Psychology 4200:Physiological Psychology Fall 2007Professor: Diego Fernandez-DuqueCourse Description: This is a three credit course with laboratory. It provides a broad examination of the brain mechanisms of behavior. After learning the basics of how the brain functions, we will cover a diverse set of topics, including drug addiction, vision, sleep, emotions, memory, eating, and reproductive behavior. We will learn both from animal and human research.Course Objectives:Course Prerequisites: Psych 4000 (Statistics) and Psych 4050 (Research Methods) are pre-requisites for this course. You must have taken and passed one of these courses AND at minimum be enrolled in the other one.Other resourcesWriting Center: Old Falvey, Dalton Room 202 610-519-4604- It offers one-to-one sessions of tutoring aimed at improving students’ writing.Counseling Center. Room 206, Health Services Building, 610-519-4050- The counseling center provides confidential services designed to enhance students’ ability to function optimally, so that they can benefit from their college year1Psychology 4200: Physiological Psychology Fall 2007Professor: Diego Fernandez-Duque Office: 220 Tolentine Hall Telephone: 610-519-6207 Office Hours: Monday 9.30 – 10.20, Friday 12.30-2.00 or by appt. Email: [email protected] Course Web Site: http://www18.homepage.villanova.edu/diego.fernandezduque/ Lecture Room: Tolentine 305 Lab Room: Tolentine 11 Course Description: This is a three credit course with laboratory. It provides a broad examination of the brain mechanisms of behavior. After learning the basics of how the brain functions, we will cover a diverse set of topics, including drug addiction, vision, sleep, emotions, memory, eating, and reproductive behavior. We will learn both from animal and human research. Course Objectives:- To provide students with knowledge of the fundamental issues in behavioral neuroscience.- To provide students with an understanding of the methods and procedures used to study the brain mechanisms of behavior- To provide laboratory experience in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and the methodological approaches of behavioral neuroscience. Course Website: The website will include the schedule for the course, power-point presentations of the lectures, study questions, useful links, etc. It will benefit you the most if you visit each topic BEFORE we cover it in class. Complete the study questions each week to prepare yourself for the exams; together they make up your study guide. Course Prerequisites: Psych 4000 (Statistics) and Psych 4050 (Research Methods) are pre-requisites for this course. You must have taken and passed one of these courses AND at minimum be enrolled in the other one. Laboratory Work. A portion of this course involves firsthand laboratory work in the hopes that such experience will help you to appreciate the methodologies used in behavioral neuroscience. These labs will include dissection of sheep brains, cow eyes,and behavioral tests using rats. If participation in any these labs conflicts with your ethical or religious beliefs, let me know immediately so I can assign alternative exercises for you. Required Text: Carlson, N. R. Physiology of Behavior. Published by Allyn & Bacon. We will read about 75% of the book, although the uncovered chapters are highly recommended. The 8th edition (2004) ISBN: 0-205-38175-8 can be found used for $5+ up (amazon.com, half.com). There is a neweredition (9th edition) which is also acceptable, but it is way more expensive ($100 approx.) and not much different. You can find the 9th edition in the bookstore. You will be able to answer exam questions from either edition. I will highlight which parts of the book are most important.. Exams. The exams will include multiple choice, short answers and essay questions. Exams will include all required readings, lectures, discussions, videos, and activities. If you miss an exam, you will be allowed to take a make-up exam if you have a documented reason and provided that, in my judgment, your absence was2unavoidable. Make-up exams will consist of essay questions only. If you take a make-up exam, please remember that it is departmental policy that you present a picture I.D. when reporting for the exam. Grades. Grades will be assigned according to Villanova’s “Definition of Grades”, available at http://www.registrar.villanova.edu/docs/student_grading.html. Grades will not be assigned on the basis of a curve. Instead, letter grades will be assigned on the basis of the following percentages of the possible points that you can accumulate:A = 96 - 100% C = 73 - 76%A- = 90 - 95% C- = 70 - 72%B+ = 87 - 89% D+ = 67 - 69%B = 83 - 86% D = 63 - 66%B- = 80 - 82% D- = 60 - 62%C+ = 77 - 79% F = Below 60%3Your final grade will be computed as follows:First Exam 25% of your final gradeSecond Exam 25%Lab Exam, homework, and class participation 25%Final Exam 25%Incomplete Grades. Receiving a grade of "incomplete" (N) requires my approval and usually is given only in emergency situations. In any event, do not assume that an incomplete grade will be given automatically if you do not complete all the exams and reports by the time the final exam is given. Nor should you assume that leaving a message on my voice mail or email means you have my approval. E-Mail. If I need to communicate with you (e.g., change in assignment, change in class time, etc), I will do so by e-mail. It is your responsibility to check your Villanova University e-mail account regularly in order to receive any such messages. If you want to use another e-mail address, it is your responsibility to modify your Villanova account so that your e-mail messages are forwarded to the appropriate address. When contacting me via email, you should expect a delay of two working days for receiving a reply. Academic Integrity. Participants in this class are expected to adhere to the standards, and will be bound by the procedures set forth in the Villanova University Code of Academic Integrity, which can be found at http://www.villanova.edu/academic/AcademicIntegrity.html.Disabilities. If you have a disability that may affect your performance in this course, please make arrangements to register with the Learning Support Office by contacting 610-519-5636 or [email protected] as soon as possible. Registration with the learning Support Office is required in order to