Psychology 2220B-001 (Online for 2020-21)
Introduction to Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
1.0 CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
An introduction to the structure and function of the nervous system in relation to behaviour in humans (cognitive neuroscience) and other animals (behavioral neuroscience). Topics covered include: brain anatomy, neuronal function, drugs & addiction, research methods, sensory perception & motor actions, learning & memory, cognition, and neurological & psychiatric disorders.
Prerequisite: A mark of at least 60% in 1.0 credits of Psychology at the 1000 level.
Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
Antirequisites: Neuroscience 2000, Psychology 2221A/B.
Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. So if you take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.
3 lecture hours, 0.5 course. A background in biology is strongly recommended.
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Dr. Shannon K. Mischler
Office and Phone Number: N/A
Office Hours: TBD
Email: smischle@uwo.ca,
Teaching Assistant: TBD
Office Hours: TBD
Email: TBD
Time and Location of Classes: Asynchronous remote delivery via OWL
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western
http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Student Accessibility Services (formerly known as Services for Students with Disabilities) at 519-661-2147.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Pinel, J. P. J. & Barnes, S. J. (2017). Biopsychology (10th edition), Hoboken, NJ: Pearson Higher Education. **Earlier editions of the text are fine, however readings and page numbers will only be provided for the 10th edition.
This text is available in an online format through Pearson's Access Advantage program. As a result, the title is primarily delivered through Pearson's Revel. You can gain access to the title by ordering directly from Pearson or the bookstore at the following links.
https://www.pearson.com/store/p/biopsychology/P100000198236
https://bookstore.uwo.ca/textbook-search?campus=UWO&term=W2020B&courses%5B0%5D=001_UW/PSY2220B
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course begins with an introduction to biopsychology and its methods, followed by an extensive review of the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system. This includes how the nervous system (particularly the brain) is involved in sensation and perception, and its potential for recovery (neuroplasticity) following damage. Brain circuits associated with higher order cognitive functions, such as language (and its lateralization) and memory will also be discussed. Student should have a working understanding of the physiological processes underlying basic brain functions (i.e. sensation, movement, psychiatric disease, and sleep), by the end of the course.4.1 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
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Identify and describe key concepts in behavioural neuroscience
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Lectures, assignments, quizzes, exams |
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Identify components of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
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Lectures, quizzes, exams |
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Understand how all sensory systems process information in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
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Lecture, quizzes, exams
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Understand and interpret scientific publication |
Short written assignment |
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Interpret evidence and techniques used to determine how the central and peripheral nervous system function.
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Lectures, exams |
5.0 EVALUATION
Evaluation in this course will be based on the following:
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COMPONENT |
WEIGHTING |
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Test 1 |
25% |
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Test 2 |
25% |
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Final Exam |
30% |
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Assignment Weekly Quizzes (best 8 of 10) |
12% 8% |
Weekly quizzes will consist of about 5 questions (multiple choice, fill in the blank, etc) that are based strictly off the textbook readings for that unit. Deadlines for quizzes will be posted on the OWL site. There are no make-ups for missed quizzes. Only the best 8 quiz grades count towards your final grade. Quizzes are open-book and are submitted through OWL. The quizzes are designed to be completed in 10 minutes (excluding the time you spend reading your text), but you will be allowed 30 minutes to complete them.
You will be required to read a research paper on the interaction of brain and behaviour in a songbird species, the black-capped chickadee, by Pravasudov & Omanska (2005), and answer a series of short answer questions about the paper. This assignment will consist of approximately 5-6 short answer questions. Late assignments will be deducted 30% per day of lateness.
The midterms and final exam will be based on the material presented in each unit’s video lectures and the associated textbook sections.
This course is exempt from the Senate requirement that students receive assessment of their work accounting for at least 15% of their final grade at least three full days before the date of the deadline for withdrawal from a course without academic penalty.
You will receive the grade calculated based on the assignment weightings described. Grades will be rounded to the nearest whole number, however no further rounding will be done (e.g., marks of 84 and 89 will NOT be bumped up to 85 and 90). No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade, nor will any requests be considered for additional marks because they are needed for a grad/law/med school application, etc. To maximize your grade, do your best on each and every assignment during the course.
Please note that in the event that we are required to return to lockdown during the semester, there will be no changes to the course grading scheme.
Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level and 2000-level courses
72% 2190-2990 level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows Western's grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf):
A+ 90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A 80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
B 70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail
6.0 ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE
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COMPONENT |
DATES |
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Test 1 |
February 11th 9:30-11:00
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Assignment
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February 25th by 16:00
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Test 2 |
March 18th 9:30-11:00
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Weekly Quizzes (best 8 of 10) |
due every Thursday morning (online) |
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Final Exam |
TBA during April Final exam period |
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
Tentative Schedule: Check OWL site for updates.
Weekly unit materials will be posted on Thursday mornings, and weekly quizzes will need to be completed by Thursday 10am of the appropriate week.
