Psychology 3440G 001

Developmental 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.

 

WESTERN UNIVERSITY

LONDON               CANADA

Department of Psychology

2022-2023

 

Psychology 3440G   Section 001

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

 

 

  • CALENDAR DESCRIPTION

 

An introduction to the way in which genetic and experiential factors interactively contribute to the emergence of adaptive neural structures underlying visual processing, face perception, number processing, language, memory and executive functions.

 

Antirequisite: Not applicable

 

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.

 

Prerequisite(s): Psychology 2820E, or both Psychology 2800E and Psychology 2810, and one of Psychology 2040A/B, Psychology 2410A/B, Psychology 2220A/B, Psychology 2221A/B or Neuroscience 2000.

 

3 lecture hours; Course Weight: 0.5

 

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.

 

2.0  COURSE INFORMATION

 

Instructor:         J Bruce Morton                                    

       Office and Phone Number: WIRB5178 519-661-2111 x84795           

       Office Hours: by appointment                       

       Email: bmorton3@uwo.ca                                                  

 

       Teaching Assistant: TBA                              

       Office: WIRB 4th floor                                             

       Office Hours:    By appointment

       Email:              

 

       Time and Location of Classes:  

       SSC3028

       Lectures: Thursdays 3:30 – 6:30pm

 

        

       Delivery Method: In -person

 

Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness @Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ 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 contact Accessible Education at aew@uwo.ca  or 519-661-2147.

 

3.0  TEXTBOOK

 

There is no textbook for this course. Readings will be posted on the course website on OWL.

 

4.0  COURSE OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

The course provides an introduction to developmental cognitive neuroscience. Through lectures and class discussions, we will examine what brain development can reveal about psychological development and change.

 

4.1  STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

 

By the end of this course, the successful student should be able to:

 

Learning Outcome

Learning Activities

Assessment 

Knowledge and Understanding

Identify (I), describe (De), and explain (E) concepts related to the development of prefrontal cortex and cognitive control.

Reading.

 

Class discussion.

 

Group presentations.

Examinations (IDeE)

 

Group presentation (DeE)

 

Term paper (DeE)

Abilities   

Critique and apply knowledge of developmental research methods.

 

Critique and apply knowledge of developmental theory.

 

Seek, find, and evaluate primary developmental research literature

 

Connect topics in basic science to one’s own experience.

Reading.

 

Class discussion.

 

Group presentations.

 

Term paper

Examinations

 

Group presentation.

 

Term paper.

 

 

Attributes

Communicate (Co) ideas and research-based evidence orally and in writing.

 

Distinguish (Di) cognitive and neurophysiological explanations of behaviour

 

Critical thinking (Ct)

 

Collaborative interactions (Ci)

Group presentation.

 

Class discussion.

 

Term paper.

Writing assignment (Co, Di, Ct)

 

Examinations (Co, Di)

 

Group presentation (Co, Ci, Di, Ct)

 

5.0  EVALUATION

 

The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4.0 and are considered necessary for meeting these learning objectives.

 

 

Students will be evaluated on the basis of their knowledge of lectures and assigned readings (Midterm examination) and the depth and quality of their own collaborative learning (Preliminary position paper, Group presentation, Final paper).

 

Knowledge of lectures and assigned readings will be acquired through attending lectures and reading papers posted on OWL. This content will be tested by the Midterm exam worth 30% of the final grade.

 

Collaborative learning will take place in the context of a group project that will be first introduced in class on January 17 and will continue for the full duration of the course. On January 17, we will decide as a class on 2 or 3 applied questions related to developmental cognitive neuroscience such as “Can brain science be used to justify a juvenile legal defence?” For each question, there will be 2 groups, one that will argue in favour (i.e., will argue “Yes”) and one that will argue against (i.e., “No”). Thus, if we adopt 3 questions, there will be 6 groups altogether. As much as possible, students will be allowed to select the group they would like to be a part of (i.e., the question and the position).

 

Having selected a group, each student will begin researching their topics and developing their positions on the issue. These initial ideas will take the form of a 5-page double-spaced “Preliminary position paper” which will be worth 15% of the final grade and will be due on February 14th. Students will receive feedback on their position papers no later than February 28th.

 

With the feedback on the position papers, groups will then prepare for the In-class presentations which will take the form of a debate. Presentations will be organized by the applied question with two groups (i.e., the “Yes” group and the “No” group) debating their respective positions. Presentations will take place in class on March 21st and will be worth 20% of the final grade.

