Psychology 4295G-001
Special Topics in Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience: Memory and Emotion
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
COURSE INSTRUCTOR Dr. Stefan KöhlerPREREQUISITE(S)
Psychology 2220A/B, 2221A/B or Neuroscience 2000, and registration in third or fourth year Honors Specialization in Psychology, Honors Specialization in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Honors Specialization in Neuroscience, Honors Specialization in Physiology/Psychology or Honors Specialization in Animal Behavior. Other Psychology students and Psychology Special Students who receive 70% in the prerequisite course(s) may enroll in this course.
EXTRA INFORMATION
3 seminar hours, 0.5 course.
Class meeting time: Tuesdays 9:30-12:30
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In the classic cognitive-psychology tradition, memory has typically been considered as a phenomenon that is best understood if it is studied independent from any impact of emotion. To avoid ‘contamination’, most memory experiments have been conducted with materials of emotionally neutral content that purportedly do not elicit any affective response. In the past 20 years, however, there has been a significant shift in thinking about this issue. Researchers have come to realize that considering the role of emotion is integral to understanding many core aspects of memory itself, specifically in the domain of autobiographical and episodic memory. Accordingly, the links between memory and emotion have become a heavily studied topic in psychology and neuroscience. Much of this work has emerged in the field of behavioural, cognitive, and affective neuroscience, where the focus of interest is on the relationship between the brain, mind, and behaviour. The goal of the present course is to review current research and theories that address how affective and memory processes interact in the mind and brain.
Background knowledge in behavioral and cognitive neuroscience is required for successful course completion.
TOPICS TO BE COVERED
Emphasis will be placed on studies in humans, although some research in non-human species may also be considered. The course will start with a review of methods used in cognitive neuroscience, and a brief general overview of our current understanding of memory and emotion. Subsequently, we will engage in an in-depth survey of research that addresses how emotion influences encoding, storage, and retrieval of information, including work in neurological or psychiatric patients who show related abnormalities (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder). Specific topics considered for in-depth coverage may include the role of autonomic factors and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, the nature of flashbulb memories, memory suppression, involuntary recollection of trauma, and emerging approaches for memory erasure.
CLASS FORMAT
The class will meet once per week to discuss the assigned readings. Class members are expected to complete the weekly reading assignments BEFORE class, and will be asked to participate actively in the discussion.
The main focus of our in-class discussions will be primary research articles assigned each week. Additional review papers may be covered as well in order to place them in a broader context. Participants are required to write thought papers with commentary on the assigned readings. These thought papers are intended to provide some structure and the starting point for in-class discussions. To facilitate discussion, the primary research papers will also be summarized in brief presentations, prepared by one or two class participant(s) each week.
After each presentation, we will follow a ‘Round-Robin’ style discussion. In this format, each student will be given 2 – 5 minutes to present her/his thoughts on at least one of the assigned papers. Other members of the class are encouraged to offer comments, ask questions, or articulate a critique in response. I will moderate the discussion round, and I will provide additional questions and comments.
EVALUATION
Student grades will be based on in-class participation (20%), in-class presentations (30%), weekly thought papers (300 - 500 words; 20%), and a research proposal or research review (2000 - 3000 words; 30%). There will be no oral or written exam.
SELECTED READINGS
There will be no textbook. Readings will be provided either as web links or posted as pdf on OWL. The following chapters and reviews may serve to establish a general shared knowledge background, prior to coverage of specific topics with primary research articles (to be selected).
Title Cognition, Brain, and Consciousness: Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience / editors, Bernard J. Baars, Nicole M. Gage
Edition 2nd edition
Publisher Cambridge, Mass.: Academic Press, 2010. Chapter 4 The Tools
Title Concise learning and memory: the editor's selection / editor, John H. Byrne. Edition 1st edition.
Publisher Amsterdam; Boston; London: Elsevier/Academic, 2009.
Chapter 1 A Typology of Memory Terms / Henry L. Roediger, F. M. Zaromb, M. K. Goode
Title Principles of cognitive neuroscience / Dale Purves ... [et al.]. Edition 1st edition.
Publisher Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer Associates, 2008. Chapter 17 Overview of Emotions
Title The feeling brain: the biology and psychology of emotions / authors, Elizabeth Johnston and Leah Olson.
Edition 1st edition.
Publisher New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2015
Chapter 8 Emotion and Memory
