Learning, Cognition & Behavior (PSYC 104) MTWTH 2:30-4.15 pm Lafayette Hall L308 May 19-June 26, 2007 Instructor Alexandra Thanellou Office hours: By appointment [email protected] (the best way to contact me) Office phone: 802-656-4132 Description Learning, Cognition & Behavior is a 3-credit course that focuses on behavioral and cognitive principles underlying learning, memory, and action inside and outside the laboratory. The course also expands on theories about conditioning, motivation, biological constraints, and mechanism of remembering and forgetting. Psyc 1 is a prerequisite. Objectives The purpose of this course is to introduce students to major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical data and historical trends in the field of learning, cognition and behavior. The course provides a foundation in this critical area of psychology that will provide students with a basic but essential understanding on core concepts and will also prepare them for more advanced courses. Textbook Terry, W. S. (2006). Learning and Memory (3rd edition). Boston: Pearson Education Inc. Requirements Student evaluation will occur in 2 ways: tests (3 total), and regular class attendance. UVM’s distribution of grades will be used to determine letter grades. Tests: 93% (Each is worth 31% of total grade.) Attendance: 7% (Each class counts for approximately 0.53% of total grade.) 1) Tests Test performance will account for the majority of your grade. There will be three tests given at the indicated meetings. The tests will not be cumulative (they will cover only material discussed since the preceding test). The tests will be multiple choice in format. Material will be drawn from the lectures and the textbook.2) Attendance & Participation Class attendance is mandatory. Any absence will result in a loss of points. Not all covered material is included in the textbook, and therefore, it is essential for you to be present in order to obtain and comprehend the material. Class Meetings: Week 1 5/19 Introduction (chapter 1) 5/20 Introduction (chapter 1) 5/21 Introduction (chapter 2, pp 26-31; 34-39) 5/22 Classical Conditioning (chapter 3) Week 2 5/26 No Class – Memorial Day 5/27 Classical Conditioning (chapter 3) 5/28 Instrumental Conditioning & Reward (chapter 4) 5/29 Instrumental Conditioning & Reward (chapter 4) Week 3 6/2 Instrumental Conditioning & Aversive Stimuli (chapter 5) 6/3 Instrumental Conditioning & Aversive Stimuli (chapter 5) 6/4 Memory: Conceptual Approaches (chapter 7) 6/5 Memory: Conceptual Approaches (chapter 7) Week 4 6/9 EXAM 1 (chapters 1-5) 6/10 Short-Term Retention (chapter 8) 6/11 Short-Term Retention (chapter 8), 6/12 Encoding (chapter 9) Week 5 6/16 Encoding (chapter 9) 6/17 EXAM 2 (chapters 7-9); Storage & Retrieval (chapter 10) 6/18 Storage & Retrieval (chapter 10) 6/19 Motor Skill & Implicit Learning and Memory (chapter 11) Week 6 6/23 Motor Skill & Implicit Learning and Memory (chapter 11) 6/24 Motivation, Arousal & Emotion (assigned readings) 6/25 Motivation, Arousal & Emotion (assigned readings) 6/26 EXAM 3 (chapters 10-11 & assigned readings); Course Evaluations &
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