PSYC3200 Physiological Psychology

Robert Morris University

Website: http://brain2behavior.com

Ustream Channel: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/brain2behavior

Course Description

This course examines the physiological basis of behavior. The understanding of human behavior is being transformed through the fields of neuroscience and physiological psychology. The neural and hormonal basis of learning, memory, motivation, emotions, mental disorders, and other behaviors are examined in this course. This course presents the frontier of the field of psychology as more areas of human behavior are understood at the physiological level. The course goes beyond a brief survey of the physiological basis of behavior and expects students to learn specific topics in great detail. Prerequisite: PSYC1010

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students will

• Have a mental map of the major divisions of the nervous system and brain.
• Understand and be able to explain
• • The generation and propagation of the action potential.
  • Both the presynaptic and postsynaptic processes in synaptic transmission .
  • The function of at least one neurotransmitter and receptor.
  • Neuronal development.
  • At least one sensory system from transduction of the stimulus to the generation of a response to that stimulus.
  • The neurophysiological and neuroanatomical basis of
  • • Reward
    • Learning
    • Memory
    • Schizophrenia
    • Depression
  • Muscle movement and reflexes.

Specific topics may be found at http://brain2behavior.com/topics

Textbook

Physiology of Behavior, 10/E (You may use the 9th edition also.)
ISBN-10: 0205666272
ISBN-13: 9780205666270
Publisher: Pearson
Copyright: 2010
You will need the textbook for the course. You are expected to bring it with you to class but it is possible for two students who sit next to one another to share a copy of the book. Psychology majors should buy the book and read the entire book even though only parts of the book will be assigned. The physiological understanding of human behavior is the future direction of psychology; so, psychology majors should be well grounded in understanding the physiological basis of behavior.

Colorful Introduction to the Anatomy of the Human Brain, A: A Brain and Psychology Coloring Book, 2/E
John P.J. Pinel and Maggie Edwards
ISBN-10: 0205548741
ISBN-13: 9780205548743
Publisher: Pearson
Copyright: 2008
(May use the first edition, also.) You will need to color in this book and turn in your work. This will make it so you cannot resell the book.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is valued at Robert Morris University. All students are expected to understand and adhere to the standards of Academic Integrity as stated in the RMU Academic Integrity Policy, which can be found on the RMU website. Any student who violates the Academic Integrity Policy is subject to possible judicial proceedings which may result in sanctions as outlined in the Policy. Depending on the severity of the violation, sanctions may range from receiving a zero on an assignment to being dismissed from the University. If you have any questions about the policy, please consult your course instructor.

Examples of violations of academic integrity:

• Cheating (copying another student's work)
• Plagiarism (using someone's ideas without giving them credit)
• Self-Plagiarism (reusing or recycling your own work to get double credit for it)
• Falsification (making up data or facts)
• Fraudulent Excuses ("my computer ate my paper")
• Lying (stating you did something that you did not do)
• Obtaining Unfair Advantage (getting copy of exam in advance)
• Unauthorized Access to Information
• Aiding, Abetting or Soliciting any of the above.

All work is expected to be done by a student individually unless it is specifically assigned as a team assignment.

Any ideas that come from other sources, such as, the Internet, books, magazines, other students, other people, etc, must be properly cited using APA format.

Any violations of academic integrity will result in receiving no credit for that assignment and referral to the RMU Judicial Review Committee.

Your Integrity is the most important thing you have. If you destroy your Integrity, people stop listening to you. You know that you have Integrity if you honor your word even when nobody else is watching.

Online Philosophy

For the online portion of the course, you are expected to be self-motivated and good at time management. You will be expected to learn mostly from the textbook. There will be no exams - just assignments. You will be required to certify that you actually read the assigned reading. There will be assignments based on the reading which require you to summarize the material and include reflections on your experiences of the material presented.

Attendance

Attendance is required for scheduled classes. There are no excused absences, late arrivals, or early departures. For unexpected emergencies, up to one week of classes may be missed with no penalty. Students representing the college will be excused for additional absences as specified by the Academic Policy on Attendance. Students are only covered by this policy if a written schedule of the activity from the faculty or staff adviser is provided one week before the event.

Not being in class because you are not registered is not an excused absence.

Showing up is the first step. The second step is to be present. Thirdly, being engaged is necessary -- you are not watching a television program. Finally, you must be complete: you accept things as they are, you accept things as they aren't, and nothing is left unsaid.

You cannot participate if you are not in class; so, class participation grades will be zero for any day you are not there. Class participation grades may also be lowered for other signs of inattention, such as, falling asleep, reading the newspaper, studying unrelated material, using a cell phone, etc.

If you are going to be late or miss a class, you must contact me by email at David[at]RelaxNow.Org, by phone, or through a fellow student. If you contact me before class, you will get credit for 25% attendance or a 15 minute grace period on tardiness or early departure. In the world of work, you are expected to be there. The worst thing you can do is not be there and not let them know you will not be there. They will spend the whole day wondering what happened to you.

Communications

Email is the best way to contact me. If I do not respond in 48 hours, assume that I did not receive your email and send it again. E-mail is not 100 percent reliable and it is not an instant message nor chatroom. You should not expect to receive an immediate reply. My contact information is found at the top of the syllabus.

Disability Student Services

Students who may be eligible to receive learning support or physical accommodations must contact the Center for Student Success at 412-397-4349 to schedule an appointment with a counselor and to learn more about accommodation procedures. To receive accommodations in this course, arrangements must be made through the Center for Student Success, located in the Nicholson Center, 2nd Floor.

Students who have made those arrangements at the beginning of the semester will have those needs accommodated. Reasonable accommodation for such needs may include, but not be limited to: additional time to work on projects and substitution of equivalent learning activities which meet the student's needs, the course goals, and the Communication Skills Program goals.

Grades

• Grade (Minimum %) - Grade Point Equivalent
• A (93%) -- 4.00
• A- (90%) -- 3.67
• B+ (87%) -- 3.33
• B (83%) -- 3.00
• B- (80%) -- 2.67
• C+ (77%) -- 2.33
• C (70%) -- 2.00
• D (60%) -- 1.00
• F (<60%) -- 0.00
• I -- Incomplete. Only for documented extenuating circumstances. Failure to complete work does not qualify.

Meaning of Grades

• A++ (100%) Perfect
• A+ (98%) Able to use knowledge to think critically.
• A (95%) Good command of knowledge. Able to apply knowledge to personal experiences.
• B (85%) Good grasp of knowledge.
• C (75%) Evidence of learning from this class but answer a little confused
• D (65%) Little evidence of learning from this class or answer very confused.
• F (55%) No evidence of learning from this class or answer extremely confused.
• F- (45%) Guess
• F-- (35%) Unintentionally left blank.
• F--- (0%) No evidence of learning.