour in length and take place during a class period.  The final exam will take place during the final exam period at the end of the term.  While you are studying for your tests you might checkout the Neuropsychology Study Aids.  They might be of some help. I would appreciate feedback on the utility of this site.

End of Term Research Paper and Presentation:

The final paper and presentation is described in detail here.

The final project will be worth 200 points.

Laboratory Schedule:   

I have planned four labs.  The scheduling is not determined and will depend upon how we proceed through these materials.  However, the will occur in the order below.  Each lab will have a different type of assignment to build up different laboratory skills.

Laboratory Assignments:

Dissection: At the end of the dissection, a practicum will be given to assess you knowledge of the structures you have found in the brain.  In addition, you will be given on essay question asking you to compare the general shape and organization of the sheep brain to the human brain.  This practicum will be worth 150 points.

Other Labs: For the rest of the labs, there will be laboratory reports.  The report for the format will be discussed later.  Basically I have not figured it out.  Each lab will be worth 100 points.

Research Participation:

Part of the Natural World LADR objective is to show you different ways that science is conducted.  However, this class, and the biology class that preceded it can only show a small number of methods.  So this assignment is to give you experience with alternative methods, but from a psychological perspective.  You can earn this credit in three ways. First, you can participate in research that is being conducted by faculty members or students of Hanover College. By participating in these studies, you can gain valuable, first-hand knowledge about how research is conducted. You will receive 50 points for each 1/2 hour of participation. To receive credit, you MUST: a) obtain the signature of the researcher, and b) answer some basic questions about the nature and purpose of the study [see attached Research Participation Form]. Second, you can substitute two online studies for any one Hanover study found on this site: http://psych.hanover.edu/research/exponnet.html.  While you cannot get the researchers signature you must still fill out the questions [see attached Online Participation Form].  Third, you can obtain the credit by writing a 2-page summary and critique of an approved psychological journal article.  The guidelines are here. You must complete two of these assignments by the end of the term.  You may earn extra credit by completing two more of these assignments at 30 points each. The final date to turn in Research Participation Forms and/or Article Critiques is December 1, 2003.

Grading and Policies:

Class Participation and Miscellaneous Grades:

To help ensure that students actively participate there is a participation grade. In addition I reserve the right to give other small assignments and quizzes as I see fit to best benefit the quality of the class experience. The points for this section is 150 points. At least 100 will be participation. Up to the other 50 points could be short in class quizzes, or other network assignments or perhaps a reading assignment. These will be clearly announced with their point value. What ever is not used in these assignments will be part of the participation grade.

Late Policy:

An assignment is late 1 minute after the beginning of class. One letter grade will be subtracted for the first day late and another letter grade for each additional day.  No assignment will be accepted more than three days late.

Grades will be converted to percentiles and letter grades will be assigned as follows: