Psychology 3224A 200 FW24
Neuropsychology 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.
Western University
London Canada
Department of Psychology
Fall 2024
Psychology 3224A Section 200
Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
1 Calendar Description
Neural mechanisms in human perception, spatial orientation, memory, language, and motor behavior.
Antirequisite: Psychology 3227A/B.
Prerequisites: Both Psychology 2801F/G and Psychology 2811A/B, or the former Psychology 2820E, or both the former Psychology 2800E and the former Psychology 2810, and one of Psychology 2220A/B, Psychology 2221A/B or Neuroscience 2000.
Prerequisites: list prerequisites, if not use “n/a
3 lecture/discussion hours (divided between online content and in-person class time). 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 Course Information
Instructor: Dr. Laura Batterink
Office & Phone: Western Interdisciplinary Science Building 6124, x85409
Office Hours: Friday, 11-12 PM (held on Zoom) or by appointment
Email: lbatter@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: TBA
Time and Location of In-Person Classes: Blended Format. see Student Timetable.
For courses that include an online component, students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements.
3 Course Materials
Required: Marie Banich & Rebecca Compton. (2018). Cognitive Neuroscience. Cambridge University Press.
Physical copies of the text are available through the Western bookstore, or you may also purchase an e-copy of the text at this link:
4 Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
- To familiarize students with the human mind as a phenomenon whose biological basis can be studied in scientific research; to explore and appreciate the limits of current scientific knowledge in the field.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of the methodology, research findings, theories, and contentious issues in the study of cognitive neuroscience.
- To encourage the reading of primary source material on research in cognitive neuroscience; to encourage critical thinking and discussion of contentious issues.
Any course of this sort contains material that must be learned from both lectures and readings. Some material from the text will not be covered in lectures; similarly, some material from the lectures will not be covered in the readings. Therefore, it is necessary that students view the prerecorded lectures, attend class sessions, and do the readings regularly for successful completion of the course.
|
Learning Outcome |
Learning Activity |
Assessment |
|
Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.
|
Pre-recorded lectures
Assigned textbook readings
Assigned primary article readings
Tutorial/discussion sessions |
Tests
Final exam
|
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Knowledge of Methodologies.
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Pre-recorded lectures
Assigned textbook readings
Assigned primary article readings
Tutorial/discussion sessions |
Tests
Final exam
|
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Application of Knowledge.
|
Assigned primary article readings
Synchronous group work and group assignments
Written review paper
|
Group assignments
Written review paper
Tests
Final exam |
|
Communication Skills. · Articulate some of the central questions and issues in contemporary neuropsychology/cognitive neuroscience · Clearly communicate cognitive neuroscientific material and principles to a scientifically literate audience |
Data blitz presentation Assigned primary article readings
Synchronous group work and group assignments
Written review paper
|
Group assignments
Written review paper
Data blitz presentation |
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Awareness of Limits of Knowledge.
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Assigned primary article readings
Synchronous group work and group assignments
Written review paper
|
Group assignments
Written review paper
|
5 Evaluation
- Test #1– 15%
- Test #2 – 15%
- Written Mini Review – 22%
- Final Exam – 36%
- Participation in Class Discussions (during in-person tutorials) and Small Group Assignments - 7%
- Data Blitz Presentation – 5%
The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4 and are necessary for meeting these learning objectives
Policy on Missing Coursework
Missed In-Class Test: No make-up tests will be scheduled in this course. If you have received academic consideration for an absence, your final exam will be reweighted more heavily to account for the missed test. Note that questions on the final exam may be more challenging than those on the in-class tests so students should carefully consider the implications of missing a scheduled in-class test. Without submitted documentation, a mark of 0 will be assigned.
Missed Class Session/Missed Groupwork: The grade for this component of the course will be assessed by the following: group worksheets to be turned in to the TA each week for grading, and in-class participation (in small groups and in class discussions). For this component, your lowest weekly grade will be dropped from your overall grade. Therefore, if you miss only one week of synchronous class time for the term, you do not need to worry about this affecting your grade. No other make-up opportunities will be provided (no exceptions).
Mini Review: Without submitted documentation, a late penalty of 10% of the assignment’s value per day (e.g., 2 of the 20-point total value) will be applied to papers submitted after the deadline. If you have received academic consideration for this assignment, the deadline will be adjusted as recommended by Academic Counselling.
Data Blitz: Without submitted documentation, a mark of 0 will be assigned for a missed data blitz presentation. If you have received academic consideration for this assignment, please contact me and we will make arrangements for you to present your data blitz talk at an alternative time.
The final exam can be rescheduled only with documented academic consideration. Completion of the final exam and written mini review are required to pass this class.
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.
The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf
The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level to 2099-level courses
72% 2100-2999-level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
In the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.
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.