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Week |
Dates |
Topic |
Readings |
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1 |
January 14 |
Biopsychology as a Neuroscience Evolution, Genetics, and Experience Quiz 1 |
Ch. 1 Ch. 2 |
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2 |
January 21 |
Anatomy of the nervous system Quiz 2 |
Ch. 3
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3 |
January 28 |
Ch. 3 continued Neural conduction and synaptic transmission Quiz 3 |
Ch. 3/Ch. 4 |
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4 |
February 4 |
Ch. 4 continued Quiz 4 |
Ch. 4
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5 |
February 11 |
TEST 1 (Chapters 1-4 and associated lectures) 9:30-11:00am |
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6 |
February 18 |
NO CLASS- READING WEEK |
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7 |
February 25 |
ASSIGNMENT DUE Research methods in biopsychology Quiz 5 |
Ch. 5
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8 |
March 4 |
The visual system Quiz 6 |
Ch. 6 |
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9 |
March 11 |
Ch. 6 continued Ch. 7 Perception Quiz 7 |
Ch. 7
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10 |
March 18 |
TEST 2 (Chapters 5-7 and associated lectures 9:30-11:00am)
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11 |
March 25 |
Sensorimotor system Quiz 8 |
Ch. 8 |
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12 |
April 1 |
Brain damage and neuroplasticity Learning, memory and amnesia Quiz 9 |
Ch. 10 & Ch. 11 |
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13 |
April 8 |
Ch. 11 continued Lateralization, Language & split brain Quiz 10 |
Ch. 16 |
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TBD |
Final Exam –during final exam period |
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8.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offences. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offences because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offence are described at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offences. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
In classes that involve the use of a personal response system (PRS), data collected using the PRS will only be used in a manner consistent to that described in this outline. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make every effort to ensure that data remain confidential. However, students should be aware that as with all forms of electronic communication, privacy is not guaranteed. Your PRS login credentials are for your sole use only. Students attempting to use another student’s credentials to submit data through the PRS may be subject to academic misconduct proceedings.
Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
9.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR ILLNESS OR OTHER ABSENCES
Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12
The full policy for consideration for absences can be accessed at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/Academic_Consideration_for_absences.pdf
If you experience an extenuating circumstance (e.g., illness, injury) sufficiently significant to temporarily make you unable to meet academic requirements, you may request accommodation through the following routes:
- Submitting a Self-Reported Absence form (for circumstances that are expected to resolve within 48 hours);
- For medical absences, submitting a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner in order to be eligible for Academic Consideration;
- For non-medical absences, submitting appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in their Faculty of registration in order to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation. The self-reported absence form must be submitted before the exam/coursework deadline in order to be valid. It may NOT be used for absences longer than 48 hours; coursework/tests/exams/etc., worth more than 30% of the final grade; or exams scheduled in the December or April final-exam periods: http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html
Students seeking academic consideration:
- are advised to consider carefully the implications of postponing tests or midterm exams or delaying handing in work;
- are encouraged to make appropriate decisions based on their specific circumstances, recognizing that minor ailments (upset stomach) or upsets (argument with a friend) are not normally an appropriate basis for a self-reported absence;
- must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hoursafter the end of the period covered by either the self-reported absence or SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence
10.0 Contingency Plan for Return to Lockdown
In the event of a COVID-19 resurgence during the course that necessitates the course delivery moving away from face-to-face interaction, all remaining course content will be delivered entirely online, either synchronously (i.e., at the times indicated in the timetable) or asynchronously (e.g., posted on OWL for students to view at their convenience). The grading scheme will not change. Any remaining assessments will also be conducted online as determined by the course instructor.
11.0 STATEMENTS CONCERNING ONLINE ETIQUETTE
In courses involving online interactions, the Psychology Department expects students to honour the following rules of etiquette:
- please “arrive” to class on time
- please use your computer and/or laptop if possible (as opposed to a cell phone or tablet)
- please ensure that you are in a private location to protect the confidentiality of discussions in the event that a class discussion deals with sensitive or personal material
- to minimize background noise, kindly mute your microphone for the entire class until you are invited to speak, unless directed otherwise
- In classes larger than 30 participants please turn off your video camera for the entire class unless you are invited to speak
- In classes of 30 students or fewer, where video chat procedures are being used, please be prepared to turn your video camera off at the instructor’s request if the internet connection becomes unstable
- Unless invited by your instructor, do not share your screen in the meeting
The course instructor will act as moderator for the class and will deal with any questions from participants. To participate please consider the following:
- If you wish to speak, use the “raise hand” function and wait for the instructor to acknowledge you before beginning your comment or question.
- Please remember to unmute your microphone and turn on your video camera before speaking.
- Self-identify when speaking.
- Please remember to mute your mic and turn off your video camera after speaking (unless directed otherwise).
General considerations of “netiquette”:
- Keep in mind the different cultural and linguistic backgrounds of the students in the course.
- Be courteous toward the instructor, your colleagues, and authors whose work you are discussing.
- Be respectful of the diversity of viewpoints that you will encounter in the class and in your readings. The exchange of diverse ideas and opinions is part of the scholarly environment. “Flaming” is never appropriate.
- Be professional and scholarly in all online postings. Use proper grammar and spelling. Cite the ideas of others appropriately.
Note that disruptive behaviour of any type during online classes, including inappropriate use of the chat function, is unacceptable. Students found guilty of Zoom-bombing a class or of other serious online offenses may be subject to disciplinary measures under the Code of Student Conduct.
12.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services: www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html
- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2020-2021 Calendar References
Copyright Statement: Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