 

Having debated their positions, each student will then write a 20-page double-spaced Final Paper which will be due on OWL on April the 4th and will be worth 35% of the final grade. The final paper will include the initial position statement (from the Preliminary position paper) but will also incorporate key criticisms of the opposing group and a response to those criticisms.

 

 

 

5.1 POLICY ON MISSING COURSEWORK

 

Students who are unable to attend the MIDTERM examination must provide adequate documentation to the Academic Counseling Office in the student’s home faculty. Failure to do so will result in a grade of 0 for the MIDTERM. Students with an approved accommodation will be given an opportunity to write a MAKE-UP examination. There will be one date and time for the MAKE-UP exam which will be determined after the MIDTERM exam date. The format of the MAKE-UP exam will be different than the format of the MIDTERM exam.  

 

PLEASE NOTE: Because this is an essay course, as per Senate Regulations, you must pass the essay component to pass the course. That is, the average mark for your written assignments must be at least 50%. 

 

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. 

 

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%       2100-2990 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 

 

 

Policy on Grade Rounding: Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered. To maximize your grade, do your best on each and every assessment within the course. 

 

6.0  ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE

 

Thursday, March 9. Midterm exam

Thursday, March 23: In-class presentations

 

Thursday, April 6: Term paper due on OWL

 

7.0  CLASS SCHEDULE

 

Thursday, January 12. Introduction to Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

Thursday, January 19. Executive Function

Thursday, January 26. Executive Function

Thursday, February 2. Adversity, Health, and Disease

Thursday, February 9. Adversity, Health, and Disease

Thursday, February 16. Adolescence

Thursday, February 23. READING WEEK

Thursday, March 2. Adolescence

Thursday, March 9. Midterm exam

Thursday, March 16. Review: What can we learn about psychological development by studying the brain?

Thursday, March 23: In-class presentations

Thursday, March 30: The future of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

Thursday, April 6: Final thoughts

 

8.0  Land Acknowledgement

 

We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron peoples, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum.

 

With this, we respect the longstanding relationships that Indigenous Nations have to this land, as they are the original caretakers. We acknowledge historical and ongoing injustices that Indigenous Peoples (e.g. First Nations, Métis and Inuit) endure in Canada, and we accept responsibility as a public institution to contribute toward revealing and correcting miseducation, as well as renewing respectful relationships with Indigenous communities through our teaching, research and community service.

 

 

9.0  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: https://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.

 

10.0      POLICY ON THE USE OF EXAM PROCTORING SOFTWARE

 

If a remote proctoring service is used, the service will require you to provide personal information (including some biometric data). The session will be recorded. In the event that in-person exams are unexpectedly canceled, you may only be given notice of the use of a proctoring service a short time in advance. More information about remote proctoring is available in the Online Proctoring Guidelines. Please ensure you are familiar with any proctoring service’s technical requirements before the exam. Additional guidance is available at the following link: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/onlineproctorguidelines.pdf

 

* Please note that Zoom servers are located outside Canada. If you would prefer to use only your first name or a nickname to login to Zoom, please provide this information to the instructor in advance of the test or examination. See this link for technical requirements: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us  

 

11.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR ILLNESS OR OTHER ABSENCES

 

Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
https://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12

 

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:

  1. 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;
  2. 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.

 

https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/faculty_academic_counselling.html

 

Students seeking academic consideration:

  • are advised to consider carefully the implications of postponing tests or midterm exams or delaying handing in work;  
  • must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hoursafter the end of the period covered SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence

 

Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.

 

12.0      Contingency Plan for Return to Lockdown: IN-Person & Blended classes

 

In the event of a COVID-19 resurgence or any other event 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.

 

13.0      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.

 

14.0 OTHER INFORMATION

 

Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.uwo.ca 

 

Student Development Services: www.sdc.uwo.ca

 

Psychology Undergraduate Program: https://www.psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/index.html

 

If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf

Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).

 

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.

 

Policy on the Recording of Synchronous Sessions: Some or all of the remote learning sessions for this course (if scheduled) may be recorded. The data captured during these recordings may include your image, voice recordings, chat logs and personal identifiers (name displayed on the screen). The recordings will be used for educational purposes related to this course, including evaluations. The recordings may be disclosed to other individuals participating in the course for their private or group study purposes. Please contact the instructor if you have any concerns related to session recordings. Participants in this course are not permitted to privately record the sessions, except where recording is an approved accommodation, or the student has the prior written permission of the instructor.