6 Assessment/Evaluation Schedule
Test 1 Oct 1
Test 2 Nov 5
Mini-Review Nov 29
Data Blitz Presentations Dec 3 (in class)
Final Exam TBA – scheduled by Office of the Registrar
7 Class Schedule
PowerPoint Notes will be posted on OWL, typically before each day's lecture. Textbook readings refer to the course textbook, Cognitive Neuroscience (5th ed.). Additional required readings not found in the course textbook and journal articles will be posted on the OWL website.
|
Week |
Date |
Topic |
Readings to Complete Prior to Class |
# of textbook pages |
Tutorial Activities/Synchronous Group Work |
|
1 |
Sept 10 |
Course Introduction Review of brain anatomy |
Chapter 1 (1-18, 26-38 [from beginning up to and not including Neurotransmitters; beginning again at Closer Look at Cerebral Cortex to end] |
39 |
Neuroanatomy Brain Game |
|
2 |
Sept 17 |
Methods of Understanding the Brain |
Chapter 3 |
29 |
“Method Experts” Worksheet + Research Scenarios Activity |
|
3 |
Sept 24 |
Brain Development, Neuroplasticity and Critical Period Effects |
Chapter 15 (pp. 455-468 [from beginning up to Developmental Disorders]; 476-485 [Brain Plasticity in Adulthood up to Aging])
Newport et al., 2022, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
|
23 |
Article Comprehension Questions + Class Discussion |
|
|
Oct 1 |
In Class Test 1 |
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|
Test will take up to 2 hours and be held during the tutorial session |
|
4 |
Oct 8 |
Object recognition The “what” ventral visual stream
Spatial cognition and the “where” dorsal ventral stream |
Chapter 6; Chapter 7 (pp 199- 201 (beginning up to Coding For Three Dimensions, 210-214 (Space and Action section)
|
35 |
Present a Patient: Clinical Case Presentations
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|
|
Oct 15 |
Fall Reading Week – No Class |
|
|
|
|
5 |
Oct 22 |
Social Cognition |
Chapter 13 (pp 395-419)
Beadle et al., 2018, Frontiers in Neurology |
25 |
Ultimatum Game + Journal Club Activity
|
|
6 |
Oct 29 |
Long-term Memory Amnesia and Memory Disorders |
Chapter 9 (everything except working memory section pp. 287-291)
Bayley et al., 2005
Isausti et al, 2013 (each group member to focus on one section of results; specified in OWL).
|
33 |
Case study of patient EP
|
|
|
Nov 5 |
In Class Test 2 |
|
|
Test will take up to 2 hours and be held during the tutorial session |
|
7 |
Nov 12 |
Sleep and Memory Consolidation
For students wishing to participate in the optional peer review process for the Mini-Review, a draft of your paper is due on November 17.
|
No readings from course textbook.
Fundamentals of cognitive neuroscience, 2nd ed (Gage & Baars), Chapter 12 -- Sleep and levels of consciousness (posted on OWL) Pages 393-398; 405-422 Only.
Read both of these articles (second is only a single page).
Fuentemilla et al., 2013, Current Biology
Rudoy et al, 2009, Science |
33 |
Journal Club Activity
|
|
8 |
Nov 19 |
Language processing; aphasia and language disorders
|
Chapter 8 (up to and not including p. 242 – Neurological Bases for Visual Language Processing)
Read one of these two articles (as assigned individually). Fill out Journal Article Worksheet (posted under Resources in OWL) and bring to class. Be prepared to explain your article to your classmates. Articles posted on OWL.
Group 1,2,3: Chang et al., 2010, Nature Neuroscience
Group 4,5,6: Levy & Wilson, 2019, Cerebral Cortex
|
17 |
Modified Jigsaw + Class Discussion
|
|
9 |
Nov 26 |
Consciousness
Mini Review Due Friday This Week – Nov 29
|
Chapter 14 Gazzaniga chapter posted on OWL (EXCEPT for sections 14.4 and 14.8)
Article Assignment TBA |
37 |
Exploring experimental paradigms to measure consciousness
Mini Group Presentations
What does it mean to be conscious? How can we measure consciousness in the vegetative state?
|
|
10 |
Dec 3 |
Final Data Blitz Presentations
|
No assigned readings but come to class prepared to ask questions!
|
|
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|
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TBA |
Final Exam – scheduled by Registrar – to be held in person |
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8 Academic Integrity
Scholastic offences are taken seriously, and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.
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.
Statement on Use of Electronic Devices
Laptop computers and other electronic devices (e.g. cellphones, tablets) can be used during class, but are not allowed during tests and the final exam.
Plagiarism Detection Software
All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. 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.
Use of AI
The use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to produce written work is not permitted unless permission is granted by the instructor for specific circumstances. Any work submitted must be the work of the student in its entirety unless otherwise disclosed. When used, AI tools should be used ethically and responsibly, and students must cite or credit the tools used in line with the expectation to use AI as a tool to learn, not to produce content.
Multiple Choice Exams
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.
9 Academic Accommodations and Accessible Education
View Western’s policy on academic accommodations for student with disabilities at this link.
Accessible Education provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western.
If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in all your courses, visit Accessible Education for more information. Email: aew@uwo.ca Phone: 519 661-2147
10 Absence & Academic Consideration
View Western’s policy on academic consideration for medical illnesses this link
Find your academic counsellor here: https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/faculty_academic_counselling.html
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain academic considerations. Students must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence.
Medical Absences
Submit a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for Academic Consideration.
Nonmedical Absences
Submit appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Religious Consideration
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.
11 Other Information
- Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.uwo.ca
- Student Development Services: sdc.uwo.ca
- Psychology Undergraduate Program: https://www.psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/index.html
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.
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 in writing 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.
12 Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Chonnonton. Nations, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of our society.
